A Political Analogy as I See It!

Here is a story about three dogs living with a small family in the Great Smoky Mountains. This family consists of a father, mother and two little kids. This family was considered animal lovers and their favorite happens to be dogs. Dogs of all kinds, they love the security the dogs provided their family and they also enjoyed the unconditional love the dogs gave back.

The family started out with two dogs, one male and one female. "Duke" was the eldest male dog, a Rottweiler, who loved the outdoors. He stayed outside most of the time barking at every guest that showed up to visited the family. Duke's job was to protect the family from any unwanted guest. He took is job seriously, He had his own fence in area that included his little doghouse. His days were mainly filled by little furry visitors from the woods that surrounded the family's home.

Inside the home they had "Mattie" a Golden Retriever whom played with the children and watch over them since birth. She knew everything about them. She knew all their secrets and even knew when they were headed for trouble. A couple of times, when the children were upstairs crawling around, being adventurous, they crawled too close the stairs. Mattie would let out a bark to alerting the parents while lying down between them and the dangerous stairs. The parents would come up the stairs and secure the children back behind the safety gate and patted Mattie on the head for a job well done. Mattie knew and understood her role in the family, she appreciated the fact that she was there to watch other the little ones.

Well as time went by the children had gotten older and their energy intensified. They were very hyperactive. Mattie would sit on her doggie bed exhausted; she could not keep up with the children. But she still knew her role, or at least she thought she knew.

During the children's birthday Mattie noticed a present which happen to had small holes punctured in the side of the box. Mattie watches this box while the children were opening the array of gifts which filled the house. She began to bark because she felt that it had move and made funny noises. Mattie became erratic and headed toward it, but the parents grab Mattie collar and held her back. The children proceed to open the mysterious present which reveal a small spotted beagle. A nervous and skinny puppy whom wagged it tail so hard that it made it difficult to walk. The children love the new gift. They kiss their parents with appreciation, pick up their new pet and carried off to their room. Mattie was hoping she would be able to join in the celebration but she realized that she wasn't invited. She retreated back to her doggie bed, and lies down, as she continues to watch the family from a distance. She felt like an outsider, or even worsts a "has been".

Time pass by and the house was filled with a never ending sounds of the a little dog which the family named "Sturgis". The children seem to love the fact that Sturgis always had an opinion and constantly shared it with the children. He would bark in appreciation and growled at disagreement. Sturgis bark so much that it now had interfered with Mattie's protection "bark". The alarmed she used to notify the parents when the children were in danger. The children grew closer to Sturgis, reacting to every sound the dog made. Sturgis would even come close to Mattie trying to intimidate her. He was trying to get her to react and when she finally did, she was scolded by the family. Meanwhile Sturgis just strutted around like he just won the "best in show" award. He was loved and Mattie felt the opposite.

The children seem to start following Sturgis lead, they began playing little games that ended up with them pulling Mattie' tail. She hated this and tries to ignore the aggravation. Mattie sometimes overheard the children complaining about her to the parents. She didn't know what to feel.

As the weekend came upon them, the parents ask the children to take all the dogs for a walk through the woods. All the dogs gotten leashed up and the children were fitted up with their outdoor attire, the journey was under way. Duke leaded, by dragging everyone to where he wanted to go. Sturgis just followed while jumping around Duke's neck and never seemed to stop barking. Mattie strolled behind everyone else. She knew she really didn't need a leash but it didn't matter to her either way. The journey seemed to take forever and the children was unaware of the fact that they had wondered off further then they had ever been. They finally decided to take a break a clearing in the middle of the woods. Sturgis continue to bite at his leash, while pulling himself in a circle until kept he eventually ended up tangle. This seemed to continue every few minutes, for Mattie this was entertainment. The children decided that they knew what was best for their dogs, so they unleash all of them. Duke was excited and Sturgis was jumping hysterical. Mattie started her protection "bark" but the parents were too far to hear. Everything seemed to be okay at first, Duke and Sturgis were playing and rolling around in the grass. Mattie found her a comfortable spot and laid down enjoying the bright sun. The children enjoyed a little snack and played tag with each other.

In the background, they were being watch. Up in a tree laid a Mountain Loin. The Mountain Loin watches the children and grew more and more disturb as these children interfere with his territory. As the Sun began to fall, and shadows covered the clearing, the Mountain Loin began to get in position. As the large cat walked through the weeds with the sounds of his footsteps was being muffled by the sounds of Sturgis barking at Duke. Mattie had heard something; she aroused to see that the other dogs were still playing. The children were talking to each other. She looked around and saw the weeds being divided into two rows. She started barking and growling, she found herself standing in front of the children with the hair on the back of her neck slowing raising forward. Duke became alert and looks in the direction of Mattie. Sturgis just continue to bark at Duke until Duke snapped at Sturgis. Which scared Sturgis and he headed back toward the children, with his tail between his legs. Duke finally saw what Mattie had heard. He saw that it was a Mountain Loin; Duke began to bark and growl and started to run in the direction to head off the path of the Mountain Loin. Now with different sounds of barking coming from different directions along with the sound of something running toward the large cat, the Mountain Loin hesitated as it look around. Then suddenley Duke jumped out of nowhere in front the Mountain loin and scared it to realize that it was outsized and outmatch. The Mountain Loin retreated back to the woods quickly as he was being chase by Duke and Duke was angry.

Back at the clearing the children was scared and afraid. They were crying and didn't know what to do. Where can they go? What else is out there?

Mattie knew what to do she started barking and her own way told the children to follow her. The children remember that they had always been protected around Mattie. So they pick up Sturgis who was confused and scared because he was unsure what just happened. But he was safe because he was in the arms of his owners. Mattie retraced the children path and as the dark skies approach, the light of the children's home came into focused. The children began racing toward the house, they were yelling and screaming for the parents. The parents came rushing to the children and was met with tears. Mattie slowly followed watching every direction for any other surprises.

Mattie then heard a noise and before she became combated, it was Duke. He passed her heading toward his home. She finally made it to the porch and the children were telling their parents what had happen. The parents were in tears themselves. They headed over to Mattie and both embraced her. It was thier way of thanking her for her wisdom and how she once again protected the children. They acknowledge Duke by rewarded him with a big bone and place him inside his cage. He was happy and continues his watch. Sturgis just continue being Sturgis and ran around barking. Mattie was also happy because the family finally realizes that Mattie was the one who knew what to do when danger was around the corner. Mattie knew then she could never be replaced by a loud barking beagle, no matter how much charisma he shows.