Betty McConnell and Her Dog Spot

When the McConnell family moved to Mason City young Betty McConnell was promised a puppy. Betty’s
Father made good on that promise by giving Betty the puppy on the family’s very first Christmas; in the old farm house on the hill.
The pup was white with big black spots and so playful he couldn’t be ignored. The whole family was captivated for a day or two, after which time everyone ignored the pup. That fact was fine with Betty it just meant that she had Spot to herself.
Spot was Betty’s dog right from the start, they were always together. Spot was a great companion for Betty when her older brother’s and sister’s were off to school.
Betty’s favorite thing to do with Spot was to play dress up, she liked to put Spot in an old dress, even though Spot was a boy and tie a bonnet or an old scarf to Spot’s head. Betty thought Spot looked more like a real person when he was dressed up.
Betty’s brother Donnie thought the dog looked ridiculous and often teased Betty saying that Spot was a sissy dog. Betty didn’t like Donnie teasing her dog but the best thing to do with Donnie was to ignore him, which she tried to do most of the time.
Spot grew fast; by the time winter was over Spot seemed more like a full grown dog than a puppy. Betty and Spot had a great summer together. Betty felt safe with Spot around. Spot had already proved several times that he wasn’t a sissy. Whenever someone was mean to Betty; Spot would growl. Once Spot growled at Donnie who backed up fast. Betty thought, “Who’s the sissy now?” But she didn’t say it.
It was the Summer that Betty started school that the trouble with Spot began. Betty didn’t know what she was going to do with Spot while she was at school. Betty couldn’t keep her dog from following her, Spot walked Betty right to the school house door, which was okay if only Spot would have gone right back home like he was suppose to.
Spot did go home, but he took his time doing it. Spot thought he had to see what the neighbors had in their garbage cans as he went. Spot scattered garbage over the whole town of Mason City on Betty’s first day of school.
Betty saw the garbage all over her neighbors yards as she was walking home and wondered to herself what happened. She didn’t suspect Spot at first but after a couple of weeks she knew. Spot was filthy every afternoon when Betty got home. It didn’t take Betty long to put things together. She knew she had to do something about her dog. People would soon be getting mad at Spot.
Try as she might Betty couldn’t keep Spot out of peoples trash. Spot just liked garbage to much. Then one evening just about supper time Mr. Kepford knocked on the door. He was awfully mad and told Betty’s Mom what Spot had been doing. Mr. Kepford said that he was tired of having to pick up garbage. He also said that if the McConnell’s couldn’t keep their dog out of his trash he would call the pound.
Betty’s Mom was even madder than Mr. Kepford. She told Betty she would call the pound herself if Spot got into anyone else’s garbage.
Betty had to think fast, she didn’t know what the pound was exactly; but she was sure she didn’t want Spot to be sent there. There was only one question, “What did Spot like better than garbage?” Betty knew the answer immediately. (Squirrels)
The McConnell’s had lots of tree’s around the house, lots of squirrels too. If Spot thought there was a squirrel up a tree he had to be dragged away from that tree. All Betty had to do was convince Spot that there was a squirrel in one of the tree’s right before it was time to go to school. Then Betty would have no trouble slipping off to school by herself.
If Betty could keep Spot busy with squirrels (and she thought she could) it would keep him out of peoples garbage, out of the pound as well. Betty worked with Spot all weekend. They sat on the porch and whenever Betty saw a squirrel she would point and shout “squirrel Spot squirrel!” Spot would chase the squirrel up a tree. Spot got so excited, he would bark and jump on the trunk of the tree until he was completely wore out. Then he would come back up to the porch for a rest.
The plan worked perfect. On Monday morning Betty stepped onto the porch and pointed at a tree, she shouted the magic words; squirrel Spot squirrel and Spot ran down to that tree and went crazy. Betty slipped off to school; when she came home Spot was still had it, Spot had no doubt seen some squirrels on his own and they kept him busy all day long. Spot never got into another garbage can again. In fact I don’t think he every left the yard again
Although Spot was officially cured of his addiction to garbage; the trouble wasn’t quite over yet.
It was Christmas time and the McConnell Family had just put up their tree, a yearly event that Mrs. McConnell was especially fond of. Betty’s Mom was always so proud of her tree and it always looked so beautiful when the family was done decorating it. The tree had been up for a couple of days when Donnie came home. It was a cold winter day, Donnie started teasing Betty about how dumb her dog was.
Betty usually ignored Donnie but this time she spoke up. “My dog’s not dumb.”
“Oh yeah? That dog doesn’t know a single trick.”
“Yes he does, I taught him to chase squirrels.”
Donnie laughed. “Any dumb dog will chase a squirrel.”
“Maybe so, but Spot chases them when I tell him to”, Betty said stubbornly.
Donnie laughed again. “I’d like to see that.”
“Donnie’s attitude made Betty mad, she jumped to her feet and shouted squirrel Spot squirrel. Spot was confused for a minute but was obviously excited and before anyone could stop him Spot jumped right into the only tree around, the Christmas Tree.
A Christmas Tree is not made to hold a dog the size of Spot. And Spot had never jumped into a tree that was wrapped up in a string of lights. Spot got himself so tangled up in the lights that the tree came over right on top of him. Then Spot began to panic. The trees in the backyard pretty much stayed where they were when Spot jumped on them. This tree was fighting back; all Spot wanted to do was get away but by the time Spot crawled out from under the tree things were a mess.
With the tree down and bulbs and lights and strings of popcorn all over the floor Spot knew he had done a bad thing. At first Betty thought the little Angel that sat on the top of the tree was broke, later they found out it wasn’t. Angel or no Angel Betty knew if they didn’t get that tree back up before her mother got home Spot would have to go to the pound. The matter was hopeless and Betty began to cry.
Donnie felt horrible, he knew that there was no way he and Betty would be able to get the tree repaired before their mother came home, he wasn’t even sure a Christmas tree could be repaired but he knew they had to do something, the situation was mostly his fault.
Donnie ran to the phone and called Mr. Kepford. Donnie explained the situation to Mr. Kepford then hung up and called Mrs. Smith, then Mrs. Thompson, the Hall’s, the Burr’s and so on.
Within a few minutes the living room was full of neighbors; most of whom had there garbage cans raided by Spot at one time or another but no one seemed to hold a grudge, they were all full of the Christmas Spirt and before you could say St. Nick the Tree was back up and looking as good as ever.
When Betty’s Mother came home the only evidence that something had went horribly wrong was a single piece of popcorn on the living room floor. Spot ate that and just wagged his tail as if to say Merry Christmas.