Monkey Tails

It was nearing the end of March. Winds had been steadily increasing in strength for almost a week now. Tornados were being reported over different areas of North Texas and Oklahoma. Winds of gale strength were tearing up neighborhoods.

Of course Butch was ignorant to all of this. Almost an hour ago he made me to understand that he wanted to go outside. The wind was blowing harder than usual, but still it wasn't anything to worry about yet.

I hooked his 25-foot chain to his harness so he wouldn't be tempted to wander off, and went back into the house. Thirty-five minutes later I heard a shrill noise above the wind. The noise came from the backyard.

Hurrying outside, I looked around for Butch. There he was 25-feet high in the Oak tree. He looked down at me and wailed in a pitiful voice I hadn't heard before. I called and coaxed him to climb down, but he refused to budge from his fork in the tree.

The wind was getting stronger. If Butch didn't come down soon he would be in serious trouble. Why didn't Butch come down? I was sure he could make it, but he wouldn't even try. Was the wind blowing so hard he was afraid of falling? I hardly thought so, but something was definitely wrong.

There was only one option left open to me. I told my wife, Pat, that I was going up after Butch. She didn't like the idea. She thought we would both be killed. Secretly, I did too.

I grabbed a rope from the shed and started climbing the tree. It never seemed so tall before. The higher I climbed, the worse the wind blew. Butch watched as I steadily climbed higher to his position. Twice, limbs broke under me and I almost fell, but managed to regain my balance.

Five minutes later, with the wind howling in my ears, I reached a position just underneath Butch. I quickly secured myself with the rope to the tree. I reached up and grabbed Butch by the foot and tried to pull him down to me. He began screaming and coughing and fighting me until i finally let his foot go. What was wrong with him? Didn't he realize I was trying to save him?

Suddenly I realized I had to get us down fast. The winds were stronger now and worse than when I started climbing the tree.

I yelled and yelled at Butch, but he just stared down at me and clung viciously to the branch he was on. I can't remember if I was swearing or praying under my breath as I very carefully inched my way higher until I was beside him.

Fearing that the top of the tree was going to snap any second, I again reached out and grabbed Butch. It was then that I saw why he couldn't come to me. He couldn't. The chain was wrapped around his neck. He wasn't able to move from his spot in the tree without choking himself to death. No wonder he was clinging so tightly to the limb. Poor Butch. I knew he couldn't last much longer.

With each savage gust, the wind was threatening to dislodge me. The top of the tree was now swaying almost uncontrollably as I again reached out and this time un-hooked the chain from Butch's harness.

When he felt the chain go slack from around his neck, he had no problem at all in removing it and letting it fall free. Then with an agility I wish I had, he started back down the tree until he was on the ground. Moving a little slower and a whole lot more carefully, I finally felt my feet touch solid ground too.

Butch came to me and I gathered him up in my arms. I inspected his neck and saw that he had a red circle where the chain ad rubbed against his flesh. His throat would be sore for a few days, but he would be alright.

This time, I definitely said a prayer under my breath, as I carried Butch back into the house and out of the weather.