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A hearty feast of free readings, lectures, presentations, workshops and showcases celebrating our culture, community and the wild blue yonder.
 Where inquiring minds gather.
Okanagan Institute
at Hanna's Lounge
Click here for schedule
and information. |
Arts Council of the Central Okanagan is a resource centre and advocate for the arts in Kelowna and Central Okanagan. Find us at:
8-1304 Ellis Street
Kelowna BC V1Y 1Z8
Phone: 250.861.4123
Fax: 250.861.4155
Email: Click here
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Join the Arts Council of the Central Okanagan today and you will:
» Meet people who are involved in our arts community, and stay informed.
» Receive our weekly email newsletter, The Junction.
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» Have a worthy advocate to protect your artistic and cultural rights.
» Be able to join ARTSCO's special projects.
Click here to apply.
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Literary Arts
Animal Act Vicki Bissillion
"Ted, no! Ted come back here," yelled the handler of the 'Most Obedient Dog' (in yesterday's Dog Show.) The Welsh Corgi ignored her, blue ribbon notwithstanding. He was headed for the riverbank behind his girlfriend, a small Bichon-cross named Cricket.
The owners hurried behind, arriving in time to see Ted slip down the steep bank and plop into the river. The instigator of the whole drama, Cricket was paddling proudly back and forth in the muddy Arroyo Colorado in this Adult RV Park on the Texas - Mexico border..
"Teddy, stop, come back, no Ted!"
Mother deaf and worried about his best pal, Ted decided to join her in the river. It was immediately apparent that the Corgi was in over his head. He scrambled and clawed against the riverbank, sinking lower and lower.
He couldn't swim!
At first his whole head was above water, but within seconds only his snout and ears showed above the dismal, tepid water. And his large, terrified brown eyes.
"Oh no, Teddy's sinking! Here Ted, come to me!" his human mom pleaded, scrambling down the dirty bank as best as she could while Cricket's mom clung to her waistband from higher ground.
Ted slipped another inch lower, just out of his frantic human's reach.
"It's no use, he's drowning! I'll have to go in and get him. Oh, oh."
The distraught woman slid down the bank, feet first into the swirling, brackish river. The water was past her waist before one shoeless foot found the mooshy bottom.
She wrapped both hands around her pet's belly and tried to hoist him out. But the bank rose some three feet straight up before leveling out and the 40-pound canine was struggling.
At the same time, Cricket who had been swimming along side the bank, sensed their panic and also tried to get out of the river. Ironically, the 'Most Agile Dog' (from yesterday's dog show) could not manage her way up the steep embankment! With only her head, front legs and paws up on the sandy slope, she slowly slid back into the river to resume paddling around.
Cricket's mom dropped into the Arroyo next to Marcia. She was surprised to sink to her chest, being several inches shorter than her friend. Strangely, the depth of the water hadn't occurred to either of the women. The water was grossly warm and she tried not to think about the snakes and fish that lurked below the surface. Teddy's mom tried again to lift him.
"Hold on for a second. Let me get Cricket out and I'll help you," the second mom suggested. She quickly scooped the fourteen pound Bichon out of the river and threw her up onto the bank and safety.
"Cricket, you stay!" she hollered. "Okay now Marcia, you lift the front and I'll boost his rump. Here we go. One more push! That's it. Got him!"
The Corgi clawed his way to higher ground as fast as his short little legs would let him. He and Cricket smiled and kissed one another - ain't love grand?
"Wow! That was an adventure. Now we just have to get ourselves out of here!"
"Do you think there are snakes in this river?" Marcia mumbled, never taking her eyes off her dripping Corgi. She tested a tree root sticking out of the bank at ear level, but it came away in her hand. The canines were whining from high above..
After a moment's discussion, Marcia locked her hands together under the water and gave the smaller woman an old-fashioned leg-up. Cricket's mom sprawled on her belly halfway up the bank for lack of one more foothold. She reluctantly put one sandaled foot onto Marcia's shoulder and slowly straightened her leg, hoisting her way up the sandy slope by a strong tree root within reach.
They discussed options and saw no way to haul Marcia up the steep bank. There wasn't another soul around for help. They agreed that Marcia would work her way 100 yards downstream to a shallow landing area. Cricket's mom would control the dogs that seemed loath to leave the area with Marcia still in the treacherous water.
"Hey, Marcia, can you swim?"
"Yeah. I can, though I sure hope I won't have to," she answered.
The soggy trio walked alongside the Arroyo, trying to keep Marcia in sight through the trees and hollering encouragement. In a few minutes they stood at the water's edge cheering as she came round the last bend into sight - water up to her neck.
Teddy barked an enthusiastic 'Welcome'.
Cricket waded out to meet her. "Look at me, I really can swim you know," she seemed to brag.
Gratefully on dry land, Marcia and her non-amphibian dog grinned and hugged each other. Then the two woman giggled hysterically and hugged one another.
"Is that what you'd call a 'bonding experience?" they joked, and with one last glance at the swirling muddy river, they sloshed their way home.
We invite submissions from writers.
» The story or poem should not be over 2000 words and must be your own original work. All submissions must be word processed and emailed to us at our email address.
» Submissions must include your complete contact information: Name, Telephone, Email, Mailing Address.
» Please also include a short biography and if possible a small photo of yourself.
» The anonymity of all that submit a story or poem will be respected. Contact details supplied as part of your submission will not be disclosed to any third party.
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