MacGregor and MacDuff

The Campbell family was having an empty feeling. Their oldest boy was a junior in college and living away from home, and now his younger brother Chris was starting his freshman year there, too. Scott, the middle boy, had been mildly retarded at birth due to oxygen deprivation and had recently moved into a group home where he could work some with supervision and learn life skills, like handling the money he earned with the help of the adult counselors provided 24 hours a day by the home.

The Campbells were left at home with their two youngest daughters Kris and Kim. These girls were a year apart in upper elementary school. It felt like the four of them rattled around in their nearly-empty arts and crafts style bungalow, built in the 1920's just outside of town. Every time we looked into the empty bedrooms of the three older kids, we realized how things were changing. It seemed like tomorrow the girls would be off to college, too, and then what would the house be like, echoing emptily as we walked around. At dinner that night we talked it over with the girls, and they thought it was time to get a puppy.

Not a puppy, we said, because they make messes everywhere, chew everything, and had to be walked at all hours of the day and night. The girls begged and pleaded for a puppy, especially for us not to say no but to think about it.

Several days went by, and one night Charlie sat reading his evening newspaper after dinner and decided to read the classified ads. Imagine his surprise to learn that there was a breeder in northwest Iowa that bred and raised Scotty dogs. That night as Charlie and Judy put the girls to bed, they suggested a field trip to the Iowa farm where Scotties were raised. The girls shrieked for joy and had a hard time getting to sleep as they were going to go see about the Scotty dog on the next day.

On the way out of town the Campbells stopped at Scott's group home, and he wanted to go along on the trip. So the five Campbells set out for northwest Iowa. Quickly crossing the Missouri River, they headed north through the rolling hills and farm country of Iowa. After about two hours they pulled into a farm with a large red barn and white farmhouse. They were greeted by several adult Scotty dogs, and following them was Mrs. MacFarland. Mrs. MacFarland walked with us over toward the red barn and mentioned that they had only one Scotty male pup and one Westy male pup left. She said that when these puppies found homes, that they were going to retire from the puppy breeding business and retire to Texas, as least in the winter months.

When we got into the barn, we quickly were introduced to the two puppies. Scotties and Westies do not look much like each other, and today are considered separate breeds; but genetically they are the same. Westies are called West Highland Scottish Terriers while Scotties are simply Scottish Terriers. Well, the Campbells are thoroughly Scottish, too. Scott quickly sat down on the hay-covered barn floor, and both of the puppies did their best to clean his face. He loved them both right away and did not want to have to choose which puppy would go home with the family. Kim discovered that the Scotty puppy loved her hair and tried to sniff it right off her head. Kris and Scott shared the Westy's affections, and all looked to their parents to see what would happen. Mrs. MacFarland, watching this scene, said that if we would take both of the puppies that she would give us a great discount on their cost. Charlie and Judy looked at each other and knew when they had been outfoxed and agreed. Charlie got out the checkbook and paid Mrs. MacFarland for the puppies, and the seven Campbells headed back toward home. By the time they reached the interstate, the puppies were both asleep, one on each of the girl's laps. We were the now proud owners of not one but two new puppies.