Growing up with best friends

By Rebecca Lindquist

Seeing all the back-to-school pictures featured recently in the newspaper for area schools, had me smiling at the children who chose to have their first day of school photo taken with their pet. Several portrayed dogs and one youngster was holding an adorable bunny.

Growing up, I had a few pets in particular that held my heart. My first pet, a treasured favorite, was a sheep we had raised from birth. Her name was Little Bit, because she was so tiny when she was born, just “a little bit of a thing.” We raised her for the first few months, in the basement, inside an old galvanized oval stock tank, with a heat lamp strategically draped overhead for warmth.

What fun to run down the steps to see her! Once Little Bit was older, she was sent back outside among the other sheep. As she grew, she had free rein of the farm to roam where she pleased, unlike the other ewes. She was the perfect height for me to walk alongside and drape my arm over her neck, as I constantly chattered in her ear, telling her all my secrets.

After a time, Little Bit didn’t realize she was actually a sheep and not a human. She was a constant companion whenever we stepped out the door. If we went morel mushroom hunting, she would follow us all around the field, stopping occasionally under a shade tree to cool down and rest. When we would all jump in the back of the old manure spreader, hooked to the tractor, to go pick up rocks out of the hayfields, we would sometimes take a picnic lunch.

Our tagalong faithfully followed, knowing she would receive treats of chunks of homemade bread when we stopped for our noon repast. When it was milking time, Little Bit wandered the barn aisle, following us as we fed the cows, or took the pails into the milk house. In the winter, when it was extremely cold outside, she would stand at the outside basement door and kick at it to be let inside. She was only allowed in for short periods of time, so she didn’t overheat.

As I recall, there were only two things Little Bit was scared of: thunderstorms and the neighbor’s aggressive dog. I remember how protective she was. She would walk beside me and push against me if I was walking toward anything she felt was dangerous. There was a rock quarry on the farm where I loved to climb up the hill to sit at the top. Normally, it was empty except for some scraggly brush and rocks, but when it rained hard for several days, the quarry would rapidly fill with water.

I knew I wasn’t supposed to go near there, but always curious, that was the first place I headed. Little Bit would continually and firmly nudge me if I moved closer to the edge of the quarry than she thought was prudent.

She would wait for the school bus to drop us off in the afternoon, and the other children on the bus watched for her as eagerly as I did. Then came the earth-shattering day we sold our farm and moved back to Illinois. I had to say goodbye to my best friend, since there was no way my sweet Little Bit could make that long of a journey, as she was advanced in years by that time.

Friends of our family gave her a home. They also farmed, so she would have plenty of room to move about. It was an extremely sad day when we received the call telling us she had passed. My one regret is I don’t have pictures of her and all the fun times we had together, but I still cherish the great memories.

Another beloved pet was a rust, dark gold, black and white colored calico cat, raised from a kitten, named Patches. Patches was another catered-to pet that was allowed in the house frequently. She adored Lucky Charms cereal and would stand up on her hind legs while I fed them to her.

I have known many cats that were temperamental in nature, that would just as soon saunter by and bite you, rather than look at you, but Patches was the most docile, sweetest-tempered cat I have ever come across. She radiated love and gentleness, and wasn’t high strung in the least.

It has been many years since I’ve had a pet, but I’m so thankful for those that were in my life and loved me unconditionally. It makes my heart happy when children have pets they’re close with, because everyone needs a best friend growing up.

Thanks, Little Bit and Patches, for filling my childhood with special moments, companionship and love.