Chapter Eighteen
My Father’s Possession
A long time later, for me, but perhaps only six weeks in reality, my father decided that as his pet, I must learn to do tricks for his amusement and that of his friends, when I was eventually to be shown to them. My training took place in the cell after my exercising while I remained leashed, as always.
The first trick I had to learn at his verbal command was to sit up on my hind legs and stay that way, then wave my chained front legs. Although this sounds quite easy to do, it was horribly difficult to master to his satisfaction, restrained as I was. I had to first rear up, then balance on my knees, but the chaining arrangement made this nearly impossible to do because when I raised my front legs, my centre of gravity changed and I would fall fo
