Seiko; 'My' Pheasant .....

" Seiko " ls 'my' pheasant. I called him that because I found ye could set ye watch by him, when he'd come wandering down the track for his feed of the bird seed I put out there. 

  He's been turning up for, must be the best part of a year, now? He found himself a hen bird and brought her up here too. For months now though, he's been a dead regular fixture.

  He really winds Balzac up, for some reason! Just about anything can be out on that track, eating the seed. Balzac ignores them.

  I now get Collared Dove, Magpie, Gray Crow, Rook, Jackdaw ..... Balzac couldn't give a toss. But, the moment he spies Seiko? He's up at the gate, yelling a torrent of abuse at him!

  Funniest thing ever was a week or so ago. I'm stood here, watching Seiko stroll down the track. Taking his own sweet time. Balzac, meanwhile, has jumped up to sit on the inside window sill.

  Balzac's watching me, stood there sipping my tea. I'm watching Seiko, now pecking away at the seed bait. Lovely, sunny day. All is good. 

  Then, Balzac happened to turn his head and glance out the window. I've Never seen a Dog do something so funny in all my life!

  It's very hard to explain it, in words. But, to me, it was plain as day even from watching the back of Balzac's massive, empty head.

  One moment, he was an over grown puppy, sitting with his dad. Not a care in the world. Then, as he turned his gaze and saw Seiko? It was like a massive jolt hit him! Like a truck smacking into a wall at the speed of light.

  I could feel his eyes pop out of his head. Hear the vehemently spat " Cunt!!! " exploding from his clenched teeth! 

  Then, he was gone! A rush of wind as he flashed out the door, only to reappear smashing against the gate as he reared up and screamed his death threats and hatred at Seiko.

  I was Crippled with laughter! Balzac absolutely fucking Despises that one, solitary bird! God alone knows why!

  Evil Little Dog seems to take or leave Seiko. Guess it depends on how she's feeling? Once in a while, she'll chase him away. 

  Yet, yesterday, I watched her sitting, watching the doves eat. Right up close to them. She's venal. Balzac has a strong, true, pathological hatred of only Seiko.

  But, anyway; November 1st the the start of the cock pheasant season, here. It's quite the thing for the lads of the Gun Clubs to get out and try to bag a cock or two.

  I've been in the pub, in the evening, when wet and wind blown guys have come in, shaking their jackets and presenting their best bags. 

 The competition, locally, is to get the longest tail feather. That's probably based on a notion of taking out the oldest birds. Allowing vigorous, younger ones a place.

  What ever. I was born and raised around Field Sports. Couple of years back, I watched a pair of blokes wandering, behind a happy Black Lab, other side of the cut. 

  Glorious, sunny day. Three friends in good company. I envied them and wished them well. 

 I'd always hoped that my mate, Seiko, would be alright though. He obviously lives this side of the cut. On Pat's land. And, his cattle still being out? Pat wouldn't have Anybody firing near them!

   Friday though, I Did hear two shots. I'm so deaf, I can't tell even rough direction, let alone distance. But, I tried to tell myself to keep smiling.

   Just some lads, out for the traditional stroll. Seiko sticks close to here. Field of cattle, just down there. Near Seiko's spot. Pat would go fucking ballistic if anyone fired near them.

  Seiko didn't appear, for his feed, or to cause Balzac apoplexy that day though.

  I never saw him on Saturday, either. That was fucking disturbing! Come Sunday? I was, quite frankly, fucking miserable. No Seiko. And I was realising I'd probably heard the shots that killed him. 

  No amount of corvids made me smile since ~ despite my having plans for them. I'm quietly fucking gagging to get some of Them ringed! (As the rooster said, in the joke older than me: " Let them settle! ")

  So, yeah; Here I was, today. Monday. Sipping my tea and gazing out up the track.  Miserable as fuck about my mate, Seiko.

  Tell ye what? When that big ball of iridescent copper and black appeared in my vision, wandering down the track, to get his share of the free scoff? In Dis Fucking Scribable!!!