ROY ROGERS MUSEUM

990 words

Seven-year-old Danny was fidgety and whiny in the back seat.

“We’re almost there, Buddy. Why aren’t you playing your video games?”

“I just want to hurry up and see Trigger and Bullet.” Mom and Dad shared a ‘victory’ smile.

Mom pointed at a turn-off sign directing them to the John Wayne Museum/Experience. They had chosen this day-trip to be sure there would be something of interest for Danny when they got there.

***
Concerned that he was already being sucked into video games as his only entertainment sans siblings, they had watched old tv reruns of Roy Rogers and his Horse Trigger for over a month, priming Danny for the experience.

Trigger had died at age 30 in the year 1965, but to Danny he was alive and exciting. A hero’s horse. Danny was into super heroes. He already had his favorites.

Dad pointed out that Roy Rogers didn’t have any super powers. That Trigger and Bullet helped him get the bad guys.

Danny countered that Roy Rogers did have a gun. After a few moments of contemplation, he continued, “My video game heroes don’t need a gun. They just point their finger and I click the mouse and…a big flash comes out of the end of their finger and…poof…the bad guy dies.” Danny looked down the barrel of his finger in the universal sign of a gun as he demonstrated.

Dad didn’t comment. It sounded essentially the same as using a gun…poof…the enemy disappears. At least Roy Rogers taught ethics.

***

This morning at 6am, they had left home, hit every rest stop, ate a picnic lunch and were now standing in front of the doors of the museum as it opened at 1pm.

They entered along with a small group of other people. Since it was also a gift shop, some of the visitors went directly to shopping. Of the small group that remained, unfortunately there were no other children but there was a dog. A dog that looked remarkably like Bullet.

“Mom, why is that dog dressed up in a vest?”

Quietly she answered, “He’s a Guide dog, Danny. Don’t talk to him or touch him. He’s working.”

“Working? Doing What?” Danny’s voice was loud and embarrassing. The owner of the dog firmly gripped the dog’s halter, swinging his white cane from side to side and cocking his head in their direction. It appeared he had been headed for the gift shop but changed direction at Danny’s outburst.

She quickly hushed Danny and said more loudly than necessary, “Danny, let’s go see Trigger. He’s right over there !!” Trigger was huge, standing on his back legs, hooves reaching almost to the ceiling. Mom didn’t see how Danny could miss him.

But Danny kept looking back over his shoulder at the Guide Dog. “That’s Bullet !” He exclaimed as she hauled him away.

Dad stepped between his son and his view of the dog. “Danny, enough ! Go with your mother…. now !”

Trigger was so awesome Danny finally forgot about the dog and listened attentively to Mom as she read the fact sheet encased in plastic.

TRIGGER: Roy Rogers’ beloved Palomino horse. He was born in 1934 and stands 15.3 hands tall. He was originally named Golden Cloud but was renamed by Roy during the filming of Under Western Stars. Roy purchased him for what is in today’s money about $30,000. Trigger was known by the film makers as the smartest horse in movies and it was said he could perform over 100 tricks.

Mom skipped the part about Trigger’s hide being stretched over a foam mold and not stuffed. And she also skipped the rumor that Roy told his close friends to put him on Trigger’s back when he died. Same process.

At each station, Mom read each fact sheet aloud. Dad noticed the man with the dog stood nearby and seemed to follow them from exhibit to exhibit. If he was listening he was getting a redacted version. Dad hoped Danny had lost interest in the dog, but no such luck.

They arrived at Bullet’s display. Reminded, Danny pulled away from the display, pointed at the Guide Dog and shouted.

“Bullet’s Alive ! That’s Him !” Danny’s shoes could be heard pounding on the hard tile floor as he ran past his Dad.

The well-trained dog stepped in front of her master, protecting him from the charging youngster. Dad made a grab for his son, yanking him up by his shirt collar. “DANNY, NO !”

The dog made no aggressive moves toward the boy. She simply hugged the man’s legs, licked her lips nervously and looked unsure about what she was supposed to do. The man immediately touched and soothed the large dog.

“Sit Lia.” The dog immediately obeyed and seemed happy there was nothing else required of her. She appeared to be grinning as she flopped her long tongue lazily out of the side of her mouth and quizzically looked at the boy; now firmly locked in his father’s arms, off the floor

“Bullet’s not a girl,” Danny complained, pushing against his Dad’s chest and squirming to be released.

Dad explained, “I’m so sorry sir, but your dog does look like Bullet.”

The man removed his dark glasses and un-telescoped his white cane.

“You’re not blind !” exclaimed Dad.

“No. I’m a Guide Dog Trainer. Lia is as mild as they come. Your son was never in any danger or we would have left immediately. Lia has been around children all her life and she is very gentle.

The Trainer patted the dog’s head again and slipped her a treat. “Today’s outing is one of her last tests. And she passed with flying colors.”

“Didn’t you sweet girl.” The dog looked at the man with adoration and whined.

Dad lowered Danny to the floor, holding tightly to his hand, slightly miffed with this whole situation.

“The dog didn’t scare me. I thought I was going to get sued.”