The other day I talked briefly of Angrik and Frankie, and it got me thinking about them further. Although they are of the same species, they happen to be of different race. They are treated kindly but somehow differently. Let me explain and relate how they came to be with us in the first place.
Angrik was an abandoned baby, thrown into our compound with a another sibling early one morning. When my wife saw a bundle on the grass she picked it up and out rushed one of them, but she was too slow to catch it. However the other one was still struggling inside the wrapping and my wife quickly brought it into the house. It turned out to be a female and in good health. Wena gave her a beautiful and most suitable name: Angrik.
She quickly became the darling of the family. I was indifferent towards her because I could not accept a new one in the house, not after I have given my whole love to another who unfortunately succumbed to a kidney disease after a long illness, some years back. I was very fond of him and after he was gone,I told myself that I will never give my heart to another.
But, I suppose, time heals everything, and I slowly began to show tenderness towards Angrik. And naturally she responds accordingly. She is, unlike many females, rather quiet and demure in character. She is very homely and loves attention.
Frankie, on the other hand, came directly from an orphanage. During one visit, he was offered to Wena who managed to persuade my wife to adopt him. Again, it was Wena who gave the name Frankie but I jokingly (perhaps, cruelly) called him Frankenstein!
When they got home, they discovered that he was somewhat disabled, with a lame leg. However, with tender care and medication, Frankie's leg improved and he gained strength. Soon there was no trace of his disability. He was very active, running all over the place. He was one smart kid.
While similar treatment is given to both Angrik and Frankie, the latter had to stay outside because there is simply not enough room for both indoors. At the slightest opportunity, he would sneak into the house and make loud announcements of the fact to me. He was simply trying to irritate me because the moment I hear him I would send him out again, sometimes two or three times in a row. In due course, he learnt to behave himself and only enter the house when allowed to. I also relent from time to time by ignoring his announcements.
Everything, however, changed when they become sick. There was no discrimination at all. Both received the best treatment. Never mind the cost. It is hoped that they will live a long life and continue to give pleasure, each according to his/her ways.
2 comments:
That was a very touching story and most true! Angrik and Frankie are indeed the darlings of the family - the two kids of the house!
I believe that it was Popore who named Angrik (due to the fact that you and her both adore orchids) - I had initially wanted to name her Helga! Angrik however was much more suitable to her namesake, the beatiful flowers that adorn the garden. Frankie I named after Franklin Delaware Roosevelt but as it was much too long to call, it has since been shortened to Frankie. I named him that because of his leg condition - President FDR was a known paraplegic but did not let his disability get in the way of greatness. I thought I saw that in Frankie when Popore and I first met him at the orphanage.
Well done, AhKong! Well written as always. Look forward to your next post.
I do hope Angrik and Frankie know that they're famous on the internet! They are indeed very lucky to have all that love and care.
I remember first meeting Angrik and thinking that she looks a bit like Kenchiro. She was very playful and quite feisty with her claws, she still is according to Rowena especially when she doesn't get the attention she wants. Frankie has always been friendly, running around, greeting us whenever we came over. He seemed to have quickly grown in size but never changed in terms of character.
Taking from what Rowena said, well written as always, AhKong. Will definitely be looking out for the next post.
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