Riri is the dog of one of the kitchen staff and, like a number of other dogs, comes along on the tour when we’re under the Big Top. I first met Riri in 2008. We had started to do research for the show, but the previous show was still touring so it was only a month-long stint. At that point, there were four dogs at the circus. One was extremely obedient, one was adorable if not a little pushy, one was made of hyperactivity and craziness… then there was Riri.
Riri was mean. Not in an aggressive way, but in, well, a crotchety old man way. The doggy equivalent of “Dang kids! Git offa my lawn!” He was never one for cuddling or other such mundane dog things. Sometimes he could be found sleeping in a box of onions.
But it’s no longer 2008 and time seems to be taking its toll on Riri. It started with a sudden need to always be with his master and now rarely leaves the kitchen. He doesn’t really bark anymore (and did he ever before), and in what can only be described as a throwback to his youth, he’s started randomly humping legs.
Then, on Halloween, Riri vanished into the night. In a statement that chilled to the bone, his master announced that this time, he would not be coming back. She just knew. Riri was gone.
Say what you will about the little shit, but that is one hell of an exit.
Riri.
The dog. The Legend.
No comments:
Post a Comment