The Skunk | Previous Challenge Entry

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TITLE: The Skunk | Previous Challenge Entry
By Lynn Jacky
01/24/08
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"Lynn, where's the ketchup?" I woke up to the sound of my husband's voice.

Ketchup? What on earth does he want with the ketchup? I glanced at the alarm clock. It was 5 AM. Ketchup, forget the ketchup. Sleep that's all I need; sleep and closed my eyes.

"Lynn." I opened my eyes to the sound of his voice getting louder. I tried to mumble something, ketchup? But my mouth was extremely dry. The words did not come out. Half of me, sleeping and the other half knew I had better wake up. I was trying to remember. Oh, yes, ketchup. In the fridge. Of course. But, where?

Finally, I had it together. "Ketchup is in the bottom of the fridge" responded my feeble voice. I couldn't even hear my own words. I knew my husband had not heard. I tried to move my mouth and tongue around in an effort to wake up and speak louder.

"Ketchup. In the bottom of the fridge. If you look somewhere near the bottom shelf you should find it."
I spoke the words loud and clear.

My husband. He wasn't awake either. In his frustration, he was in a panic, rummaging throughout the kitchen trying to make split second decisions.

For a few moments everything was quiet. Again, I glanced at the alarm clock. Now it was 5:10 AM.

"Lynn." His voice came louder. "Rylie got sprayed by a skunk."

Now I was annoyed. Rylie is our dog. Two more hours of sleep. I decided to ignore him. After all, he's a big boy. Surely, he can handle this by himself. I rolled over, closed my eyes and assumed my favourite sleeping position.

Guilty. Wow! My brain kicked into overdrive. Almost immediately, I jumped out of bed and decided to respond to his plea.

"I need you now!" This time my husband was standing at the hallway door.

When I left my bedroom, I glanced helplessly in the direction of the alarm clock. As if, the clock would magically help me retrieve my lost sleep.

I came down the stairs mumbling. "If you would close the garage door at night nothing would get in."

"What? "If you didn't feed the cats in the garage the skunk would not come in."
Came his quick, snappy answer.

I grabbed the bottle of Ketchup from the fridge and place it on the kitchen table. In our sleepiness, we were both trying to formulate a successful plan of action. Rylie was patiently waiting for us by the kitchen door. The whole garage wreaked with this famous defensive odour. The foul musk smell began seeping through the wall, invading into every crack between the garage and the kitchen. Quickly, I shut the hall door to keep the smell from going throughout the rest of our home.

Let me tell you, this was a gut wrenching Tuesday morning experience. I have smelt the musk odour of skunk before, but, never this foul and never this close up. It took my stomach awhile before it would settle down.

My husband thinks the skunk came in the garage to eat the cat food. Rylie having a keen sense wanted to investigate. My husband thinks the skunk heard the kitchen door open, got on the defensive. Rylie was only a few feet from the door when she got sprayed.

We never did use the ketchup. I went on line with 'Help! Skunk Odour'. Got a tip from Nebfact. Paul Krebaum, a chemist discovered a solution that neutralized skunk odour.

1guart 3% hydrogen peroxide (fresh bottle)
1/4 cup baking soda (sodium bicarbonate)
1-2 teaspoons liquid dish soap.

We found this solution worked a described on Nebfact. All I can say is Thank you.

We have noticed one thing this experience has taught Rylie. Before she leaves the kitchen door she stops, looks out to see what might be lurking in our garage.

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