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HARLEY VISITS M.A.B.
by Darlene DuVall
Our neighbor out back of us volunteers at a school for special needs children. The M.A.B. or Montreal Association for the Blind, is the only school that caters to the needs of these children. Some are mentally or physically challenged but the common denominator is that they are all blind. Brenda asked if I thought Harley would be able to go to the school and spend some time visiting with the children in the different classrooms. Of course, you know what my answer was........anything for the kids !!!!!!
Harley and I went to the M.A.B. on Thursday, April 11, 2002. One of the M.A.B. staff provided transportation for us and said shed pick us up. I was expecting the mini bus, but instead, Dorothy showed up in a Toyota Celica, 2 door !!!!!!!!! Well, Harley was not sure at all about getting in, but once inside was a perfect angel. UNTIL he discovered I was going to crawl into the back seat with him. Needless to say, Harley made it very clear that he was NOT impressed at having to be squished into the back seat of this tiny car and THEN have to share it with his Mama !!!!!!
On the way to the school, I began to explain to Harley what we were doing. Now I know this might sound strange to some of you, but I have always felt that telling Harley what we were doing and why was a normal thing to do. Of course, Dorothy, the driver, was looking in her rear view mirror as if I was a crazy lady. But hey, Im a Piggy Mama, what can I tell ya. I do weird and crazy things.
Harley and I had so much fun !!!!!!! In each class the students were given pieces of carrot that I had brought with us, and they each got to feed Harley. Brenda of course had brough Harleys favorite fruit of all....seedless watermelon !!!!!!!! Some of them asked for quiet so they could hear Harley eating the carrot and giggled at the sounds he made. Then came the touching part of the visit. This was the one part that I had explained very carefully to Harley. I didnt want him to be afraid of the fingers and hands roaming over him. If I hadnt of seen it, I never would have belived it possible. The kids crowded around Harley and he didnt react. Then, the teacher would take each student ,one by one, and they got to feel Harley. The teacher wanted to stay near the back and bum and tail area but a few of them wanted to touch Harleys face. Before we both knew what was happening, there were 5 hands going over the front of Harleys face !!!!!!!!!!!!! AND HARLEY LET THEM !!!!!!! He never grunted, or squealed or tried to run from them. He didnt head swipe, or nudge them, or even try to back away !!!!!!! They were roaming over his ears and the brow and the eyes and giggled at the long eye lashes but they all got a surprise when the hands ended up on Harleys snoutie and drooling mouth !!!!!!!! They knew right away what it was but were quite surprised at how much a pig can drool. I had brought face cloths and paper towels, but the kids were in no rush to wipe their hands.
Not all classes were this easy. As I said, some were mentally and physically challenged. These were the students that made our day. After one particular class, the teacher was so overjoyed, she kept shaking my hand over and over again for bringing Harley. One of the students was low to the floor and was given a large carrot to hold. Harley got real close to her, and nuzzled her neck while getting the carrot. She smiled such a big smile and turned her head as if in a giggle. When we had left the class, Brenda said that the children in that room had never interacted with anyone, and 1 of them had actually smiled, which they had never done before. Well, talk about getting choked up..........
We had been in the school about 2 1/2 hours and were getting ready to leave when one of the teachers asked if I wanted to let Harley use the *facilities* before we left. No one showed me where the bathroom was, or even asked me if I need to go,oh well. Guess I know who they were interested in !!!!!! They led us out into the largest yard that I have ever seen. There was a garden, play buildings for the kiddies, slides and huge cement sewer pipes for playing inside. Harley was so excited about exploring he never bothered about going potty. He roamed around the yard, checked out the play houses and slides and found a swing, built for wheelchairs. Harley tried to get on it, but as soon as it moved, he backed off right fast !!!!!!!!
It was time to leave and back into the car we went. Harley was so full of snacks I thought I was going to have to walk home. It was much tighter coming home than it was going there. When we got home, Harley ran to the back door, and went in his own yard to potty, hes such a good boy. After having a nice drink of cranberry juice and water, he went for a piggy nap. A very well deserved one too.
In the almost 4 years we have fostered Harley, I have seen more of this city than I ever knew existed. It is amazing what having a potbelly pig can do for your social life !!!!!!!!!!!
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