PAPPY IS QUEEN OF THE STAIRCASE

Not to worry! Pappy's head is not stuck between the banister rails. In fact she likes it there. She squeezes her head into the unusual position on purpose and can get out of it on her own.

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My daughter Cindy speculates that Pappy, a six-year-old Japanese Chin "with attitude", likes to position herself at the top of the staircase with her head pushed through the rails because it gives her a sense of superiority and security all at the same time. The vantage point is also ideal for her to keep an eye on two other dogs in the household and five family members.

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A small dog has to do what a small dog has to do to maintain status.

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The cute, prize-winning photo was taken by my grandson Ryan.

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No security for me in getting stuck

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The Pappy story reminds me of an experience I had when, as a five or six-year-old, I got my knee stuck in railing on a front porch.

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I had been playing with a friend, Hughie Carr, on his grandmother's porch in Dresden, a block from Wrights Lane. Somehow or other, I got my knee hopelessly stuck between two posts in the railing. Try as I may, I could not pull myself out of the predicament. Hughie's grandmother tried her best to free me, but to no avail. Neighbors were summoned and their best efforts failed as well.

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Finally, in desperation, Mrs. Carr called the fire department. My knee was beginning to swell and turn blue. I tried in vain to hold back tears.

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Fire Chief Rufus Law arrived on the scene with his vehicle siren blaring. Hastily sizing up the situation, he announced: "There's nothing else for it. We'll have to cut one of the posts."

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"No, don't cut Gramma's porch!" screamed Hughie..."Cut his leg off instead!"

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That was not particularly something I wanted to hear. I broke into agonizing sobs.

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Someone in the crowd that had gathered mercifully suggested applying Vaseline to my knee and a jar of petroleum jelly appeared out of nowhere. After a liberal application of the slippery jell, Chief Law carefully eased my knee free from between the posts. Free at last. Thank God I was free at last!

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I hobbled home, happy that my leg was still in place.

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Hughie was happy too. They did not have to cut his Gramma's porch.