My Dog Skip
Sunday, December 25th, 2005I’m glad I had the opportunity to spend my after Xmas midnite all alone with the TV box right in front of me. Yeah, I’m quite a couch potato sometimes, bleh! It’s 26th Dec and 1215am with Channel 5. Thought there won’t be anything good but hey, since I’ve nothing much to do but lazing, I decided to watch this movie. After reading from some internet reviews, this show has 7.1/10 rating, let me give it a shot. And who knows, it’s one of the best company to walk through this Xmas time. Thank you, Channel 5. If anyone asked me how’s my Xmas? I’ll say, I’ve spent one night with Kiky.
My Dog Skip
(Image courtesy of www.whv.jp)
A true story based on a novel written by Willie Morris in 1996, about how his 9-year-old bday present has been his bestest friend and greatest mentor in life since then. He was an only child, a lonely one. His has no friends (not to mention girlfriend) and only had his grandpa and grandmas for his bday (as he had no one else to be invited when his mum passed him the invitation cards). On his 9th bday, his mum gave him a jack russel puppy even though his dad was strongly against it. (Clever mum, managed to strike a deal with the daddy - let Willie try for 2 weeks, if it doesn’t work, the dog will be returned). Of course it’s gonna last for more than 2 weeks and since then, their lives were never been the same again, especially for Willie.
I believe every one that has grown up and had deep encounter with a dog before, definitely able to relate with this story. It’s heart warming and it replays how wonderful a dog can be as a companion. Besides joy and fun, Skip has shown Willie the meaning of true friendship, unconditional love, life and death through its own unique way. Through Skip’s simply being itself, Willie managed to get to know the butcher, the poorer neighbourhood, 3 naughty buddies and held the hands of the prettiest girl in school. But of course, life has never been so smooth sailing. There was one scene where Willie was so upset with Skip that he hit Skip and Skip ran away. Being trapped in a cemetary which contained some illegal goods, Skip was beaten with a spade and nearly died. To cut the story short, Skip managed to survive and upon seeing the crying Willie, Skip just kissed him and act as if nothing has happened. Can human do that? Are human able to accept so unconditionally after being beaten and abandoned?
There was another scene where Skip will happily playing with the black kids. Well, discrimination was a big issue then, and the author put it so nicely by mentioning, since dog is colour blind, Skip plays with all kind of skins. Skip doesn’t care what’s your skin colour. Why can’t human learn from that sometimes?
"I was an only child and he was my only dog" - Willie Morris
Yes, I am an only child too and Kiky was and is my only dog ever. Even though I didn’t really experience such a lonely state like Willie did, but my life has never been the same since Kiky entered my life. I’m just taking this opportunity to thank God for sending Kiky to my life and for letting me experiencing her moments with me again through the show.
The movie ended with the phrase "He thought of Skip everyday" 
… well, Kiky, just to let you know, I think of you everyday too. Thank you for what you’ve given me. I believe there are more lessons to learn from your moments with me even though you are not physically near. But I know you are always there. Merry Xmas, Kiky.
Merry X’mas, Everyone! (Sorry one day late :p but still feel jolly, right?)
