Against my better judgment, i undergo the pain of typing this to you as you will comprehend later in the story.
The day warmed up nicely as the sun shone and the world was happy so, I opted to walk to pick up the nieta from school.
On my way, I reconned the pecan trees, underneath from which we were going to harvest a fresh crops on our way home.
Although I had forgotten my glasses, the celephone showed the time was 3:37pm; I was making good time.
Nearing the school, the two chihuahuas barked after me, as they do every day and I ignored them, as I do every day until they went back home.
Then, I noticed, two houses ahead, something new.
A pit-bull dog staring at me with the blood-lust glare and his every muscle flexed in his ready to kill posture.
My instinct told me, as I continued my quick pace, that ignoring this one was hardly going to work and my eyes strained to see if there was, hopefully, a leash or tether of some sort securing the apparently vicious beast.
Far off in the driveway, I could make out the head of a man cleaning the cab of the backed-in pickup truck, in front of which the dog stood preparing to make his kill.
I faced in the direction of my walk without showing fear or slowing my gate but, my focus, out of the edge of my vision, was on the threat.
Without so much as a flinch, the dog exploded into movement towards me, making a low guttural rumble in his throat that came out of hell and in less than a second he reduce the distance between us to half.
Without time to think I yelled "HEY" in an attempt to startle the advancing demon.
The sound that shattered the still sunny air was unfamiliar to me and was something more of lion's roar warning against any approach.
Without thinking I moved faster toward my attacker, crouching down with my right arm shielding me, as the monster leaped into the air towards my face.
It was hardy a dog at all but, a conglomeration of teeth and anger propelled by a huge mass of bulky muscle.My mind had shut down and my instincts had taken over, as my body did things I out of my control and yet, I was doing those things; like stopping my feet from walking but, permitting my forward motion. . . like visualizing the mid-flight demonic-possessed dog's eyes focused on my throat, in slow motion . . .
. . . like pulling back my right to expose my neck to his attack . . .. . . like forming a fist with my right hand and striking, suddenly and with perfect timing, the dog's left jaw with the full force of my weigh and momentum.I believe it is called a "right cross" though I lack any training or interest in the fighting skills.With sharp "YIPE" the dog's body was set to spinning, missing making any contact with my body except that with my clenched right fist, as I resumed my walking pace leaning slightly left for following through with the punch.The yipe was interrupted by a dull thud sound of a heavy body involuntarily contacting the hard dry south Texas dirt.
I was continuing my pace when the dog's human poked his head up over the SUV parked next to the pickup and yelled for his dog.A quick glance back reminded me that the poor pathetic creature laying on its back had, at one time, long ago, posed a threat to me but, for now, MY focus was on this irresponsible tattooed waste of human flesh that dares allow such a dangerous animal be loose in a school zone.The entire event took up less than three second though it seemed like forever at the duration.
At the hospital, I relayed this story to the daughter & nieta.When we were alone, the nieta said "Coocoo, that story is so cool. You should post it on facebook & tumblr so people can read it and know how cool you are. YOU PUNCHED A PIT-BULL. I would have frozen & gotten bitten"
I was treated for a broken wrist (slight fracture of the right ulna).Hey, I'm a lover not a fighter.The dog eventually regained consciousness & was taken by Animal Control for observation, as his teeth did break the skin of my knuckle and wrist