The Adventures of Naomie 43
The Adventures of Naomie 43
Charles and Rosie were hungry for Spanish food. No place in town served Spanish foods so they ventured out to Pintxos in Pittsburgh, PA. They took Naomie out to dinner and to finally be alone with her for a while.
A lady was playing the piano. Rosie looked at her a few times thinking she had seen the woman before.
The lady recognized her and played the theme from Hatari! by Henry Mancini.
Now she had Rosie and Naomie's full attention. Naomie knew that song as Baby Elephant Walk.
“Gloria”
“Rosie”
Gloria Ysursa, owner of Pintxos, motioned Rosie to come up. Naomie and Charles watched as the two women played a variety of songs together.
Rosie came back to the table. Gloria followed with her husband Alexander. Charles and Naomie were introduced.
“We haven't seen each other since the José Iturbi International Music Competition at the University of California in Los Angeles. I was in the competition and Rosie was a judge. I was in a tie but I lost.
The competition's co-founder, Donelle Dadidgan, picked the final winner for the tie breaker. She is the founder of the Hollywood Museum and the goddaughter of José Iturbi.” said Gloria with a huge smile.
They all sat and chatted for a while then Alexander received a phone call from his highly excited sister. Rapidly speaking Spanish.
“Slow down Missy. Speak English please. I'm in the restaurant with four others. Good now the sheep is bleeding? Is she in labor yet?
What? Missy! Stop crying. I will come right now. Where is your husband?
He's the one to call, not me. Shearing? OK I'm coming now. Stop crying. Go boil some water. I'll be there in five minutes.”
Naomie said she was a Veterinarian and asked if she could come with him. Charles got her bag from their car and Naomie went with Alexander. Charles, Rosie and Gloria followed.
Out at the Ysursa Sheep Ranch Six They all piled down to the barn to hear the bleating of a distressed female ewe and the wails of Alexander's sister-in-Law Missy.
Naomie took off her sweater and put on an apron, along with rubber gloves. She started humming that Elephant Walk tune. The others stepped back and lowly hummed along with her.
Reaching deep into the ewe she turned the breech baby and soon it started to come out. Mama sheep stopped bleating and started licking the new babe. About five minutes later, another babe. Finally a third.
“Well, Romanov sheep are fertile breeds for twins. Triplets are unusual. They all look well. The first one is also fine. He was being pushed by the others and got turned somehow. You may have to help the Ewe feed them at first.” said Naomie.
While Naomie washed up in the bathroom the husband, Manuel came home from shearing wool. He wanted to pay Naomie but she said no the babies were all well and so was Mama. She did take his card in case anyone needed a shearer or a person that may be in need of shearing. She told him she was helping Dr. Bell until his brother returned from India.
“ I do like the town and would stay but when Thomas returns he and his brother have a business to attend to.
I do not know if a town that small needs three veterinarians.”
Manuel told her if she did not mind tending to the bigger animals there was plenty of work for her among the Basque ranchers.
“These ranchers will not be prejudice of a woman Doctor.
They are respectful and will pay well for you to come to their ranches to tend to mostly big stock.
Please if you will give me a card I will take it to the next meeting. I have been so busy teaching shearing to the young men and women of our community. Many modern youngsters over eighteen do not wish to be called sheep Shearers but I have been showing them in classes and they are getting more interested.``
After dining Alexander excused himself then returned with a handwoven wool blanket for Naomie. It was a work of art. Gray, black, cream, with a slim layer or red. “ I was not sure if you liked red. I also have the design in green.” said Alexander.
Naomie thanked him saying she would keep the red and cherish this evening always.
She had a vivid imagination and would carry it on for the rest of her life.
©Julia A Knaake