A Puppy Called Hugo

‘He’s just being a puppy, don’t worry,’ Jenny said soothingly, as if reading my mind.

‘It’s not sweet,’ I whined. ‘It means trouble, and not everyone wants trouble.’

‘You didn’t think Hugo was trouble yesterday when he went off to look for Granddad,’ Jenny said accusingly. ‘Then you thought Hugo was a hero.’

I barked nothing. Jenny was of course right. I had thought Hugo was a hero and when I fretted I would never see him again I knew I would trade my own life in a heartbeat to save his. Looking at him now, snoring away, head rested on the 101 Dalmatians dog blanket Jenny had bought him, as though he didn’t have a care in the world, I felt myself softening. Mouth open, head rested on paws, Hugo looked like a mini statue. I wasn’t sure I had ever seen him so still. I saw Jenny also had a look of love in her eyes. I had to admit, she had a point. Hugo could be very cute at times. Watching him now, his little eyelids fluttering gently, it was hard to resist leaning over and giving him a huge cuddle. Reluctantly, I brought my attention to the here and now.

‘So, shall I tug the sheets off the bed?’ I barked in suggestion.

‘I’ll do the kitchen floor again,’ Jenny sighed.

Together we raced off to our respective jobs and worked hard to make the place sparkling for Gail when she returned. I know many humans were surprised when they discovered I took on household chores, but when Jenny had been in hospital and Gail and Simon had been out of the house so much I wanted to ease the burden. So I learnt to dust what I could, as well as strip beds and clean the floor. I could even fold sheets at a push. I always thought that if things got really sticky for me in Barksdale Way I could become a service dog like one of those canine helpers that’s trained to assist their lovely owners around the home.

I had always enjoyed helping others, especially the family I loved, and considered it my purpose as a dog. Whipping around the king-size bed, I tugged off the last of the Egyptian cotton sheets, and pushed them all into a ball in the corner of the room. Then I ran down the stairs to help Jenny. She had already cleared up enough of Hugo’s mess today, without doing any more.

Finding her in the kitchen wiping up the last of the stains, my heart pounded with love for the little girl. With her ponytail swinging as she worked, she had a huge, sloppy smile on her face. Given the job she was doing, I thought this was unusual and told her so.

‘It’s just the concert tonight that’s making me so happy.’ She beamed.

‘Is this Ed Sheeran good then?’ I barked.

‘Ed Sheeran is epic!’ she exclaimed.

After balling up the dirty kitchen roll and throwing it out with the rubbish, she turned to me, her face thoughtful.

‘But you know it’s more that this will be my first ever concert, Perce,’ Jenny said, quietly. ‘There was a time I wondered if I would ever get to see a gig, and now look at me.’

As she stood there looking bashful, I rubbed my head against her legs. She picked me up and cuddled me to her chest. Just listening to her heart beat proud and strong made me dizzy with delight. Jenny had been through so much, had nearly lost her life. She was right to feel excited about her very first concert and I couldn’t be happier for her. Something I told her with a gentle lick to the ear.

Just then the front door opened and Jenny and I exchanged looks of surprise.

‘Mum? That you?’ she called.

Gail appeared with Ben fast asleep in his carrycot. ‘Who were you expecting? Father Christmas?’ she replied sharply.

‘Sorry.’ Jenny raised her eyebrows in surprise at her mother’s tone.

Gail held her daughter’s gaze and sighed. ‘No, I’m sorry, love, that was a stupid thing to say. Ignore me I’ve had a tough morning.’

‘That’s OK.’ She shrugged, setting me down on the floor with a kiss to my head. ‘What are you doing here though? I thought you were going shopping with Granddad.’

‘I was,’ Gail explained. ‘But when I arrived Dad didn’t know anything about it.’

I watched Jenny’s brow crinkle with confusion. ‘What do you mean? I thought Granddad asked you to go shopping with him? I thought it was his idea.’

Gail nodded, as she took off her cardigan and hung it from the back of a kitchen chair. ‘Yes, it was. We talked about it only yesterday after his vanishing act. But when he opened the door, he seemed genuinely surprised to see me.’

‘But didn’t you tell him you were meant to be shopping, that you’d sorted things out here so you could go into town together?’ Jenny pressed.

Gail gently placed Ben’s carrycot on the floor and sat down heavily in the wooden chair. Eager to give her a cuddle, I hopped up onto her lap. My lovely owner looked as though she had the weight of the world on her shoulders; the least I could do was offer her a bit of comfort.

‘I tried.’ Gail smiled, fondling my ears. ‘But the more I talked about it the more distressed your granddad got, so I left it and made out it was all my fault and I’d got the wrong end of the stick.’

‘Was Gran there?’ Jenny asked, sitting opposite her mum.

Gail shook her head. ‘She was at yoga and it was probably for the best. She would only have got upset if she’d seen him like that. Honestly, love, the way your granddad looked at me, it was frightening. He seemed so distressed when I implied he might have forgotten something. He insisted it was me who had got it wrong, that I was just like Mum and never listened to a word he had to say.’

‘Do you think there’s a chance that you might have got hold of the wrong end of the stick?’ Jenny suggested gently.

Gail ran her hands through her chestnut hair and sighed. ‘I’ve been wondering that all the way home. It seems unlikely after what happened yesterday, but it could be coincidence. I mean, maybe I did get it wrong, I’ve had a lot to juggle lately. Perhaps it is me that’s having trouble keeping track of things.’

Jenny leant over to clasp her mother’s hand. ‘I mean maybe you could talk to Gran later, if you’re worried.’

Gail smiled and stretched across the table to kiss Jenny’s cheek. ‘Yes, maybe I’ll try to subtly mention something, without spoiling the anniversary surprise, of course. Now, just what did I do to deserve a daughter as wise as you eh?’

‘Something pretty special.’ Jenny chuckled. ‘And to think, I don’t ask for much in return, just a lift to the stadium later.’

‘All right, all right.’ Gail laughed, quickly getting to her feet, causing me to jump to the floor. ‘Don’t worry I haven’t forgotten. Now let me get changed, and how about I take you two pugs to the park?’

At the sound of my favourite walk, my ears pricked up and unsurprisingly so did my son’s. At breakneck speed Hugo got to his feet, drool hanging from his mouth and sleep crusted in the corners of his eyes.

‘Walk! Did Gail say walk?’ Hugo barked excitedly.

‘Yes,’ I yapped quickly. ‘Now get ready, Gail will be ready to leave in a minute, and I’m not waiting for you.’

Hugo needed no further encouragement and after giving himself such a thorough shaking I thought his head might fall off, he walked briskly to the front door.

‘Ready,’ he barked, jumping up and down so excitedly he sent the little blue-and-white china bowl of potpourri Gail kept on the table by the door flying.

I stared in horror as the bowl crashed to the floor with a resounding thud, sending scented flowers and shards of china everywhere.

Rooted to the spot in horror, I gazed at Hugo as Gail’s voice bellowed down the stairs.

‘Percy! What’s happened now?’

My eyes met Hugo’s and he stared at me apologetically.

‘Sorry, Dad,’ he yelped forlornly.

As Gail and Jenny rushed to the scene, I let out a heavy sigh. Would my boy ever learn?

*

The midday sun beamed through the clouds, and I lay on my back, enjoying the warmth on my belly. There was nothing better than a trip to the park. But when the sun beat down like this it felt like a real treat and after the morning I’d had I felt I deserved it.

I had always loved this particular park and the fact it was so huge only made it all the more exciting. Although it was just a few minutes away, it was so big it felt as though you were in the middle of nowhere. All you could see for miles was greenery and trees, perfect for jumping and playing in. Yet it was the dedicated dog park right at the heart of the park that was my favourite place in all the world. Not only was it filled with trees and grass, there was plenty of shade and a proper drinking trough for us dogs to use when we needed to cool off in the summer.

I turned my head and felt a stab of delight as I saw Sal and Peg walk towards me, accompanied incredibly by Lily, Roscoe and Ralph.