A Pug Like Percy: A heartwarming tale for the whole family

‘You’re going to love it in here, Perce,’ he chuckled. ‘There are no girls allowed in this room, and I want you to think of this place as being yours as much as mine from now on. Any time those women get too much, you’re welcome to pop in.’

I barked in approval, delighted Simon wanted to share what was obviously a very special place with me. He opened the door and stepped inside with obvious enthusiasm. I sniffed the air and realised this room smelt very different to the rest of the house. I couldn’t put my paw on what it was, but the room was musky. I glanced up at Simon, who was standing by the window, hands in his jeans pockets looking proudly around him. I could see why. The room was a boy’s paradise, with posters of Bob Dylan and Oasis lining the walls, while row after row of DVDs such as Reservoir Dogs and The Godfather stood on a black metal shelving unit above a glass mini-fridge, filled with beer. Another large flat-screen television was mounted on the wall next to a rail filled with jeans and shirts, while an outstretched futon with a rumpled duvet stood next to it.

I glanced up at Simon. He seemed more relaxed now than he had all day. Worry coursed through me. I didn’t know much about families, but what I did know from chatting with other dogs like Barney was that most couples spent their nights together. I knew from the conversation I had just overheard between Simon and Gail that she believed he was sleeping up here because he sometimes worked late, but looking at how much happier Simon seemed in this space, I wondered briefly if that was true. I furrowed my wrinkled brow, trying to make sense of it all before glancing back up at Simon. He was watching me intently, and seemed to be waiting for a response. The last thing I wanted to do was upset him.

I thought quickly. As far as bachelor pads went, this was a pretty good one, and barked appreciatively as I sat on the floor by the bed.

Simon sat cross-legged on the floor beside me. ‘I’m glad you approve, mate. I’m hoping you and me will become pals because, you know what, I could really use one in this house.’

I licked his chin, urging him to carry on, his bristles rough against my tongue as he bent his face down towards me.

‘The thing is, Perce, since we moved back up to London, well, our whole lives revolve around Jenny and her illness. It’s heart-breaking. All I want is for Jenny to be well again and for us all to go back to how things were.’

Glancing up at him, I saw his green eyes moisten as he mentioned his daughter’s condition. I was unsure just how sick Jenny was but it was beginning to sound more serious by the second. My heart went out to him and Gail as they were obviously coping in very different ways. Gail by bringing me into the family and Simon, I realised glancing around me, by shutting himself away from his family in this man cave. I nuzzled my face into his lap and tried to let him know I understood.

‘I’m here for you, Simon,’ I barked noisily. ‘I’m here for you all.’

Chapter Five (#ulink_a413893e-c279-5cdc-bf89-b696a2d77501)

In the days that followed I began to settle into a routine with my new family. I was usually woken early by Jenny who would gently ruffle my ears, then open the back door for me so I could spend a penny. When I returned, I would find she had always made breakfast for me, and as I tucked in, she often liked to sit and watch me eat as the house gradually came to life.

After good morning strokes and kisses from Gail, Simon would throw on his old wax jacket and I would whimper in delight, knowing our early morning walk to the park was imminent. Patiently, I would sit by the front door and wait as Simon clipped on my lead, then we would trot down the road together chatting away about the day ahead. Although the ground was now covered in a thick frost, this morning was no different. As he yawned and stretched, jerking my lead so my collar caught my throat, I let out a yelp of agony.

‘Oh, sorry, mate,’ Simon said, loosening my lead. ‘I’m a bit knackered this morning, didn’t sleep all that well. Me and Gail had a row last night.’

I woofed in sympathy. I had been out like a light last night and had not heard a peep from either of them.

‘To be honest with you, Percy, it feels like me and Gail are always having words,’ Simon confided. ‘This week we’ve rowed about the washing-up, the car and the fact I’m apparently always out with my mates in the pub after work. It’s all doing my head in to be honest, I like a quiet life.’

As we walked up the lane dodging the icy patches on the pavement, I turned my face to meet his and barked again, encouraging him to get it all off his chest.

‘Course I’m not stupid like a lot of blokes, Perce,’ he continued. ‘I know Gail, and I know what she’s really upset about is the fact Jenny has to go back into hospital; but every time I say that to her, she bites my head off. I don’t know what to do for the best.’

I said nothing and just listened as we walked along the road. I’d come to know Simon well enough to realise he said more when he was uninterrupted by my woofs of support.

‘Since Jenny was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy, Gail’s been different, permanently on edge, you know. I thought moving back to London so we could be nearer to the hospital would make life easier. I mean, we were spending all our time on the motorway as it was with various appointments. But at least this way we’ve got my mum around to help.’ He sighed, scratching the bristles of his day-old beard. ‘The truth is, I think she blames me, Perce. My dad had heart trouble and this heart condition Jenny’s got is genetic. Gail’s never come out and said anything, but I think deep down, she feels it’s my fault. When Dad passed away because of his ticker last year she was more upset than me. I think she thought it would be Jenny next.’

He stopped, then bent down, his eyes meeting mine. ‘I’m sorry, Percy. You’re such a terrific dog, you don’t deserve all this rubbish. You deserve a home that’s happy and carefree.’

My eyes widened. Did Simon want to send me back to the tails of the forgotten already? It wasn’t Christmas yet, I still had at least six weeks to prove myself.

‘Don’t make me go back,’ I yelped frantically.

‘Oh, mate,’ Simon said, kissing the top of my head with his cold lips, ‘despite what you may think from all my moans and groans in the morning, you’ve changed our lives for the better, Perce.’

My cheeks puffed with pride as we reached the safety of the park. ‘You’re my family too,’ I barked, licking his face as he unclipped my collar. ‘Which is why I’ll be the best dog in the world if you’ll just let me stay with you for ever.’

‘Go on, mate,’ Simon called loudly, ignoring my barks of plea, ‘run free for a bit.’

I hardly needed any encouragement and ran across the green space that was rock-hard thanks to the wintery frost. Despite the cold, a visit to the park was one of the highlights of my day. There were lots of trees to have a tinkle behind, plenty of grass to run around on, not to mention loads of abandoned tennis balls that were begging to be chewed. Seeing one now, I pounced on it in delight just as a young, boisterous Border collie raced towards me.

‘I’m Bugsy, but you can call me Bugs,’ he said, panting excitedly. ‘Me and my gang have seen you here every day for the last few days, and have wondered who you are. I said I’d find out, so I’ve come to introduce myself and bring you back to meet the others. Do you want to come now?’

His wild-eyed enthusiasm and endless stream of chat was both impressive and exhausting. Watching him run around me in circles reminded me of some of the dogs I had met at the tails of the forgotten and I realised he was barely more than a pup.

‘I’m Percy,’ I replied slowly, trying to calm the youngster down. ‘I’ve just moved in with Simon and Gail in Barksdale Way.’

‘Cor! Barksdale Way’s a bit fancy. Full of families that think they’re no better than they should be – least that’s what my owners Johnny and Bella say – but I don’t know what that means. Do you want to come and meet my friends now?’ Bugs barked relentlessly.

I thought my head would explode with laugher. You could always rely on a young pup to tell you just how it is, I thought wryly.

‘I’d love to meet everyone,’ I woofed agreeably, following behind as he raced to the other end of the park.

‘This is Percy,’ he puffed, rounding up all his pals. ‘He’s just moved in with a new family in Barksdale Way.’

‘Very good, old boy. Welcome to the gang,’ woofed an elderly looking spaniel. With his greying whiskers, he reminded me a little bit of Kelly at the tails of the forgotten and was clearly a dog that had seen and done it all.

‘I’m Jake,’ he continued, ‘out and about most mornings, hips allowing.’ With that, he shifted his lower half from the wet, dank grass and wriggled his bottom to get more comfortable.

A sweet-looking German shepherd looked at Jake. ‘Are you all right, lovey? Your hips look like they’re playing up more than usual this morning.’

‘Oh, I’m fine,’ Jake barked in reply. ‘It’s this cold December weather. Christmas is no fun for old dogs like me.’

‘Don’t talk soft,’ the German shepherd replied gently, before turning to me. ‘And you’re Percy, I just heard Bugsy say. Well, it’s very nice to meet you, Percy. I’m Heather and you’re welcome to come and hang around with us of a morning any time you want to. Who are your owners?’

‘Gail and Simon,’ I barked again, gesturing towards Simon, who was busy chatting to a small blonde woman at the corner of a park.

The two looked as if they had known each other for years by the way they were gassing away. I was about to ask the others if they knew who she was when I became distracted by the lead the woman was holding. Straining impatiently at the leash, was the most beautiful pug I had ever seen. Blonde, with dark markings and trademark big brown eyes, her paws looked tantalisingly beautiful, and the set of her jaw left my own hanging open in longing.

‘That’s Peg, old boy,’ Jake barked quietly, as he sidled up to me. ‘She’s just a young thing, and spoiled, a bit like her owner, but she’s a good girl at heart.’

‘Jake, she’s a sweetheart,’ Heather protested, as she scratched her ear in frustration. ‘Don’t put Percy off before they’ve even met.’

‘Oh, Heather,’ Bugsy barked affectionately. ‘You always see the best in a dog, even me, and I’m always getting it wrong and I know you tell me it’s just my age, but it’s not always and anyway, I don’t think Percy’s about to be put off any time soon. His jaw’s on the floor and he’s dribbling. Is he sick, Heather?’

‘No, sweetie,’ Heather woofed affectionately. ‘He’s just got a bit of a crush, the poor thing.’

Bugsy grimaced. ‘Yuck! On Peg? But she’s a girl.’

I’d heard enough of this nonsense and turned back to face the others, who were all looking at me agog.

‘I don’t have a crush. I just think it’s nice to meet another pug, that’s all,’ I objected, hoping my traitorous, thumping heart wouldn’t give me away.

I turned back to look at Peg, only to find she was scampering towards us. I gulped noisily and felt my nose moisten with nerves as I turned to Heather. ‘How do I look?’

‘Like a prince, pet,’ she barked kindly.

‘Come and meet our new boy, Percy,’ Heather barked as Peg approached. ‘He lives around the corner in Barksdale Way.’