A Puppy Called Hugo

‘This lad is definitely going to the park later,’ Simon added, with a flash of understanding. ‘If he feels ill he can be ill over there.’

Just then, Gail let out a massive squeal. I spun around from my position next to the fridge, only to see Ben had turned his bottle upside down, spilling the contents all over Gail.

‘Are you all right?’ I whined, trotting over to her.

‘You look like a massive marshmallow.’ Simon chuckled, looking up at the sight of his wife covered in milk.

Gail rolled her eyes. ‘Thanks, love. Just what I needed to hear after a night of no sleep.’

I rubbed my head against her denim clad shins. Gail had been pacing up and down with a teething Ben most of the night. She had done her best to get him to sleep and had sung to him, read to him, offered him a bottle, her finger to chew, but nothing would quieten him down.

In the end I had got up with her and tried to sing him a song as well, but Ben hadn’t approved of my attempts either and so Gail and I had both given up. Instead, we collapsed in a heap on the velvet sofa, urging sleep to find Ben and us.

‘Not again, love,’ Simon said sympathetically. ‘I didn’t hear anything.’

‘No, I know,’ Gail grumbled. ‘I saw you were sound asleep.’

Simon looked shifty. ‘It’s not my fault I’m a sound sleeper.’

‘No, but it is your fault you wear earplugs,’ Gail replied, as she looked down and smiled at me. ‘If it wasn’t for Percy keeping me company last night, I’d have gone mad.’

I nuzzled my head against her legs once more, wishing there was more I could do.

‘Well, like I said, I’m sorry, love.’ Simon shrugged. ‘I’ve a lot on at work at the minute, and I’d like it to stay that way with all these extra mouths to feed.’

Gail sighed as she glanced down at her sticky fleece. ‘I know, I do understand. Look, just take Ben a minute can you, I need to get changed.’

‘I can’t, I’ve got to go to work. I’m late fixing Mrs Gaston’s boiler as it is,’ Simon replied, already backing out of the door.

‘Can’t she wait a few minutes?’ Gail hissed.

Sensing discord between his parents, Ben chose that exact moment to let his feelings on the matter be known. Opening his mouth, he let out another scream at the top of his lungs.

I looked up at him in horror. How could such a big noise come from such a tiny person? Simon wasted no time reaching for his van keys from the nook by the fridge.

‘Sorry, love. I’ll only be an hour. Call me if you need anything,’ he insisted, making a phone gesture with his hands.

As the front door slammed shut, Gail looked helplessly at me, still drowning in milk.

‘Can I help?’ I barked helpfully. ‘As Jenny doesn’t have school, should I get her up perhaps to give you a hand?’

But Gail merely let out a sigh as she sat Ben in his high chair, and began mopping herself down with a tea towel.

With Gail temporarily engrossed, I wondered if this was the perfect time for a chat with the young fella. I padded across to his high chair and sat with my head cocked, gazing into his eyes. Mollified by a dummy Gail had just plonked in his mouth, I had to hand it to him, when he wasn’t crying he wasn’t bad. Like his mum he had blue eyes that sparkled when he gave off one of his trademark grins.

‘Now, Ben, I know you’re just a baby, but you need to give Gail, your mum, a break. She’s tired, she’s got a lot to do all said, and all this crying, well it’s not the way,’ I barked up at him.

I paused, allowing the suggestion to sink in, but judging from the way he banged his fists against his high chair it didn’t look as though Ben had understood a bark I said.

With a sigh, I tried again. ‘Look, Ben, you know how much everyone loves you, especially me. But do you think there’s any way that you could think about easing up on the tears for just a little bit. I would be so grateful, I’ll even let you pull my ears without fuss from time to time.’

The moment the bark left my lips, I regretted it. For a baby, Ben had a monstrously fierce grip, and allowing him free rein over my precious ears would be a sacrifice, and not one I was sure I would be willing to make.

Just then, Ben fixed me with what I called his excitable face and, as if by magic, he let out a happy gurgle. The sight of him looking so adorable left me feeling warm and fuzzy inside and I knew that I wouldn’t just sacrifice my ears for peace and quiet but Hugo and Peg’s too.

As Gail finished cleaning herself up, she bent down to tickle my chin.

‘Look, you got him to stop crying! I don’t know how you do it, Percy. You’ve got the magic touch.’ She grinned.

‘There’s no magic to it, I’ve just bargained away my soul,’ I barked in all seriousness.

Gail smiled, then stood up to plant a kiss on Ben’s head. I looked at her as she bustled around the kitchen, appearing happy and content.

‘So, Perce, I thought you and me could go to the shops when Simon gets back. He can mind the kids and Hugo for a bit, what do you think?’

I thumped my tail on the floor to signal my delight. Talk about bliss! Gail and I hadn’t spent time on our own together for what felt like months. It would be wonderful to be in her company without distraction even for just a few minutes.

*

Just as he promised, Simon returned an hour later, more than happy to look after the kids and Hugo, giving Gail and me some much needed time to ourselves. Eagerly, I followed my owner out into the hallway. Quickly, she slipped her trainers on and shoved a treat and my lead into the pocket of her wax jacket. I hadn’t used a lead in over a year, but Gail always liked to tie me to a post outside the supermarket when she nipped in for groceries, just in case anyone stole me.

‘Jen, we’re off now. Any problems give me a ring, OK?’ Gail called up the stairs.

‘OK,’ came Jenny’s muffled voice.

Gail rolled her eyes as she opened the door and we stepped out into the fresh air.

‘Teenagers eh, Perce?’ she groaned. ‘I remember when Jenny was Ben’s age, she was such a sweet little thing. Now she spends all her time on her mobile phone playing games or chatting to her friends.’

‘She still is sweet,’ I yapped as we walked along Barksdale Way, the trees rustling in the wind. ‘She’s just making up for lost time. Don’t forget she was sick for so long, you can’t blame her for wanting to be a normal kid again.’

‘You’re so wise, Percy’– Gail smiled – ‘I don’t know what I’d do without you.’

‘You’ll never have to find out,’ I told her seriously.

I meant it too. I would be with Gail until my dying day. She had showered me with love and kindness ever since the day she adopted me from the tails of the forgotten. I would never forget her loyalty.

As we turned the corner, I could see the shops up ahead and Gail and I quickened our pace.

‘You were a big help at Mum and Dad’s the other day,’ she said suddenly. ‘I just wanted to say thanks. All that fetching and carrying you were doing, dragging things from boxes, moving things out of the way with your snout, didn’t go unnoticed, not to mention going to get Hugo as well yesterday.’

‘It was nothing,’ I barked in reply.

‘Why do you think Hugo went off like that?’ Gail mused. ‘I thought we were making progress with his obedience, but after that and the potpourri I’m not so sure.’

My ears prickled with horror. Had Gail had enough of Hugo and his bad behaviour?

‘We had a good chat,’ I barked quickly. ‘I think I got through to him, I think he just wanted to help your parents.’