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Sadness coursed through my fur as I remembered watching Javier walk away and how my little body had pulsed with fear as I realised he really was going to desert me in a shelter, somewhere in the far reaches of South London. My wrinkled cheeks burned with shame as I recalled how I had barked at him not to leave me, that I was sorry for whatever I had done and that I would be a good boy, if only he would come back for me and take me with him to Argentina. But my undignified and desperate barks had fallen on deaf ears as my former master climbed into the back of the taxi, without so much as a backward glance.
‘I was terrified,’ I barked quietly. ‘I still am.’
In fact, I was so terrified I had not yet confessed my greatest fear to anyone here, not even to Kelly. That even if she did find someone who would love and adore me, there was nothing to stop them leaving me too. Who was to say that they would keep me for ever and ever? Javier had taught me one thing, that sometimes love was not enough.
Chapter Two (#ulink_470b3967-135d-5769-87e0-a3bcd9276a88)
As the days turned into weeks and most of the friends I had made left the shelter for pastures new, I wondered if Barney, Boris and Kelly had in fact been wrong and that not everyone loved pugs. Over the last few days, I had watched Frank the spaniel walk away with a lovely young couple from Cheam; Maggie, a Weimaraner, disappear with an elderly gentleman from Hove; and even Daisy the Highland terrier, with flatulence evil enough to clear a room, adopted by a seemingly lovely family from Chelmsford.
Now it seemed Barney was all set to leave me too, as he had hit it off with a young single lady from Clapham, who was now here to take him home. As the woman bent down to fondle his ears, Barney whined and wagged his tail with such excitement he made the floor vibrate beneath me. Of course I was happy Barney had found someone to give him the love he deserved, but deep down I was sorry it was not me.
As Barney walked away with his new owner, he shot me a hopeful stare. ‘A special family are coming for you, I promise.’
I watched him walk through the large glass doors that opened up to the exercise yard and the outside world beyond. Deflated, I trotted back to my squishy bed, and dived under my soft blanket. All I wanted was to shut everyone out. Even though it was Saturday and I knew the shelter would be full of prospective families, I was not in the mood to perform. Over the past few weeks, I had done all the cute pug-like things you could imagine to try and get a family to take me. I had uncurled my tail to give it a little waggle, exposed my belly to show I loved a stroke and even stared longingly with my big brown eyes at passing children. Of course I had received my fair share of cuddles and, as my time here grew longer and longer, I had even stopped moaning when the bigger children pulled my tail or stepped on my delicate paws. But while everyone had been kind enough to shower me with love, I had heard them talk in hushed tones about the health problems my short face would cause, along with worries about gassiness.
I was broken-hearted. I had lost my home, my owner, and hope was deserting me. Kelly had done her best to cheer me up, by telling me how loveable I was, but I knew that was untrue. I no longer felt like putting a brave face on my little snout. Instead, I shut my eyes and dreamed of a different life. Little walks in big green parks, tummy tickles with a loving child, snuggles in bed with a cuddly mum and man-to-man chats with the dad of the house in a shed at the bottom of the garden.
But those thoughts seemed little more than fantasy to me now, and I closed my eyes tightly, wanting nothing more than to forget the world. My time here at the tails of the forgotten had been fine, nice even, but it was no substitute for a real home. Seeing all my friends apart from Boris adopted left me with a lot of questions, namely, what was wrong with me?
Since revealing the story of how I had arrived at the shelter with Boris and Barney all those weeks ago, I had been unable to forget how Javier had ignored the way I begged him to take me with him and had gone over and over all the things I could have done to upset him. I knew Gabriella had never been particularly fond of me and perhaps that was the reason he had not fought to take me to Argentina, to start a new life.
Doubt nagged away at me as I realised that even if I found a family who would take me in, there could still be one person who disliked me enough to send me away again. There were so many reasons a dog could end up at the tails of the forgotten, I wanted to howl in despair. It seemed to me we pooches were doomed no matter how adorable or well behaved we were. Feeling sad, I did what I always did in a crisis and gave in to the land of nod, hoping against hope that when I woke there would be a change in fortunes.
*
‘Oh, isn’t he gorgeous,’ a woman’s voice murmured, gently waking me with a start from my slumber.
Turning around, with sleepy eyes, I looked at the woman peering through the glass. Short and thin, her brown hair fell in soft waves around her shoulders and her blue eyes radiated a kind of warmth and love I had not seen in a long time. I felt a sudden sense of hope and, glancing up at Kelly, who was standing with a smile a mile wide next to this woman, I shook the sleep from my eyes, got out of bed and trotted over to the glass to let out a little bark of welcome. The woman grinned as she crouched down, her red-wool coat pooling on the floor behind her. She tapped excitedly on the glass.
‘Hello, young man.’ She grinned before turning to look back up to Kelly. ‘I think I’m in love. Can I go and see him, please?’
Kelly laughed, fishing into her pocket for one of the treats she knew I loved. ‘Of course. This is Percy,’ Kelly explained to the woman as I snaffled the treat from her warm palm. ‘He’s very special to me – handsome, gorgeous and bursting with love, he’s my idea of a perfect man.’
After picking me up, Kelly gave me a comforting squeeze and invited the woman to sit on the old easy chair in the corner. When she was settled, Kelly placed me gently on the woman’s lap and tickled me under my chin.
‘This is Gail,’ Kelly explained to me. ‘We’ve just been talking nineteen to the dozen about you, because like me, Perce, she’s a woman with excellent taste who loves pugs.’
I barked appreciatively. This was the most promising news I had received since I had arrived. Shuffling around in Gail’s lap, so I could get a proper look at her, I drank in her appearance. She appeared to be in her late thirties, her skin was creamy white, and the few freckles on her nose gave her a cute, vulnerable appearance. But the soft lines around her twinkling blue eyes and the grey circles that were forming underneath told me life had not always been kind and that perhaps, like me, she was tired of battling to find her place in the world. I liked her immediately and, as Gail looked back at me, her blue eyes teeming with warmth, I felt a whoosh in my tummy and a pang in my heart. I sensed Gail was a woman who was simply bursting with love and, as I let out another little bark of excitement, she tickled me gently behind the ears and laughed.
‘How would you like to go for a little walk with me, Percy?’ she asked, gently. ‘I’d really like to get to know you better.’
I rubbed my head against her arm with gratitude, to show my enthusiasm.
‘I think that means yes,’ Kelly said, holding out my lead.
As Gail slipped it onto my collar, I walked obediently alongside her and out into the exercise yard. As I felt the chilly air on my face, I looked up at Gail and uncurled my tail so it could wag freely with unbridled joy. Nobody else had asked me to walk with them, and I was determined Gail would like me as much as I liked her.
‘So, Percy, Kelly has been telling me all about you,’ Gail said in a soft, soothing voice. She wrapped her scarf tightly around her neck as the wind gathered speed. ‘It sounds as though you’ve had a bit of bad luck.’
‘You’re not wrong,’ I barked in reply, all the while trotting eagerly alongside Gail.
‘I know what it’s like,’ she replied. ‘My family has had its fair share of bad luck too. It’s not fair, is it?’ Stopping at a bench, Gail sat down, then placed her warm hands around my little body to sit me on her lap. I breathed in the scent of her floral perfume and relaxed against her legs, the day’s cool temperatures making me shiver. In the three weeks since I had arrived, the weather had taken a decidedly wintery turn and I was enjoying the chance of some human warmth and comfort. ‘I’d love to take you home, Percy,’ she said as she gently stroked my head. ‘I don’t think I’m imagining things when I say I think we’ve developed a bond in the short while we’ve been together.’
I snuggled deeper into her lap, to show her just how right she was.
‘The thing is, boy—’ Gail laughed gently ‘—once you’ve heard a bit about my family, you might feel you wouldn’t want to live with us so it’s only fair I tell you what we’re like.’
The calm, relaxed and happy feeling I’d been enjoying since Gail had arrived left me.
‘My husband, Simon, and I have been together twenty years,’ she said nervously. ‘We met at a party, shortly after he moved to Devon, and we’ve never spent a day apart. When we married fifteen years ago, we were blessed with a beautiful little girl, Jenny, who’s twelve now.’
At the mention of her daughter, I saw Gail’s eyes brim with tears. My little heart went out to her, and I gingerly rested my warm paw on top of her hand, urging her to carry on. The gesture wasn’t lost on Gail, who looked at me fondly, then buried her face in my fur.
‘Jenny’s beautiful, kind, loving, and we adore her,’ Gail continued, her voice thick with emotion, ‘but she has a heart condition, and on top of that, we’ve recently moved from Devon back to London. Well, I say back, Simon’s a plumber and originally from here so has lots of old pals, but I’m lonely with no job or friends and things are a little bit strained between us, if I’m honest.’
As she finished, Gail gently raked her fingers through my fur and looked at me expectantly. Meeting her eyes, I saw they were filled with genuine warmth and I tried to make sense of everything she had just said. All I had ever wanted was to be a part of a loving family, and it was clear that Gail needed love and care as much as I did. Even though we had only spent an hour or so together, I already felt bonded to this woman who had showered me with affection since we met.
But Javier’s actions had cast doubt in my mind. I wanted to go home with Gail, I wanted to start again and find love, but I was scared. What if it was all too good to be true? What if this new family forgot about me, what if they decided to move back to Devon and refused to take me with them because Gail hated her new life in London? I was unsure what to do and so I burrowed my way deeper into Gail’s lap, hoping to find the answers there. Nuzzling my face against her hands, I felt the love flood through her fingertips. I realised that nobody knew what the future may hold, but that I was already very attached to Gail. In that moment I tried to convey how much she already meant to me and how much I would be there for her family.
Gail was as tuned into me as I’d hoped. ‘Well, Percy, you’re on.’ She grinned, setting me down on the ground and crouching down to look into my eyes. ‘I think you and I will make a very good team. And although we don’t know how things will work out, I can promise you one thing: I’ll love you more than any other pug has been loved, if you let me.’
‘I’d like that,’ I barked in reply.
Walking back inside, I felt so happy it was all I could do not to dance a little jig. Finally, I was going to be part of a family again, someone wanted me and I wasn’t going to let them down. As Kelly led Gail into the office to fill out some paperwork, I bumped into Boris, who was being led back inside after playtime.
‘You look like the cat who got the cream,’ he barked happily.
‘More like the dog who got the big juicy bone,’ I replied. ‘I’ve been adopted.’
Boris sat on his haunches, raised his right paw to signify a human high five. Tongue lolling joyfully, I raised my left paw, remembering how Javier had taught me the trick, and propelled it forwards to meet the Westie’s.
‘Well done, buddy, I couldn’t be happier for you,’ he barked.
‘Thanks. She’s the nicest lady in the world,’ I replied. ‘When we met we just clicked and I knew she was the one for me.’
‘Didn’t Barney and I tell you there was someone special on their way?’
I nodded. ‘You did, Boris, and I should have believed you. Now we just have to find you a nice new family.’
Boris shrugged his shoulders. ‘You’re a very special dog, Percy. You deserve be taken in by someone lovely. If I’m half as lucky I’ll be one lucky Westie.’
‘Well, you’re lucky, and loveable, Boris,’ I barked sympathetically. ‘And until you find a nice new owner who will shower you with love, I want to prove to you just how special you are. Come with me.’
Excited, I trotted down the corridor back to my room, Boris following eagerly behind me, continually asking what was going on. However, I refused to tell him until we reached my quarters. With the door wide open, I went straight inside and saw just what I was looking for. I hadn’t arrived with that much apart from a few toys. All that was left was my prized blue cashmere blanket and my bed. Boris had been unfortunate to receive a hard start in life with owners like Sam and Emma, and I wanted him to realise love was out there waiting for him, if he would only give it a chance. In the short time we had been together, I had become quite fond of the Westie and, looking at the blue blanket that had once meant so much, I padded towards it. I bit into the soft material and then dropped it in front of Boris.
‘Winter’s just around the corner and this will keep you warm at night,’ I barked.
Boris looked at the blanket in amazement. ‘But that’s yours. Javier gave you that, don’t you want it to remember him by?’
‘I want you to have it as something to remember me and our friendship by,’ I woofed truthfully. ‘It’s time for a new start, for all of us.’
Chapter Three (#ulink_5eae3cd5-fd28-5413-9f3d-0e15ae23cfaa)
I pressed my body against the sheet of cold, clear glass that separated me from the outside world and watched the comings and goings of the shelter. For the past two hours, I had carefully observed every car that had pulled up outside in the pouring rain, my fur standing on end in excitement as I waited expectantly for Gail.
Kelly told me yesterday that she had visited Gail’s family and thought their home would be perfect for me. Since then I had been unable to stop thinking about my new family and had spent most of the night curled up in bed feeling excited one minute and anxious the next about my new life.
Now, as I watched a woman that definitely was not Gail get out of a red sports car, my heart banged against my chest in fear. Where was she? What if Gail had changed her mind? What if she no longer wanted me after all? I let out a growl of anxiety, waking Boris from his slumber.
‘They’ll be here, stop getting so excited,’ he barked sleepily.
‘But what if they don’t come?’ I asked in panic.
‘What would happen between yesterday and today to make them decide they don’t want you any more?’ Boris asked sensibly. ‘Now settle down so you’re all nice and relaxed when they come to get you.’
I knew Boris was right, so reluctantly I returned to my bed, shut my eyes and tried to focus on anything else apart from going to a new home. But every time I tried to distract myself by thinking about my favourite things like chewing tennis balls or eating cheese, I imagined what it would be like if it was Gail throwing me a ball, or Gail feeding me treats. It was no good, my mind was in overdrive, and lying still was unhelpful. I got up from my basket, scampered back to the window and pressed my face against the glass – at least this way I felt I was doing something.
Suddenly, a silver car pulled up outside the front of the shelter and a middle-aged man wearing a green parka and jeans got out of the passenger side. Aside from his salt and pepper hair, I could just make out what looked like a pair of kind chocolatey eyes as he quickly walked to the rear car door and opened it. As the door swung open, a small girl, with pale skin and long dark brown hair that hung to her waist, clambered out, holding on to the man for support. Peering down, I saw she was the spitting image of Gail and held my breath. Was it them? Had my family come for me? I shuffled my paws in eagerness, my claws tapping on the cool ground as I waited for the driver to reveal themselves.
I did not have to wait long, as the door opened and a woman with soft, wavy brown air emerged – Gail.
‘They’re here, they’re here,’ I yapped, shuffling my paws even faster against the ground as I drank in my new family. One thing was certain, they looked happy to be here. The little girl, Jenny, was smiling and chattering away excitedly as she looked around at the shelter, while Simon looked animated and engrossed in everything his daughter was saying. As for Gail, she looked lovelier than ever, dressed simply in jeans and boots, and her now-familiar red-wool coat, buttoned to the neck. She put her arm around her daughter, smiling broadly, and kissed her hair. Gail then raised her head from Jenny’s and lifted her face to meet mine. Catching sight of me at the window, she waved and smiled, then nudged Jenny and Simon. They followed her gaze and, when they realised it was me, Jenny did the same as her mother, and I jumped up and down, wanting to give them my own version of a wave.
Watching them hurry through the rain towards the door to come and get me, my heart swelled with affection for this lovely new family that were going to be all mine.
‘Told you they’d come,’ Boris said sleepily. ‘You worry too much, Percy.’
‘I wasn’t worried,’ I barked, scampering my way back to the window that separated us.
‘Course you weren’t,’ Boris teased as I scampered around my room checking I had all my belongings together.
Hearing the sound of footsteps coming down the corridor, I hurried towards the door waiting for it to open. Within seconds, I heard the familiar squeak of the hinges against the door jamb, and then Kelly’s smiling face appeared.
‘Look who I’ve brought to see you.’ She walked towards me, grinning, and picked me up in her familiar way for a cuddle.
Holding me tightly in her arms, I caught the scent of her floral perfume as she turned me around to greet the family standing in the doorway. My eyes jumped from one face to the next and I didn’t know which one to lick or bark at first. Thankfully Jenny made the decision for me as she rushed across the floor towards me.
‘Mum, he’s so handsome,’ Jenny cooed, raising her hand to pat my head, before hesitating. ‘Is it okay?’ she asked Kelly, clearly not wanting to take anything for granted.
‘Of course it is,’ Kelly replied. ‘Our Percy loves a good stroke, don’t you, boy?’
‘Absolutely,’ I barked encouragingly, craning my head upwards to meet Jenny’s palm.
As she affectionately placed her fingers on my head and ruffled my ears, I raised my big brown eyes to meet her smaller blue ones. Just like her mother, love and warmth radiated from every inch of her, and as she beamed at me, I hoped we would be the best of friends.
‘Come on then, Jen, don’t hog Percy all to yourself, I want to say “hello” to my new mate,’ Simon said, appearing at Jenny’s side.
Just like his daughter, he had a welcoming, warm way about him, but his eyes had a spark of hesitation in them. I wondered if Simon was shy and, wanting to say hello, I pushed my face into his warm, calloused hand and let him tickle my neck.
‘Welcome to the family, Percy,’ Simon whispered. ‘It’s about time I had another man in the house – these women are always ganging up on me, so us fellas have to stick together.’
‘You can rely on me,’ I barked earnestly, as I pulled my snout away. Looking happily up at him, my heart lurched with joy, as a familiar face appeared at his side. With her beautiful chestnut mane and happy grin, I knew I was where I belonged.
‘Hello, you,’ she whispered. ‘I’ve been so excited about bringing you home today I haven’t stopped talking about you.’
I nuzzled against her, and remembered the simple pleasure of her warm fingers against my fur. I barked appreciatively. Gail was everything I remembered her to be.
‘He’s all yours now,’ Kelly said gently, as she stroked the top of my head and kissed my fur. ‘Let’s get him downstairs for a last check-up, and then you can take him home.’
Kelly placed me in Gail’s warm arms and I felt my brown eyes moisten as I glanced up at Kelly. She had been my lifeline here and I would never forget the care and kindness she had shown me.
‘Thank you,’ I yapped at her quietly.
‘You’re welcome, Percy.’ Kelly smiled, her eyes meeting mine as she kissed my black fur one final time.
Safely stowed in Gail’s arms, I gave my room one final glance. Catching sight of Boris, who was looking at me with joy in his eyes, I barked my goodbyes.
‘Take care of yourself,’ I told him. ‘Stay strong, and remember your family are coming for you.’
‘I will, Percy, and you,’ Boris barked in reply. ‘Keep in touch.’
Outside, it felt strange to be in this part of the shelter again. As my paws scurried across the cold concrete I realised I hadn’t been in a car since Javier abandoned me several weeks ago. My fur stood on end at the memory of that dark day. But now, I realised this new journey in four wheels would be a very different and happier experience.
As Gail unlocked the back door, I saw she had arranged a special dog carrier that was secured with seat belts for me. Usually I hated travelling in anything so restrictive, preferring to roam free in the back, but looking up at Gail’s face, so full of concern, I knew she was only doing what she thought was best. Reluctantly, I scrambled inside, and as Gail checked I was safe and secure, she bent down and kissed my head.
‘You okay in there, boy?’ Gail whispered, her lipstick smudged from where she’d given me a smooch.
I woofed at her encouragingly. Despite my reservations, the carrier was actually quite comfortable thanks to the sheepskin blanket Gail had thoughtfully placed inside. Best of all, the sides were open, so when Jenny slid into the car next to me, she was able to run her fingers over my fur reassuringly as Gail and Simon got into their seats at the front.
As Simon clunk-clicked his seat belt into place, Gail started the engine. Checking her mirrors as she manoeuvred out of the car park, she caught my eye and smiled. ‘We’re about forty minutes away, just out in west London, but it’s definitely not the posh bit, I’m afraid.’
‘She’s right, Percy,’ Simon called over his shoulder to me. ‘It’s definitely not the posh bit, and I hate to break it to you, but it’ll be a lot longer than forty minutes, given the way Gail drives.’
‘Dad!’ Jenny fired, eyes furrowed in frustration. ‘Stop being so mean all the time about Mum’s driving.’
‘Good point, Jen,’ Gail replied. ‘In fact, Simon, you’re welcome to drive us home yourself, if you don’t like the way I do it.’
‘Come on, love. I spend all week driving around London; the last thing I want to do at the weekend is to get behind the wheel,’ Simon protested.
Gail’s gaze never left the road, but her tone was clear. ‘Well then, stop having a go at me about it. You were bad enough on the way in.’
‘It was only a joke,’ Simon hissed. ‘You need to get a sense of humour.’
‘And you need to get a sensitivity chip,’ Gail retorted. ‘You’re ruining this special moment with Percy.’
I looked over at Jenny. The little girl’s eyes were downcast and fixed firmly on her lap as her parents exchanged words. She did not appear to be crying, but she was obviously upset at the fact the happy atmosphere we had all enjoyed just moments earlier had become frosty. I glanced at Gail and caught her reflection in the rear-view mirror. Her mouth was set in a determined line while Simon had turned his head and was looking firmly out of the passenger window.
I wondered if this was evidence of the strain Gail had mentioned. More than anything, I wanted to help, this was supposed to be a happy day not a sad one. Observing Jenny, an idea formed and I remembered one of the tricks Barney had taught me to try to get new families to like me. Rolling onto my back in the carrier, I exposed my tummy and yelped, a bit like a human baby.
