‘We’ll see you tomorrow in the dog park,’ Heather barked sympathetically as we turned to leave. ‘Chin up.’
As we all nodded and said our final goodnights to Bugsy, we trotted down the alleyway towards home, each of us lost in our own thoughts. Tagging along at the back in silence, I reflected on the day. Even though our plan to help Bugsy had failed, I still felt remarkably positive. I had started out knowing nobody, but tonight had a group of friends and a loving family. I felt like the change in fortunes I had wished for at the tails of the forgotten was finally beginning to happen.
After saying goodnight to all my new friends, I ran as quickly as I could back to my home. Pausing outside, I surveyed the scene as if I were a plucky cat burglar, working out the best way inside undetected. From my position on the pavement behind a large bush, I saw all the lights in the front room were on while the rest of the house lay in darkness. Experience told me this meant Gail, Simon and Jenny had settled down together to watch television and, if luck was still on my side, meant I could scamper quietly down the alleyway and through the cat flap without any of them realising I had slipped out.
Quiet as a mouse, I put my plan into action. Holding my breath, I padded down the dark passageway taking care not to trigger next door’s security light and quickly reached the cat flap. I pushed my nose against the plastic entrance, gave it a gentle shove, squeezed my head through and listened. Just as I hoped, the kitchen was silent. I slipped my front paws through the plastic and wriggled my body through, before my rear paws met my front ones on the cool kitchen lino.
Once again, I looked left, then right, before sniffing the air and once I was satisfied the coast was clear, I crept over to my bed and dived under the blankets. As I closed my eyes and breathed in and out, I tried to relax. Tonight might have been a failure, but I had to admit that I had enjoyed myself with my new friends, and it felt wonderful to have tried to help at the very least.
Settling back into the warmth of the blankets, I began to feel sleepy until I suddenly became aware of the hot breath of someone just inches from my face. I could tell without even opening my eyes that it was Gail, her warm, sweet scent instantly giving her away. She placed her hand gently on my head and stroked my forehead before giving me a kiss.
‘I was about to ask if you wanted a walk,’ she whispered in the darkness, ‘but I see you’ve already taken yourself out for some exercise.’
My eyes flew open and my heart fluttered with panic. I looked at Gail in horror. How could she tell? I’d taken great care to slip in and out unnoticed.
Meeting my gaze, Gail shook her head and smiled. ‘I’m a mum, Perce, nothing gets past me. Along with the fact I haven’t seen you for the past hour. I was terrified something had happened to you and was just about to send out a search party.’
I got to my paws and hung my head in shame. I felt foolish for thinking I only had to worry about sneaking in and out. I had not intended to make Gail worry.
‘I’m sorry. It won’t happen again,’ I barked softly. ‘I had to help some new friends and didn’t think you’d miss me.’
‘You’re freezing, boy,’ she said, reaching for one of my blankets and wrapping it around me. ‘I’m sure you didn’t mean to worry me, but worrying is part of my job. If you disappear for just one moment, I’ll fret. I love you, Percy, we all do, I can’t bear the thought of anything happening to you.’
‘Sorry,’ I woofed again, as I licked her face and rested one of my front paws on her hand. I didn’t know what else to say.
After patting my head one more time, Gail got to her feet and turned on the light switch, flooding the kitchen with a bright yellow glow. She reached into my food cupboard and got out a bone for me to chew. I tapped my little paws on the floor in pleasure as she handed me the treat.
‘Anyway,’ she said, sitting on the floor next to me, ‘while you were out doing whatever it was you were doing, I wanted to tell you about the strangest thing I saw while I was on the phone to Mum earlier.’
I barked happily, slurping and chewing the lovely and unexpected bone. My adventures had left me with quite an appetite and I had to admit this juicy morsel was taking the edge off my hunger rather nicely.
‘It was really funny,’ Gail continued, in her soothing tones. ‘Mum was just telling me about her neighbour’s hip replacement when I suddenly heard this loud barking. At first I thought it was some of your pals from the park, nattering to one another, but when I poked my head out of the window I saw a group of dogs standing outside one of the houses a few streets from here.’
I stopped chewing my bone and brought my head up sharply to meet Gail’s, my fur standing on end with trepidation.
‘Anyway, I saw this group of dogs all yapping madly at first, and then suddenly they stopped, had what looked like a little conflab and started again with the same dreadful howling,’ she explained, chuckling. ‘I held the phone up so Mum could hear. She asked me to describe the dogs, Perce, so when I had a little look I saw a lovely-looking Border collie, a spaniel and a German shepherd and a couple of pugs. Then I had another look, Percy, as I don’t think I’ve ever seen two pugs together, and that was when I really had to pinch myself as I could have sworn one of them was you!’
I opened my eyes wide in horror as I realised Gail had seen everything, and troublingly she had seen me. I was relieved to see her eyes were dancing in merriment.
‘Remember, Perce, I’m a mum and have eyes everywhere.’ Gail grinned.
Over the next few days, I half expected Gail to press me for more details about what she had seen the night I had gone missing, but to my great surprise and relief she let the matter pass. Instead we enjoyed happy trips to the park where we played tennis balls for hours at a time, and I got to know all my new friends better, especially Peg. The more time I spent with her, the more time I wanted to spend with her. Not only was she beautiful, but she was kind, funny and patient. Best of all, she made me feel good about myself and I often tried to bring her little presents like a bone or chew toy, which I would carry to the park for her to enjoy.
Today was no different and, as I saw Peg, I rushed up to her and dropped the bone I had carried with me as if it were precious cargo at her feet.
‘For me?’ she woofed appreciatively. ‘Percy, you shouldn’t. I’m watching my weight!’
‘Don’t be silly, Peg. You’re gorgeous, just as you are,’ I barked in reply, meaning every word.
Peg gave me a grateful lick and started chewing on the bone. Turning my head, I saw Jake, Bugsy and Heather chattering nearby and I barked a loud ‘Hello’, keen to let them know Peg and I were here too.
Hearing my call, the trio trotted over, Bugsy leading the way, full of even more energy if that were possible.
Since our night-time escapade, Bugsy had gone from feeling forlorn to overjoyed almost overnight. It seemed that although our intervention had failed, a few days later, Jasper had discovered the art of sleeping through the night all by himself without a bedtime story or lullaby from our little dog choir.
‘Jasper’s still sleeping through the night’ he barked joyfully, ‘and Bella and Johnny have a lot more time for me now with cuddles and walks, and everyone’s a lot less tired, including me as we’re all getting a decent night’s sleep, which means everyone is ever so much happier and I’ve got more and more energy.’
As if to prove the point, Bugsy bounded off to the nearest tree, chasing what looked suspiciously like a squirrel, which thankfully bolted up the trunk of a large oak and rested on the branch.
‘So our mission was a success