by John Tovey
I’d just licked up the last stubborn blobs of strawberry sauce from the ground when I felt something hit the back of my head. I turned to see Mista Sunshine’s brown leather shoe bounce off my head and against the grass.
‘Why you dirty hound! I’ll show you, eating all my ice cream!’ he roared.
Panicked, I glanced over at my pals, who were calling me to run away.
‘He’s a nutter, Dez! Quick, run fast! Don’t let him catch you,’ Stan barked.
I stopped slurping and took to my heels, as Mista Sunshine climbed down from his van and gave chase. His fat belly wobbled as he ran, straining against the front of his string vest.
‘If I get my hands on you, I’ll squash you!’ he bellowed.
Four legs are quicker than two, and although I ran as fast as I could, he was still chasing me. My heart pounded furiously as I saw his ball-shaped body bouncing behind. I was so frightened, I didn’t dare look back and I didn’t stop running until I’d reached the group. But as I pulled up, Stan began to giggle. Then I heard laughter coming from behind me as all the children in the park started to snigger. I looked down. Bonnie and Kilty were also doubled up with laughter and pointing at something.
‘Look, Dez!’ Bonnie said, urging me to turn around. ‘It’s Mista Sunshine. He was running so fast that his trousers have fallen down!’
As I turned my head, my mouth fell open. Mista Sunshine was standing there, pulling up his filthy black trousers. But all I could see was two thin, puny, hairy legs sticking out of the bottom of a pair of bright red spotty boxer shorts!
‘Oh, he looks so funny!’ Kilty giggled.
I looked over towards the queue, where the children were in fits of laughter. The little boy, whose ice cream I’d slurped down, was giggling away, along with his mother.
‘It’s my belt, it’s snapped!’ he shouted, scrunching the waistband of his trousers with both hands so they didn’t drop down again. He shot me an icy glare and then turned and waddled away, red-faced, back to his van.
‘Well, he wasn’t very nice,’ I observed.
‘Told you!’ Stan replied. ‘He’s the meanest ice-cream man for miles around. He hates sunshine, he hates kids, and he particularly hates dogs!’
‘The ice cream would’ve just melted, but I cleaned it up for him; you’d think he’d be a little bit grateful.’
Stan shook his head. ‘Doesn’t matter, Dez – he wouldn’t give you the steam off his cup of tea.’ As he looked over my shoulder, Stan’s face changed. ‘Uh oh, talking of misery… don’t look now, but here comes Roger.’
We all turned to see a girly Yorkshire terrier padding towards us. A pretty little thing, she was wearing a pink knitted sparkly jumper. The pink bow in her blonde fringe was so huge that it flopped down over one eye as she pranced along.
‘Sorry, for a moment I thought you said her name was Roger.’ I grinned, turning to Stan.
‘It is,’ Bonnie replied, ‘and it’s not a girl, it’s a boy.’
My mouth fell open. ‘But, er, why is she, erm, I mean he, why is he wearing that jumper? And what’s with the bow?’
‘It’s his owner, Mavis. She’s hard of hearing, so when the pet shop owner handed Roger over, she thought he’d said Rachel. Ever since then, she’s been kitting him out in pink because she thinks he’s a girl,’ Stan whispered out of the corner of his mouth.
‘No!’ I gasped.
‘It’s true, and whatever you do, son, just don’t mention the bow – he hates it! He’s always trying to lose them in the park.’
Suddenly Stan stopped whispering and straightened up.
‘Morning, Roger. Isn’t it lovely? I was just saying to my friends here what a lovely day it w—’
‘I hate t’sun,’ grunted Roger, in a broad Yorkshire accent. ‘It brings me out in hives. All that heat, it’s too hot for a dog like me. Anyway,’ he added, settling himself down in a cool spot in the shade. ‘Who’s the nipper?’
Stan held out his front paw and gestured over towards me. ‘Roger, I’d like you to meet Dez. Dez, this is Roger.’
‘How do,’ he muttered.
‘Hello, Miss… ster Roger,’ I said, falling over my words, unable to take my eyes off the huge pink bow on top of his head.
‘Go on then, lad, hurry up and take t’mickey. There’s nowt you can say that hasn’t already been said,’ he grunted, rolling his eyes wearily.
‘Whhaaa?’ I said, still unsure what I could and couldn’t say.
‘It’s t’bow, in’t it? I know, I look a right state with this rubbish stuck in me hair,’ he said, flicking it with a disgruntled paw. ‘But what can I do, eh? Every time I lose one, she goes and buys two more.’
He sat up and turned his attention towards Stan. ‘Did I tell thee I was rooting about in t’cupboard other week, you know, one under t’stairs, when I found a whole reel of pink chuffing ribbon? Reckon there’s enough to make me a thousand bows!’ Roger paused and sighed heavily. ‘It’s not just that. I found a carrier bag t’other day too – she must have about ten balls of baby-pink wool in there and two large knitting needles. Reckon I’ll be wearing these horrible jumpers for the rest of my life!’
I looked over at Stan, but he didn’t say a word.
‘And I’ll tell thee this for nothing,’ Roger insisted, pointing a beautiful manicured paw up at us. His pretty little pink nails shone in the sunlight. ‘If she thinks she’s buying me one of those horrible bling coats with “Princess” or some other nonsense written across t’front of them, she’s got another think coming!’
Kilty stifled a giggle and began to speak. ‘I’ll tell you what, Rog. If she buys ya one of them, pet, I’ll take it off ya hands.’
‘You’re on!’ Roger huffed, planting his ladies’ paw back on the ground.
‘In that case, maybe you should get one saying “Diva”,’ Bonnie whispered.
Roger continued to moan as the rest of us stood there and listened to his tales of woe.
‘…and if I never see pink again, it’ll be too soon,’ he whined.
Stan’s eyes had just started to glaze over when a whoosh of air blasted against the group. I looked up to see a chocolate-brown whir whiz by at lightning speed.
‘What on earth was that?’ I gasped, straining my eyes. It was hard to make it out, but it looked a bit like a dog. Then again, it was moving so fast that I couldn’t tell.
‘Oh that,’ moaned Roger. ‘That’s Max. Or Mad Max, as I call him. He’s a cocker spaniel. He’s bonkers, they all are,’ he huffed unkindly.
The brown blur shot past us again. This time it was a little slower, slow enough for me to be able to make out two dark brown eyes and a pair of curly brown ears.
‘Hello, my name is Maaaaxxxxx…’ The voice said, trailing behind in his wake. And then he was gone. Seconds later, he whizzed past us again. ‘Pleased to meet yyyyoooouuuu…’ he hollered.
‘Is he always like this?’ I asked, a little startled.
‘Yep,’ said Roger, ‘unless he’s sleeping. Look out, here he comes again!’
‘You must be Dez. I’ve heard all about yyooooouuuu…’ Max’s voice trailed along like the grey clouds left behind after an aeroplane has torn through the sky.
Just then another figure approached. She was small, black-and-white in colour, with a cute black patch over one eye, and her name was Marvellous Meg.
‘Why do they call you Marvellous Meg?’ I asked.
Meg dipped her head. ‘I really don’t know,’ she replied modestly.
‘It’s because she’s marvellous for putting up with that,’ Roger tutted, pointing a claw at Max. The hyperactive spaniel had already run past another half a dozen times.
‘He’s crazy, that fella!’
‘MAX!’ Meg hollered. She lifted up a front paw, popped it in her mouth, curled up her tongue and let out an earsplitting whistle. ‘Where’s your manners? Come here and say hello to Dez.’
Upon hearing the whistle, Max stopped dead in his tracks, his paws screeching to a halt like brakes o
n a car. A nanosecond later, he was by my side.
‘Sorry about that, I’m Max,’ he said excitedly. He took my paw and shook it so enthusiastically that I thought it’d come out of its socket.
‘I’m Dez, pleased to meet you…’ I began.
‘Yeah, I’ve heard all about you,’ Max panted, butting in. ‘Aren’t you the one who’s the strawberry thief?’
Marvellous Meg gave him a sly kick with her back leg to shut him up.
‘Erm, I mean, aren’t you the one who likes strawberries, or something?’
I smirked. ‘Yep, guilty as charged!’ I said, pulling my paw from his grasp. I held it up in mid-air as if to admit my guilt. The whole group chuckled, even miserable Roger.
‘So, you’ve met the gang then?’ Max panted.
‘Yeah, I’ve even met Mista Sunshine. I outran him earlier.’
Max grinned.
‘Sick!’ he said, slapping me so hard on my shoulder that he almost knocked me off all fours.
‘Anyway, I better dash. I’m trying to improve on my time. Only fifty more laps of the park to go…’ he panted. ‘See ya…’
And with that he was off again, in a doggy, brown blur.
‘I suppose I’d better make a move too,’ I said, turning to leave. ‘By the way, I’m not coming to the park tomorrow, Stan.’
‘Oh, why’s that?’
‘Not sure, I think Niki’s got something planned but I’ll catch up with you later.’
Just then I heard Niki call my name across the park.
‘Right, I better go. Nice meeting you, Roger and Meg, and please say goodbye to Max for me, won’t you?’
‘Bye, Dez,’ the gang called.
I bounced over the grass towards Niki, my tail wagging high in the air with contentment. With all my new friends, I’d never felt so happy.
CHAPTER 9
CLUMSY PUP
The following morning, I decided it was time to text Violet. I wasn’t sure what I should say, so I decided to be honest.
Hi Violet, itz Dez. Mum gave me your number, hope u don’t mind? She told me u didn’t pass the test. I’m really sorry, cos I know how that feels. Anyway, she sayz you’re gonna become a buddy dog, which sounds lotz of fun. I hope u are really happy. Love you lots, Dxx
I was worried Violet would think I was gloating because she’d failed and I’d passed, but I didn’t think that at all. If anything, I felt sad for her because I was worried she was unhappy. I was just thinking about everything when my mobile buzzed in my paw.
Hi Dez, it’s great to hear from u! I was gonna txt u to say how sorry I was. I was really horrible and mean to u. I feel so ashamed, cos you were the kindest one of all, but I picked on u, cos I could. I hope you’ll believe me when I say I’ve changed. My new family are lovely & I’m really happy. I’m also looking forward to being a buddy dog, so, in a way, I’m happy for the first time in my life. I hope you can forgive me. Love your little sis, Vi xx
As soon as I read Violet’s text my eyes brimmed with tears. It was all I’d ever wanted, for us to be friends. I replied immediately.
Hi Vi, I’m glad 2 hear u r happy. I am too, but I’m most happy because we are friends again. As for forgiving u, forget it, coz I already have. I love it here. I never want to leave because I’ve made lots of new friends. I hope you’ll get 2 meet them all one day. I’m a bit scared of going back to Guide Dog School, but I’ve still got a bit longer before I leave. I hope I do okay. Keep in touch, won’t u? Lotz of love, Dxx
I’d just pressed ‘send’ when my phone pinged with a response.
Don’t worry about big school cos you’re gonna make a brilliant guide dog. That’s why I was so jealous. You are special, just like Mum said. Just wait and see. One day, you’ll be top dog. Keep in touch. Bye for now. Love u lots, more than jelly tots, Vi xx
I sighed happily. I’d just tucked my mobile phone underneath my blanket when Niki walked in.
‘Right, Dez, let’s get your lead on, because we’re going out!’
My tail wagged so hard the weight of it shook my body from side to side. Once Niki had clipped on my special guide dog lead, we were good to go.
‘Whoa!’ she giggled as I bolted for the front door.
For a change, Niki took me to a different park, one that we had to drive to. Unlike before, she kept me on the lead, though.
‘Right, Dez,’ she said, ‘let’s try in here.’ We strolled through some big, black metal gates into the park. ‘You’ve never been here before, so I thought it’d be good to take you somewhere different.’
I nodded because I couldn’t wait. We strolled around the park for a while, mixing with people, children and dogs of all shapes and sizes. Meanwhile, I tried my best to concentrate on being good and not getting distracted. A short while later, we’d left the park and were walking near some shops when I spotted something familiar – a black Labrador guide dog, who looked just like me!
‘Hello,’ I said, brightening up. It was like looking in a mirror because we were so alike. ‘My name’s Dez, what’s yours?’
But the guide dog didn’t move or speak. Instead, he sat still, staring straight ahead. Thinking he’d not heard me, I tried again.
‘I’m a guide dog in training, but one day, I hope I’ll become a proper guide dog, just like you.’
Silence. The dog refused to talk or even look at me. I felt offended.
‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt when you were working,’ I stammered.
More silence followed.
Suddenly I heard a peel of laughter from behind – it was Niki.
‘Oh, Dez,’ she giggled, ‘he’s not a real dog!’ She stepped forward and tapped the ‘dog’ on the top of his head. A hollow sound rang out as she did so. ‘It’s a model – a fundraising dog model – to raise awareness of the Guide Dog charity.’
I blushed and nudged the plastic figure with my nose. She was right: he was rock solid. It was a dummy alright, but just then, I felt the biggest dummy of all!
‘Come on,’ Niki chuckled, ‘let’s try somewhere else.’
Part of being a good guide dog is getting used to different places and sounds, so that nothing scares you in the future. I thought back to the supermarket where I’d wet my pants and I felt my face flush bright red. I never, ever wanted that to happen again so I needed to experience absolutely everything if I wanted to be prepared. Niki decided we should walk down the high street, which was full of shops. Cars, vans and buses roared past me on the busy road, but I wasn’t worried because by now, I was getting used to traffic. We continued to walk down the road when someone stopped her to ask directions to the library.
‘I’m sorry,’ she began to apologise, ‘I’m not from round here. I was just…’
But her voice blurred against the wall of background noise because I’d spotted something – a giant strawberry cream cake sitting in the middle of the baker’s shop window.
Hmmmm… my mouth drooled. Luvvvverrrllllyyyy!
There was a bit of slack on my lead and Niki was distracted, so I was able to inch a little closer. I pressed my nose against the shop window and tried to sniff the cake through solid glass.
It was definitely a strawberry cake, I decided. I could smell it, not through the glass, but through the open shop door. My mouth drooled and my belly rumbled – it smelt delicious!
Food. Cake. Strawberries. The words whirred through my mind as I lifted up my front paws and leaned against the shop front to get a better look.
Hmm… strawberries!
‘Dez! What on earth…?’
It was Niki. I pulled my paws away sharply from underneath the window, but they felt tacky and wet. There was something on my paws but as I tried to look at them, I lost my balance and fell against the wall.
‘No! It’s just been painted. Look!’ Niki gasped.
I looked over. Sure enough, there was a warning sign stuck to the wall, which read: WET PAINT – DO NOT TOUCH!
I panicked as I looked at both paws, cove
red in wet, white paint. The white gloss stood out like a sore thumb against my shiny black fur.
Sorry, Niki, I whined, begging for forgiveness.
But Niki wasn’t cross; she was worried how she’d get the wet paint off me. Back home, we tried lots of different things. I even took a long soak in a paddling pool full of bubbles. Niki managed to get most of it off, but there were still a few stubborn bits on the front of my left paw.
‘Hey, what’s with the white paws?’ Stan sniggered as soon as he saw me. He was talking to Marvellous Meg. Max was doing his usual – running around in great big circles.
‘Don’t!’ I sighed, shaking my head with embarrassment.
‘Why, what happened?’ asked Meg.
So I told them about the cake in the window and the wet paint.
‘Ha! So the strawberry thief has finally been caught, red-handed!’ Stan chortled.
‘Or rather white-pawed,’ Meg added wryly.
Of course, it wasn’t long before everyone had heard about the paint and me.
‘I wouldn’t worry about it,’ said Meg as the others teased. ‘The other day, I was in the woods, walking with Max, when he spotted a squirrel. He chased it but the squirrel was faster than him and shot straight up the tree.’
‘What did he do?’
Meg raised a paw to her mouth to try and stifle her giggles. ‘That was it, you see: Max was running so fast that he bumped straight into the tree, head first! When he came round, he looked right and left, and asked, “Where did it go, where did it go…”’
I began to howl with laughter. ‘He didn’t?’
‘He did,’ Meg said, doubling up. ‘He’s a daft little thing, but he doesn’t half make me laugh.’
Max’s clumsiness certainly made me feel a little better about my own. I knew I had to learn how to control it, and also my greed, because pretty soon it would be time to leave and go to big school.
CHAPTER 10
MY BIRTHDAY AND LEAVING PARTY