3 Heads & a Tail

by Vickie Johnstone

  “Love doggies!” laughed Kay from the front seat.

  “How do you think we should keep them when we get back?” asked Ben to Ms Hill. “I think they're going to want to spend more time together.”

  “I was wondering about that.”

  “How about some kind of time-share thing, where the dogs take it in turns to stay at each other's house?” suggested Josie.

  Ms Hill beamed. “That sounds like a fine idea.”

  “That's great,” said Ben. “I wasn't sure if you'd want...”

  “I never want to see them apart ever again,” interrupted Ms Hill. “You were right, Ben. They're inseparable and imagine how gorgeous their puppies are going to be!”

  Josie covered Glen's ears. Ben laughed, “As if he understands!”

  “You know he does!” said Josie. “Look at him. He's amused by us!”

  They looked at the dog who had his mouth open, panting, with his tongue hanging out. His brown eyes glinted and he did look like he was laughing.

  Mimi looked at the two people and then back at Glen. Must be some private joke, she thought, and she rested her head on his back. Outside, the world whizzed past and she had a feeling that this was a new beginning; an exciting, new beginning where she wouldn't be alone any more.

  Chapter 42

  David stayed in the hospital overnight. The next day, everyone drove there in Ms Hill's car, and parked in the car park. Unfortunately, dogs weren't allowed in the building, but Ben had decided to bring something similar along.

  The ward nurse pointed out David among the row of patients. A massive vase of flowers sat on his bedside table. Josie thought the bunch they had brought from Ben's shop was definitely better – not bigger, but more colourful. Not that it was important! As soon as he spotted them, David waved.

  “You don't look bad for a bloke who just got shot in the leg!” said Josie, putting the flowers on the side.

  “Yeah, hello mate, you're looking well,” said Ben. “How's the leg?”

  David smiled. “Not so bad. The bullet skimmed the side of my thigh. Could have been much worse – I could have lost it! Hey, I'm just kidding. I realise I'm damn lucky!”

  “You were very brave,” said Kay, leaning over and giving him a kiss.

  “Ah, Kay, as cheeky as ever!” he laughed. “I'm not sure what I was thinking – jumping in front of that bullet like some geezer in an action movie.”

  “You're the new Bruce Willis!” said Kay. “And better looking!”

  “Hey, you can't say that – Bruce will sue you!” giggled Josie.

  “How did you cope with these two on the way over?” David asked Ms Hill, who hadn't said a word so far.

  “I managed!” she replied, and then gave David a peck on the cheek. “That's a thank you from me. We couldn't bring the dogs, but they say thank you too – if they could talk, they would!”

  “I think Glen would bite my balls off!” said David. “That dog hates me!”

  “Only 'cos you tried to turn him into a gigolo!” said Ben. “He just might have forgiven you now after saving his life!”

  “Hope so. I'm sorry about that. I missed that dog when he went missing.”

  “My magazine wants to interview you,” said Josie. “When you're feeling better, do you fancy that? I can even interview you here if you're still in. It will relieve the boredom, I guess!”

  “Yeah, cool,” said David. “Fame at last! Can you take lots of photos?!”

  “Same old David!” laughed Ben. “You're probably gonna get bombarded with fan mail.”

  Josie nodded. “The TV news and big papers have already run stories 'cos the story went national. Everyone loves those dogs and you're the hero!”

  “We might have to dye them brown to give them a disguise,” said Ben.

  “I've had a lot of phone calls from dog magazines wanting to do stories on Mimi,” said Ms Hill. “I think she could be a model now!”

  “It's funny how the story spread,” said Kay. “They're the most famous dogs in England!”

  “Sure are,” said David.

  “So, how are you really feeling?” asked Ben.

  “Alright,” he replied. “I'm sore, but they're blasting me with painkillers and antibiotics. Like I said, I was really lucky.”

  “Phew,” said Ben. “I'm glad. We couldn't bring the dogs in here, so we bought two stand-ins!”

  With that, he pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket and unfolded it. It was a page from the national newspaper. There was a photo of them all in the forest, with the headline: 'David beats Goliath to save dogs.'

  David took it and started laughing. “Brilliant. Maybe I'll have a new career... the old one sucked!”

  “Yeah, DogMan, the half-canine, half-human superhero!” joked Ben.

  “Just so long as I don't have to wear my underpants over my jeans!”

  “We'll pay you for the interview, so that's your start,” said Josie. “Don't be surprised if you end up doing a TV interview. Ms Hill has already been asked, and Ben. People want to see the dogs on TV!”

  “Sounds fun,” said David. “Kind of crazy, but I'm up for it.”

  “I thought you might be!” said Ben.

  “I guess we should go now,” said Josie. “The nurse told us that you've got to rest.”

  David sighed. “Boring!”

  “Sorry, mate,” said Ben. “But you'll be up and about, and home soon. We'll set up your stuff in the lounge if you want, so you don't have to struggle upstairs.”

  “Apart from when I need to pee!”

  “Well, yeah, we're not putting a pot in there for that! Stinky!” said Josie.

  “If you can take some of my stuff down that would be great – and my guitar!”

  “Will do,” said Ben.

  “Hope you don't get too bored in here,” said Kay, winking.

  “No way,” said David. “I've got that policewoman coming to visit me today. Do you remember her? She was damn hot and nice with it.”

  “You old devil,” said Ben. “Even when you're shot in the leg, you pull women. What chance do the rest of us have?”

  “I guess it's a gift! The only one I've got!”

  “Well, if you ever wanna pass it on...” said Ben, grinning.

  Josie felt slightly embarrassed and looked at Kay, who had an unreadable expression on her face. She decided to fiddle with the flowers to check they were still fresh. She would ask the nurse to put them in a vase. Over the past week she had found herself liking Ben more and more. He was such a kind and warm person. He also looked really good in that blue T-shirt. Ah, Josie! She mentally kicked herself.

  “Time's up,” said Ms Hill, tapping her watch.

  They all said their goodbyes and turned to go.

  “I've got something I need to tell Ben – guy talk,” said David. “He'll catch you up.”

  Josie nodded, and the girls left the ward to wait in the car.

  Chapter 43

  “What's up?” asked Ben.

  “You might want to kill me when I tell you,” said David, “but I have to. I've been thinking a lot in here. Funny what a bullet in the leg does to your brain. Thing is, I told you there was something going on between me and Josie, and it wasn't quite...”

  “I knew there was something going on,” said Ben. “It started that night when we came back from the pub.”

  “Well, not exactly.”

  Ben, looking confused, sat down on the chair.

  “I did like her and I took her for a coffee one day. Then I kissed her. Hey, don't frown like that. It was just once. She's a nice girl. That night after you guys went to the pub I sort of raised the ante, standing there in just my jeans – I know, it was tacky. Well, she was drunk and ended up in my bed...”

  “David! This is too much information!”

  “Sorry, I mean that she passed out on my bed. She was really drunk. I offered her a beer, but she wanted a cup of tea. I made one, but when I got to my room she was totally out of it. Absolutely nothing h
appened – at all. And I think she only let me kiss her that one time 'cos I caught her off guard. That's the truth. I'm not her type. She even told me.”

  “So why did you tell me that you two were seeing each other?” asked Ben.

  “I dunno. I was a shit, I'm sorry. Like I said, I've been thinking, a lot. Maybe I said it because I'm not used to women not being interested or I was being competitive,” said David. “Maybe it was my pride. Not sure. But I'm sorry, mate.”

  “That's a crap thing to do,” said Ben.

  “I know. I was acting a wanker.”

  “It sounds like. But, what do you mean about being competitive? And why are you telling me now?” asked Ben.

  “You dimwit, I'm telling you 'cos I know that you like her... yeah... you! I know you liked her when she moved in and I had a feeling that she liked you. I'm used to all the girls liking me, like that Kay. So I guess I was competing with you, sort of. I'm out of excuses for myself. I acted wrong. I've been really selfish. I've been treating you like crap. And I had to tell you now. I can't change what I did, but I'm trying to make things right.”

  Ben was stunned. So David knew? He thought he'd hidden it well. Would Josie know, too? No, he hadn't given her any clues at all that he liked her, not since they went to the pub. Why was he so slow? David was so fast and he had noticed more than Ben thought. He'd noticed what Ben had pushed to the back of his mind.

  “Okay, you win. I did like her. Well I guess I do like her still, but I'm pretty sure she wouldn't be interested. And, yeah, I do sort of want to kill you, but you just saved my dog's life, so I'm going to have to let you off! I'm glad you realise you've been acting like an arse though. I was thinking of moving out.”

  “Oh,” mumbled David, frowning.

  “Look, it's cool. I got over Josie when I met Ayla. You're quicker than me. I'm too slow with women. But I'm glad you're not her type! Ha!”

  “Right, you can laugh,” said David. “I was worried you'd be mad. And I'm really sorry about the dog business. I needed the money. I owed a guy, but it's sorted now.”

  “How's it sorted?”

  “He read the paper – I'm a national hero!”

  Ben laughed.

  “So, are we cool now?” asked David.

  “Yeah, we're cool. I'll just have to wait until your leg heals to kill you!”

  Chapter 44

  “Come on Hop-along, we're getting you out for some fresh air,” yelled Josie. “You haven't been out of the house! You're gonna stick to the settee!”

  “Yeah, yeah,” called David from the lounge. He had been kipping on the sofa because it was just too awkward to try to get up to the hatch on his crutches. A couple of mornings he had woken up to find Glen watching him. He figured they'd turned a corner – their dog/man relationship was definitely improving. Glen no longer growled at him and even let him pat him on the head, but there was still no hugging. There were limits, after all.

  Ben grabbed the lead from the hook by the door and turned to call Glen, but he was already there, wagging his tail like it was going to spin off and smack someone in the head.

  “Walkies?” asked Ben, and the tail revved up like the revolving blades on a helicopter.

  “Quit teasing him,” said Josie, patting the dog. “You can see how much he wants to go.”

  “Mr Hot Date,” joked David, staggered on his crutches. There was a big bandage on his thigh, but it was getting much better. He didn't grimace as much lately.

  “I thought Mr Hot Date was you!” laughed Josie. “What with that sexy police officer you're dating!”

  “Well, you know how I like handcuffs!” joked David, winking.

  “God, I'd forgotten about that,” said Josie. “How embarrassing!”

  “You were embarrassed? Imagine how I felt!”

  “So, how is our landlady?” asked Josie, between giggles.

  Ben grinned.

  “She's fine,” said David. “But I told her I have a regular girlfriend now, or rather I'm trying to make her regular. She visited me twice a day in the hospital. Karen's amazing so I think I best be a good boy. The landlady is fine about it.”

  “Does her husband know?” asked Josie. She'd wanted to ask that question for a while.

  “She doesn't have one,” revealed David. “She was married once, but she's divorced, and he wasn't a great husband by the sound of it. Her kids sound nice though.”

  “Oh, so you weren't the evil home wrecker that we thought!” said Ben.

  “You all thought she was married? Now your reaction makes sense.”

  “I thought you were getting free rent!” said Josie, laughing.

  “Nah,” replied David. “I just got a discount! Sorry! And she was interesting to talk to. She's really intelligent with lots of stories.”

  “I don't wanna know about the cowboy stuff!” laughed Josie.

  “I'm not telling you!”

  “So, what's Karen like?” asked Ben, seriously.

  David's eyes lit up. “She's great. A regular girlfriend would be a new thing for me. But, like I told you in the hospital, being shot in the leg gives you a whole new perspective on things. I've been doing a lot of thinking about life and the way I've been living it.”

  “Not too much I hope,” said Josie, “as it might give you a headache.”

  “Nah, but I realise I've been an arse lately.”

  Glen whined.

  “Someone's getting impatient,” said Ben. With that, he clicked the dog's lead on and all four of them left the house.

  The sun blazed a stream of yellow across the windows of the houses on the opposite side of the street. Birds tweeted from the trees, the air smelt fresh and the colourful flowers gleamed in the summer sun. Perfect, thought Josie, as they walked down the pavement.

  They took it really slow so that David could keep up. Glen padded along protectively beside him, forcing Ben to walk there too. It didn't seem lost on the dog that David had saved him that day in the forest. They crossed the road and rounded the corner where the familiar sight of the park greeted them. The tall, silver birches seemed to sparkle.

  “Thanks for forcing me out,” said David. “I was getting cabin fever.”

  “We didn't want you getting tubby now that you've got a girlfriend,” joked Josie.

  David laughed, although he was struggling with the crutches. His hair kept falling in his eyes and he didn't have a free hand to flick it. It was very irritating. “Maybe it's time I got my hair cut,” he mumbled. “It's tickling!”

  Josie reached up and tried to flick it back, but she couldn't reach. “Sorry, I can't help. Why don't you get a George Clooney cut? The girls always go for gorgeous George!”

  “There they are!” said Ben, pointing to two figures in the distance, standing by the lake. He unclipped Glen's lead so he could charge off and greet Mimi, who was wagging her tail. Ms Hill waved.

  David bounced his crutches forward. “There are a few things I want to ask her,” he mumbled, slightly out of breath. He moved as fast as he could towards Ms Hill.

  Josie stared after David, wondering what he was up to. He was moving pretty fast for a guy on crutches. That leg must have been feeling a whole lot better. She looked up to speak to Ben, but he was no longer there. Turning, she saw that he was staring at something in the lake. A few swans were gathered, along with some geese. Some pretty noisy geese if truth be told. Josie walked backwards to see what it was.

  “What's up?” she asked, squinting in the sun.

  “I was just watching these swans,” said Ben awkwardly. “They are so... white.”

  Josie looked at the lake. “Yep, they certainly are very white. They are beautiful, but I think they're going to start chasing the geese soon. They usually do when they get too near.”

  “I guess they're territorial and like their own space,” said Ben.

  “I guess so. They're prettier than the geese too. I bet the geese are pretty peeved about that,” she replied.

  “I used to really like my
own space,” said Ben.

  “Yeah, it's nice. I hate it when people on the train get too close.”

  “That's not the kind of space I meant.”

  “Oh.” Not knowing what to say, she went quiet.

  Josie, embarrassed, suddenly wanted to catch up with the others. Time was creeping along at an unbearable pace. She wished one of the swans would jump up the bank of the lake and hurtle, squawking, in their direction just to break the silence.

  Ben turned towards her and she thought she was going to go bright red. She looked down at her feet where blades of grass poked up like green stalks around her purple trainers. The edges looked really sharp as if they were standing to attention – the sun glinted on their tips.

  Looking down to see what Josie was staring at, Ben realised she must be feeling as awkward as he was because she was staring at her feet. A flicker of a smile passed over his lips. He had been thinking lately how similar they were.

  “Do you fancy leaving these guys for a bit and just going for a walk?” he asked. “It's such a nice day.”

  Josie swallowed. “Erm, alright.”

  Realising she had better look up before Ben thought she was some kind of crazy person, Josie peeked up, sort of straining her neck at a weird angle. Although she wanted to kick herself for being so silly, she couldn't look him in the eye. She twisted the edge of her T-shirt in one hand. This was just too awkward.

  “Oh, sod it,” said Ben, and before she could move he leant forward and kissed her.

  “Oh!” she said, her eyes widening.

  Ben stood back. “I'm sorry, but if you knew how long I'd wanted to do that.”

  “Oh!” Josie bit her lip. She hadn't been expecting this... ever. He liked her! She looked up at his soft brown eyes, which were focused on her, and then she knew she wasn't going to be moving on any time soon. This rolling stone was going to gather some moss.

  “I guess it's time you did it again then,” she said, giving him her shyest but biggest smile.

  From across the park, two dogs, a woman and a man on crutches were watching. The one with the biggest grin was Glen. “Voof!”

  The dog end