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 after all,’ I woofed as Bugsy rejoined me.
‘A huge success,’ he yapped his mouth full of drool. ‘Everyone’s more content, even baby Jasper, who smiled at me for the first time ever yesterday! It was brilliant! I know you didn’t help me and made things worse, Percy, because it was your idea, but I’m still grateful to you for encouraging everyone to help me. It’s the thought that counts.’
My cheeks flushed with embarrassment. I was unsure quite what to say. ‘It was nothing, Bugsy, we all wanted to help.’
‘Course we did,’ Heather agreed. ‘Nobody could be more delighted than me, Bugsy, to see it all work out for you.’
‘It’s lovely news, Bugsy,’ Peg barked happily. ‘I take it the horrible Maxwell isn’t always bringing you to the park now?’
Bugsy shook his head, sending drool flying everywhere. ‘Nope! Johnny’s brought me today. Look!’
As he gestured towards his owner sitting peacefully on a park bench, watching us all bark away, my heart burst with pride. Bugsy was finally top dog having got what he always wanted: his loving and happy family back. Although we had been particularly unhelpful, I wondered what else we could do as a team.
Heather seemed to read my mind as she looked at us all with intent. ‘So what’s next then?’ she yapped. ‘Jake’s not having the best of times with his owner, Giles, at the moment. He’s so old, bless him, that he struggles to take poor Jake to the park for a walk these days.’ She scratched her ear with her hind leg and paused. ‘That means poor Jake isn’t always getting the exercise he so badly needs, and with his hips it’s vital he stays active.’
I looked at Heather, her face a picture of concern. ‘Do you think we should try to find someone else to help walk him?’
‘Well, as long as you don’t ask Maxwell,’ Bugsy replied gloomily. ‘He’s useless at bringing you to the park. You can never get him off his phone ’cos he’s always playing games, chatting to his friends or watching some stupid zombie show on it, so he never throws balls and it takes ages to actually get to the park because he never takes his eyes off his stupid screen. His mum says he’s a little angel, but if that’s what an angel looks like I hope I never go to heaven because he’s rubbish!’
‘Bugsy!’ Heather admonished. ‘You might have a point, but there’s no need to say things like that! No, I think we can do better than Maxwell to take Jake to the park. The question is who?’
‘I could ask Sally but she’s so scatty it’s a small wonder she remembers to bring me to the park let alone anyone else,’ Peg barked sharply.
‘Where is she now?’ I asked, scanning the grass for signs of Sally’s blonde mane.
‘She’s parked herself in the coffee shop over there,’ Peg replied, gesturing towards the large stone building behind the trees. ‘Our Sal’s not a fan of hanging about in the park, unless there’s a man about.’
‘Oh, Gail was in there a few minutes ago, getting one to take away,’ I woofed. ‘Looks like she’s getting to know Johnny now.’
I looked over at the bench where Gail and Johnny were now sitting and looking at us with undisguised curiosity. If only they could talk dog, I thought unhelpfully and not for the first time. It would be the easiest thing in the world to explain that one of our number was having problems and I knew Gail would jump in and help immediately, or at the very least know what to do.
‘Gail and Simon would be perfect, but they’re so busy with Jenny about to go into hospital at the minute I don’t think they’ll have a minute.’
Bugsy turned his attentions from the stick a passer-by had thrown in our general direction and looked up at me with concern. ‘You never said anything about a hospital.’
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