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.’
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
