LITMIR.BIZ

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I know I’d fall over and probably hurt myself. My owners say they haven’t got time to play with me any more because they’re so tired and I miss going for walks with my parents in the morning because instead I’ve got the neighbour’s son, Maxwell, taking me and he’s horrible and listens to his headphones all the time and I’m fed up!’

      With that, Bugsy slumped to the floor, his head on his paws in despair. As he let out a howl of frustration, Jake and Heather rushed to his side and encouraged him to his paws.

      ‘Come on, Bugsy, lovey, don’t take on so,’ Heather barked soothingly. ‘Jasper won’t be a baby for long and Johnny and Bella will be playing with you again before you know it.’

      ‘Absolutely, old boy,’ agreed Jake. ‘My owner’s son, Patrick, was a baby once, made a huge racket night and day for months. Thought it was never going to end, but it did, and now the boy’s almost a man. Mighty fine chap too, I might add. Stick with it, Bugsy, this baby phase won’t last for long and your owners will come to rely on you once more over the years.’

      ‘But it’s so horrible,’ Bugsy groaned, ‘I liked it better before he came along.’

      I scratched my ear thoughtfully with my hind leg. Bugsy’s people were probably just a bit distracted at the minute, but they still loved him. Bugsy just needed to figure out a way to try to get his family a little sleep, then they might have a bit more time for him.

      ‘How about we try to help you, Bugs?’ I barked. ‘There must be something we can do to give your family a bit of a rest.’

      ‘Oooh, what were you thinking, Percy?’ asked Peg, turning her pretty face to meet mine. ‘I love a man with brains and beauty.’

      My heart fluttered nervously in my chest. Was Peg flirting with me?

      ‘There’s no point,’ Bugsy barked once more, interrupting my thoughts. ‘They don’t care about anyone else apart from Jasper. I might as well move out and live at the tails of the forgotten. At least I would get some peace and there would be other people to care for me.’

      ‘That’s enough,’ I barked reprovingly. ‘Your family are just a bit distracted at the moment that’s all. There’s no need to go wishing yourself to a shelter, if anyone knows it’s me, I’ve just come from there.’

      The others looked at me in surprise before Heather broke the silence. ‘You never said, lovey.’

      ‘Well, I want to make the best of my new start,’ I woofed in explanation. ‘I’m looking to the future now, not at the past.’

      ‘Quite right, old boy,’ Jake barked in agreement.

      ‘Yes, Percy, ignore me, I didn’t mean to pry,’ Heather barked apologetically before looking at Bugsy. ‘Now, it sounds to me that if we can get you and your family some sleep things will improve for all of you. In my experience, the best thing to get a child to stay asleep is a lullaby. How about we all gather outside your house tonight Bugsy and sing Jasper to sleep.’

      ‘Can you sing, Heather?’ Peg barked incredulously.

      Heather looked at the floor and toed the ground self-consciously with her paw. ‘Well, I don’t like to brag, but I always used to sing my owners’ girls to sleep when they were very little and they drifted off to sleep immediately.’

      ‘I was once a member of the Welsh Dog Voice Choir,’ Jake yapped. ‘We had the children of the Valleys asleep in seconds. Of course, that was a few years ago now and my lungs aren’t what they were.’

      ‘Nonsense, Jake, you’ve a lovely voice,’ Heather barked warmly before turning to me. ‘What about you, Percy? Can you bark a tune?’

      ‘I’ve never really sung. Perhaps the odd note in the bath,’ I barked. ‘But I’m willing to try, if you think it will help, Bugsy.’

      ‘Me too,’ barked Peg, sidling closer to me. ‘Percy’s right, we’ve all got to stick together.’

      ‘Then it’s agreed,’ yapped Heather delightedly. ‘We’ll meet at Bugsy’s at six tonight, so we’re ready for Jasper’s bedtime and can have a practice. I’ll rap out the usual three barks for you.’

      ‘What shall we sing?’ Peg asked.

      ‘How about “Baa Baa Black Sheep” or “Hush Little Baby”?’ suggested Jake. ‘In my experience, those two songs always get the children off to sleep quickly.’

      ‘Good idea. Now can everyone get away? Percy, Bugsy lives on the next road to yours so we could meet at the corner of your street if that suits?’ asked Heather.

      I looked around me and saw barks of assent all around. Quickly, I thought how I would make my escape. Gail, Simon and Jenny usually ate their dinner at six so it would be quite easy for me to wriggle through their old cat flap.

      ‘Sounds good,’ I barked excitedly.

      ‘Excellent,’ Heather yapped delightedly again. ‘Now, just one thing, not a word to anyone. No matter how lovely your owners are if they find out we’re performing our very own dog quartet they’ll be furious.’

      ‘Or at the very least, we’ll end up on the front page of one of the tabloids,’ added Jake. ‘And the last thing we want is the press camped out whenever we go to the park.’

      ‘Quite right, Jake,’ agreed Heather. ‘Remember when old John got caught rescuing his owner from a fire? He couldn’t move for journalists for weeks! None of you breathe a word, especially you, Bugsy.’

      At the sound of being singled out, Bugsy groaned. ‘Honestly, Heather, I won’t say a word. I know there was that time I told Saul the shih-tzu around the corner that we wanted to do something nice for Jake’s birthday and then there was a massive party, which Jake didn’t want—’

      ‘And always made it clear to you, old boy, I never wanted,’ Jake insisted, cutting across him.

      ‘Which Jake never wanted,’ Bugsy admitted, ‘but it was an accident, I’ve learned my lesson. I swear to you, Heather, I won’t let you down, I promise.’

      As Bugsy looked at us beseechingly, it was all I could do not to bark with laughter. The poor youngster looked so earnest.

      ‘Don’t worry, Bugs?’ we trust you, and all of us will keep our mouths shut, won’t we?’ I woofed.

      ‘Course we will. Percy, looks like you and me are wanted,’ Peg barked as she looked over at Simon and Sally who were waving like a pair of mad things, calling for us to join them.

      ‘Until tonight then,’ I barked.

      ‘Until tonight,’ Jake replied. ‘And remember, all of you, not a word to anyone.’

Chapter Six

      Together with Peg, we hurried towards our grinning owners. As we got nearer, I saw Sally unlink her arm from Simon’s and bend down to give Peg a stroke.

      ‘Come on, you two, are you ready for home?’ Sally asked, flicking her blonde mane behind her shoulder.

      ‘I am. I’m freezing,’ Peg barked, looking adoringly at her owner.

      ‘Me too,’ I woofed.

      ‘I’m glad we’re all agreed.’ Simon grinned as he ruffled my ears, snapped on my lead and turned towards home. ‘I need a hot toddy to thaw me out, I think.’

      Sally snapped on Peg’s collar. ‘Do you mind if we walk home with you?’

      ‘Course not,’ Simon replied. ‘Are you still around the corner in Denby House?’

      ‘Oh, yes. And I’m still working as an accountant from home as well. It must be about ten years now since I bought the place. Me and Peg aren’t going anywhere soon are we, girl?’

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