A Puppy Called Hugo. Fiona Harrison

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СКАЧАТЬ out a large sigh as Peg released him from her grip.

      ‘It’s true, love,’ Heather barked helpfully. ‘Humans don’t like wilful dogs.’

      ‘Sad but true,’ Jake agreed.

      We turned back to Hugo, who was looking at us with wide-eyed sorrow. Eyes big and mournful, he wagged his little tail on the floor.

      ‘Sorry, Mum,’ Hugo barked quietly.

      Turning to Peg, I saw her shake her head. She was as powerless as me when Hugo was apologetic. She was especially susceptible to his wide-eyed look, as was I, which I suspect was why he had turned it on. Now, he was even rolling on his back, paws in the air to show us his tummy. My heart went out to him. Despite his naughtiness he was so little and sweet, something he wouldn’t be forever. I had to stop comparing him to our other kids and finding fault. Just because it made me feel like a failure as a parent, it didn’t mean that Hugo was a failure himself.

      ‘Go on, you four, go play before Sal has to take you all back to your owners,’ I barked warmly. ‘Why don’t you go and jump up and down in the fountain?’

      Hugo looked at me in astonishment. ‘Can we really, Dad?’

      ‘Yes, really?’ Ralph asked.

      ‘You really can,’ I yapped.

      Rubbing my nose against each of theirs to bid them all farewell, I watched them scamper away.

      Moments later, the sound of a woman shrieking up ahead made us all turn around. To my horror, I saw a young woman being chased around the fountain by a very excitable pup, namely Hugo.

      ‘Not again,’ Peg groaned. ‘That’s the fourth time this week.’

      ‘What’s he doing?’ Jake asked in wonder.

      ‘Every time he sees a woman out running in the park, he thinks it’s a cue for him to join her,’ I explained.

      ‘Sounds quite a nice thing he’s trying to do,’ Bugsy barked.

      ‘It does in theory,’ Peg barked wearily. ‘The only trouble is Hugo’s idea of fun is to run and jump up at the poor runners.’

      ‘Terrifying them out of their wits,’ I finished.

      ‘Poor runners,’ Heather barked sympathetically. ‘They have enough of a hard time dressed up in those ridiculous outfits, without some puppies going after them, thinking they’re playing chase.’

      ‘Leave it to me, I’ll sort it out,’ I barked, gearing myself up to it.

      Running wasn’t my strong suit, and I would have to work up to it if I had any chance of catching up with my pug, who was now terrorising the poor woman with his antics, while his brothers and sister looked on in astonishment.

      ‘I’ll go,’ Heather said. ‘Bark some sense into him.’

      ‘I’ll come with you,’ Bugsy barked with enthusiasm, wagging his tail as if to demonstrate his delight.

      ‘I’ll stay here and watch.’ Jake sighed.

      For once I didn’t argue, and as Jake slumped down a few metres away under the shady beech tree, I watched Heather and Bugsy galvanise into action. The two of them rounded on my son in seconds and barked gentle apologies at the poor runner. As my friends led Hugo and the rest of our pups across the park towards Peg and I, their faces full of joy, I sighed.

      ‘We should appreciate Hugo more while he’s so young,’ I barked wisely. ‘One day, he might not always be so close.’

      Peg looked at me in surprise. ‘Where’s that come from?’

      I said nothing. Despite his antics this morning, Hugo had shown he had a responsible, caring streak yesterday and although I wanted nothing more than for him to behave and find his forever home, I had selfishly realised that it could happen a lot earlier than I anticipated.

      ‘Percy, we need Hugo to find an owner. Gail can’t handle him forever, she’s got more than enough on her plate. We always knew this was temporary.’ Peg sighed.

      I nodded. ‘I know, it’s just at times I don’t ever want him to leave. I’ll miss him.’

      ‘I will too, Percy,’ Peg barked quietly. ‘Despite his faults he’s a sweetheart, but the best we can hope for is that he finds a human who he has an unshakeable bond with, like you have with Gail and I have with Sal. Why don’t you just enjoy the here and now? We’re all together, our pugs have great owners, and after yesterday Hugo has the makings of a wonderfully brave little dog, despite what he’s just done to that poor runner. Isn’t that enough?’

      I barked nothing, I knew she was right. Whatever lay ahead for Peg, me, our pugs and our families, I just wanted to enjoy this perfect moment of joy while it lasted.

Chapter Nine

      All too soon the park was a distant memory as Sal returned to her flat together with her brood, leaving the rest of us to troop home to deal with health visitors and vets. As Ben had been a little difficult lately I think we were all expecting him to be fractious when the health visitor arrived. Usually he spent the whole time crying as the poor man performed his various checks and measurements and I usually ended up feeling sorry for the little chap.

      Today, strangely, and somewhat pleasingly, Ben was on his best behaviour as the health visitor arrived. Gail of course laid on the royal treatment complete with matching teacups, saucers and posh biscuits, specially purchased this very morning for the occasion.

      Thankfully, the visit went well and both Gail and Ben seemed to let out a sigh of relief once it was over. With all the biscuits demolished, largely by Hugo I couldn’t help notice, it was time to get him to the vet.

      ‘Come on then, Hugo,’ I barked from my position in the hallway. ‘Time for one last check-up with Gemma and then hopefully you can stay out of the vet’s for a bit.’

      For once there was silence.

      ‘Hugo,’ I called again.

      Nothing.

      I padded upstairs, walked up and down the hallway, poked my nose in Gail and Simon’s room, Ben’s room, formerly Simon’s man cave, and even checked under Jenny’s bed, a favourite hiding place of his, but Hugo couldn’t be found.

      ‘He’s not in the loo is he?’ Jenny asked desperately, spotting me peeking in her wardrobe.

      I turned around and looked at her aghast. ‘Why do you think he’s in there?’

      ‘I don’t really. I just saw it in a film the other night; he was watching with me. A pair of dachshunds didn’t want to go to the vet so they hid in the loo and got stuck.’

      ‘Well, dachshunds can be particularly daft,’ I barked loftily. ‘But still, perhaps we’d better check just in case.’

      Together, the two of us dashed to the bathroom and fearfully pushed СКАЧАТЬ