A Puppy Called Hugo. Fiona Harrison
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‘That is generous,’ I barked.
‘So I want to say thank you to her.’ Jenny beamed. ‘She’s been under a lot of pressure lately, so I thought I could clean the oven. I know she’s been meaning to get around to it for months.’
Just as Jenny stuck her head back in the oven, I felt a nose against my side.
‘Morning, son,’ I barked, licking him lovingly. ‘Sleep well?’
Hugo blinked sleepily up at me. ‘Need a wee, Daddy.’
‘I’m sure Jen will get to it in a minute. Can you just wait?’
‘I’m not sure, Daddy.’ Hugo almost wept. ‘After all the feathers I didn’t need to wee for ages, but now I’ve needed to wee all night. I even dreamed about going for a wee.’
I gave him a lick once more and gave Jenny a little bark. Although she had always been able to understand what I was saying since the day Gail brought me home from the tails of the forgotten, Hugo’s barks were something of a mystery to her, and the rest of the family come to that.
Nudging Jenny in the shin once more, she pulled her head out of the oven and looked at me.
‘Everything all right, Perce?’
‘Fine,’ I yapped. ‘Just Hugo needs a wee. Can you open the back door for him to have a tinkle in the garden, please?’
‘OMG! Sorry, Hugo must be desperate!’ Jenny exclaimed, ripping the rubber gloves from her hands. ‘I’m so sorry, I should have opened it as soon as I got up. I didn’t think.’
‘Erm, Daddy,’ Hugo interrupted.
I spun around as Jenny walked across the kitchen to the back door. ‘What is it?’
‘I just want to say I’m really sorry.’
‘What for?’ I barked, puzzled.
My son had only just got up. There hadn’t been time for him to get up to mischief just yet.
‘Sorry, Daddy,’ Hugo whimpered. ‘I couldn’t hold it in any longer.’
I groaned as I caught sight of the little puddle of liquid Hugo had obviously just created. ‘We’ve been working so hard on toilet training, you haven’t done this for ages.’
‘I’m sorry,’ Hugo whimpered again. ‘It was an accident.’
Rather meanly, I rolled my eyes, despite the fact I knew it couldn’t be helped. It just felt that Hugo’s progress was a case of three steps forward and two steps back.
As Hugo jumped up and down with glee at the breakfast Jenny placed in front of him, I gritted my teeth, remembering how yesterday I had felt so guilty for any cross bark I had thrown in his direction after his disappearance. Who said fatherhood was easy? No pug I knew, that was for sure.
Together with Jenny we worked overtime to clean up the mess my boy had made. As Jenny ripped off several sheets of kitchen roll for me, I saw she had burst into fits of giggles. Suddenly feeling very tired, I looked across at my favourite teenager to find out the cause of all the hilarity. It didn’t take long to see that although Hugo had tinkled all over the floor, he had managed to do it in the shape of a heart.
‘Oh, Perce, you have to admit that’s sort of adorable,’ she whined, as Hugo walked back inside.
‘I’ll admit it’s adorable when he can clean up after himself,’ I yapped crossly.
‘Come on, it’s almost like art,’ Jenny tried again.
‘It would be better if Hugo did his art outside,’ I barked, before turning back to face my son.
As Hugo silently scarpered towards his bowl, I carried on mopping the floor dry with my paws. I had no idea how Gail managed each day raising two humans, never mind all the other stuff she had to do.
As I dabbed the last of the floor dry, my thoughts turned to Simon. I knew he thought that things were a lot easier now Jenny was strong enough to go to school and no longer needed teaching at home, but I still thought Gail was a marvel.
Right on cue, my owner appeared at the doorway, washed and dressed in leggings and a sweatshirt. Ben gurgled happily in her arms, and she kissed the top of his head as she placed him in his high chair. Looking at me and Jenny going about our various cleaning duties, she smiled at us questioningly.
‘What’s all this?’
‘Just because we love you.’ Jenny beamed, kissing her mum on the cheek as she returned to the oven and rinsed it for the final time.
‘That’s right,’ I barked solemnly.
‘And I love you too,’ woofed Hugo, looking up from his breakfast.
Gail chuckled, as she flicked the kettle on and reached for a pair of mugs.
‘Well, then it’s a good job I love every single one of you as well,’ she said, her voice full of warmth.
Quickly, I checked the floor. So far so good, it was all nice and dry and nobody would be any the wiser. I passed the used towels across the floor to Jenny with my front paws, who promptly bent down and stashed them in the bin. Standing up, she fixed me with her best, bark nothing look.
‘So what are you all up to today?’ Gail called over the whistle of the kettle.
‘I’d like to go for a walk in the park and I’d like to see my family and friends,’ I told Gail seriously.
‘OK.’ Gail nodded as I finished barking. ‘Park for you, Perce. Sure we can manage that. And you, lovely daughter of mine?’
‘Tonight’s the concert.’ Jenny grinned excitedly as Gail handed her a mug of tea.
Gail’s hands flew to her mouth. ‘Oh my God, I completely forgot. It’s tonight?’
Jenny’s face dropped like a stone. ‘Mum! How could you forget? It’s only like the most important night of my life!’
At the sight of Jenny’s shocked face, Gail burst out laughing.
‘Your face! Priceless! ’Course I didn’t forget, love, it’s written on the calendar in bright red pen, look.’ She laughed, jabbing at the calendar hanging on the wall with her forefinger.
‘Very funny!’ Jenny grumbled, sitting at the table to drink her tea.
‘I thought so.’ Gail continued to chuckle.
Once Ben’s breakfast had been heated, Gail sat at the table and spooned the purée into his open mouth. With Hugo still eating, I let Jenny scoop me up and I sat contentedly on her lap while she fondled my ears. As I basked in her attention, all thoughts of my troublesome start to the day were forgotten, until Gail opened her mouth to speak.
‘So, are you all right if I take you along at about seven tonight, Jen, after I’ve taken Hugo to the V-E-T for his check-up?’ Gail quizzed.
At the mention of the dreaded word, both Jenny and I inhaled sharply. Just the hint of a trip to the vet’s meant Hugo had a tendency to create havoc all day until his visit was over. He would hide under sofas or in cupboards, and lately had even taken to hiding in the garden shed when a visit to the vet’s was imminent.
Hugo’s ingenuity was impressive. Yet I knew it was vital Gemma examined him properly to make sure there was no lasting damage following the feathers, potpourri and candle wax incident.
‘Yes, Mum, that’s absolutely fine, thank you,’ Jenny said quickly. ‘What are you doing today?’
‘The health visitor’s popping over to give Ben his nine-month check this afternoon.’
Jenny