Yesterday the phone rang. It was getting darker and I could tell from the way Mom chatted that it was Alpha.
Leapt from my desk and charged to the door. Then stopped and checked Mom out.
“Time to go fetch Alpha already? And erm… maybe have a walk?”
Mom laughed. “Fudges,” she said, “you’ve forgotten. Alpha got his car back yesterday. It’s fixed. He drove himself to work today. We don’t have to be taxi drivers anymore.”
Blinked.
Blinked again. “Chunky chop bones woman! Why didn’t you say so?”
Well that sucks then, doesn’t it? No extra walk!
“And I suppose that phone call was to say that he’s coming home late tonight… right?”
Mom nodded her head and carried on working.
Climbed back onto my desk and pouted.
Eventually Alpha came home – but it was pitch dark by then. Mom hauled out that stuff she’s been working on… she calls it her knitting.
I’d offered to eat the stringy balls of stuff, but she said I should keep my slobbery fangs to myself – she was making the puppy a jersey.
Turned out to be a very odd looking jersey for Isabella. Although it was rather soft and scrunchy.
Can you believe it – this morning Alpha got up early and took down the wheelie box. Again.
He started packing all sorts of stuff into it – including the knitting. Mom chucked my baskie outside and went downstairs with my duvet.
Oi! Don’t think I’m going back to the kennel to get sick again.
“Relax, Fudgie-wena,” she said, kissing my nose. “Alpha is going to Cape Town for a few days. You and I are staying home. I’m just washing your smelly duvet.”
Seemed like our taxi driving was not at an end after all. We dropped Alpha off at the Gautrain. On the way home, Mom stopped at the veld.
“Let’s go for a nice early walk Fudges.”
I climbed out. She tucked my ball up her sleeve. We walked up to the top bit where we play ball. She chucked it… dribble dribble dribble it went.
Sighed. Fetched the ball and led her smartly back to the car.
“Let’s rather wait until Alpha comes home. Okay?”
Had some sad news this week. My furry friend Uncle Jimmy Venter has gone to the rainbow ridge. Slobbers and licks to his mom Lizette.
* As told to Ginny Stone
