I think I have upset my new family
Saturday, 5th March 2003
I think I have upset my new family.
I got very lonely in the night. I had a dream that I was snuggling up in my bed with my brothers and sisters. Then I woke up because I needed the loo (for you Americans out there loo is the English word for toilet or john) and I forgot where I was. It was all dark and I couldn’t see or hear anything. I’m sorry to say I panicked, and when puppies panic everyone knows about it! I howled and I howled. After a while I heard someone come into the room. Ginny turned the light on, picked me up and gave me a cuddle and popped me back into my bed. ‘Get some sleep little man, you’ll wake up the whole house.’
The she went out, turned the light off and left me on my own again. I didn't like being left on my own. It's quite chilly when you haven't got anyone to snuggle up to, so I howled again. After a while Ginny came back. She didn't seem as friendly as before. 'Quiet! You'll wake the children.' She put me back in my bed, turned the light off and left me again. I started howling again. This time as soon as I started howling I heard Ginny on the other side of the door: 'Quiet.' I was. Then I started again. 'Quiet.' I stopped. I started again. 'Quiet.' I stopped for a few minutes this time. I could hear Ginny on the other side of the door, it sounded like she was tiptoeing away. I howled. Her footsteps came closer. 'Quiet.'
Now this had all the makings of a good game. I howled. Ginny yelled. I stopped. I howled louder. Ginny yelled louder. I stopped. I gave it everything I could. 'Shut Up!' I think I'd got her rattled. Then I heard the door of the kitchen open and Clive's voice: 'What the hell is going on down here?! It's three in the morning and we're all trying to get some sleep.'
'I can't get the puppy to settle,' whispered Ginny. I don't know why she bothered whispering, she'd only just been shouting at me!
'Put him in his bed and leave him,' said Clive.
'But he'll wake up the boys,' said Ginny.
'It's Saturday tomorrow they haven't got to go to school. Anyway dogs have to get used to sleeping on their own. Let him howl and he'll soon learn he's got to stay where he is,' said Clive.
Ginny put me in my bed again and whispered in my ear: 'Be a good boy. We all need some sleep now. Night night.'
She shut the door and went back to bed. I did try to sleep. Honestly, I did. I trampled my new blanket to get comfortable. I counted sheep - even though I'd never seen a real sheep. I ran through the alphabet backwards from Z to A. I tried to clear my mind and think of nothing - that didn't work. I'd had the most distressing day of my life and I couldn't help thinking of Mum. And it was thinking of Mum that did it. I couldn't help it. It started with a little pricking feeling at the corner of my eyelids, and then a big lump filled my throat and blocked my nose and I burst into tears again. I didn't mean to howl. I kept thinking of what Mum had said about behaving myself but it was very hard when I was locked in a room with no-one to cuddle. . .
****
This morning Ginny didn't seem quite so friendly towards me. That might be down to my discovery of the cat flap. It was the work of a moment to squeeze through and I had great fun running around the garden chasing the birds. I saw Clive look out of the bedroom window. I must have woken him up. Ooops. Then I heard him shout at Ginny to 'get the b****y dog inside before it wakes the neighbours.' Ginny came out and started chasing the birds too. We were both out there for quite a while running around. Then for some reason she pounced on me, tucked me under her arm, marched indoors, and plonked me back in my bed. And you know what else she did? She got Clive's toolbox from under the sink and hammered a nail in the cat flap so it wouldn't open anymore. Spoilsport! But the presence of a cat flap indicates the presence of a cat. Now cats are FUN! I wonder why I haven't met the cat yet. Hhhhmmm.
When Ginny finally let me back into the kitchen at 5am the atmosphere was definitely frosty. I gather that this household rises late. Now I'm not used to rising late. I've come from a farm and on a farm everyone gets up early. What's the point of staying in bed when the sun is coming up and the birds are singing? There's a whole world out there!
Ginny had bedded down on the kitchen floor. She doesn't look her best at this time of day, although I'm not sure if she has a best. While Ginny made herself several cups of strong Yorkshire Tea I skittered about the floor playing with a little ball. It's one of those that when you push it makes a bell tinkle. Great fun!
When the rest of the family came downstairs they all looked a bit tired.
****
Saturday is a funny sort of day in the Philpott home. In the morning Ginny and the boys disappear. Nick and Ben go to the river to row and Jake plays football. Ginny drives. Clive has a kind of leisurely approach to Saturdays. After the rest of his family had gone out he made himself a cup of coffee and a bacon butty. Then he turned on the computer and logged onto The Racing Post website. He spent what seemed like hours aquainting himself with the latest racing news. I caught a glimpse of one of the pages. It was about a forthcoming event called The Festival. I think this is an important event in Clive's year because I notice that Cheltenham Festival is written in big red letters on the calendar for 15th to 18th March. That's quite soon.
Then Clive visited a site called Paddy Power and then a site called Betfair and then a site called William Hill and then a site called the Tote. At each site he tut tutted about odds and Yankees and each ways. He may as well have been speaking double Dutch! Then he heard the sound of a car in the drive. Before I knew it the computer was off and he was up to his elbows in sudsy water at the kitchen sink. He sure can move fast when he wants to!
Clive wasn't doing a lot of fast moving in the afternoon. Clive is uncommonly attached to his armchair - he spent all afternoon in it watching television. All of it was sport - horse racing, football, rugby. I know this because he allowed me to sit in the living room with him. Only problem was I was desperate for a pee and I didn't know where to go. Eventually I just went. Clive jumped out of his chair grabbed the scruff of my neck and dumped me out in the garden! Then I saw him running in and out with a cloth and a bucket and a worried look on his face.
When Ginny came home he looked even more worried. I saw them through the French windows pointing at me. They didn't look too happy. I made myself scarce.
****
Good move! On exploring the environs of the Philpott garden I found several escape routes to freedom and excitement. It was the work of a moment to pop through the front hedge and out onto the main road. I sat on the pavement. It was a bit daunting to be out on my own. Several cars passed by. Then a girl with long blonde hair cycled past. She stopped and picked me up. I liked her, she smelt of chocolate. She stroked my ears and then snuggled her face against me - I get a lot of that. Then she marched up the Philpott's garden path and knocked on the door.
'Your puppy was on the road Mrs Philpott.'
'Thank you Latoria, that's kind of you to bring him home.'
'He might of got run over.'
'Yes, he might have been run over, thank you,' Ginny said, a touch tartly.
'My Dad reckons you're mad having a springer spaniel. Says they want a firm hand. Reckons a lurcher is the only dog worth having. Our lurcher catches rabbits when we're out. Ever so quick he is.'
'Really.'
I detected that Ginny was ending the conversation. Latoria didn't.
'Does Ben want to come and play at the rec?'
'He's gone out for the afternoon,' Ginny lied.
'Okay, bye.'
'Good-bye, Latoria.'
The rest of the afternoon went quite well. I discovered at least six exits from the Philpott garden. After my third escape the Philpott boys were told to play in the garden to keep an eye on me. This did not prevent me escaping a further three times. After my sixth escape Clive was despatched to the DIY shop. He came home with rolls and rolls of chicken wire, fence posts and nails. He was occupied until well after dark - hammering and shouting. When he eventually came in for his dinner his only comment was: 'We've had that b*****y puppy for two days and he's already cost us 500 pounds!' And the rest, Clive. And the rest!
I think I have upset my new family.
I got very lonely in the night. I had a dream that I was snuggling up in my bed with my brothers and sisters. Then I woke up because I needed the loo (for you Americans out there loo is the English word for toilet or john) and I forgot where I was. It was all dark and I couldn’t see or hear anything. I’m sorry to say I panicked, and when puppies panic everyone knows about it! I howled and I howled. After a while I heard someone come into the room. Ginny turned the light on, picked me up and gave me a cuddle and popped me back into my bed. ‘Get some sleep little man, you’ll wake up the whole house.’
The she went out, turned the light off and left me on my own again. I didn't like being left on my own. It's quite chilly when you haven't got anyone to snuggle up to, so I howled again. After a while Ginny came back. She didn't seem as friendly as before. 'Quiet! You'll wake the children.' She put me back in my bed, turned the light off and left me again. I started howling again. This time as soon as I started howling I heard Ginny on the other side of the door: 'Quiet.' I was. Then I started again. 'Quiet.' I stopped. I started again. 'Quiet.' I stopped for a few minutes this time. I could hear Ginny on the other side of the door, it sounded like she was tiptoeing away. I howled. Her footsteps came closer. 'Quiet.'
Now this had all the makings of a good game. I howled. Ginny yelled. I stopped. I howled louder. Ginny yelled louder. I stopped. I gave it everything I could. 'Shut Up!' I think I'd got her rattled. Then I heard the door of the kitchen open and Clive's voice: 'What the hell is going on down here?! It's three in the morning and we're all trying to get some sleep.'
'I can't get the puppy to settle,' whispered Ginny. I don't know why she bothered whispering, she'd only just been shouting at me!
'Put him in his bed and leave him,' said Clive.
'But he'll wake up the boys,' said Ginny.
'It's Saturday tomorrow they haven't got to go to school. Anyway dogs have to get used to sleeping on their own. Let him howl and he'll soon learn he's got to stay where he is,' said Clive.
Ginny put me in my bed again and whispered in my ear: 'Be a good boy. We all need some sleep now. Night night.'
She shut the door and went back to bed. I did try to sleep. Honestly, I did. I trampled my new blanket to get comfortable. I counted sheep - even though I'd never seen a real sheep. I ran through the alphabet backwards from Z to A. I tried to clear my mind and think of nothing - that didn't work. I'd had the most distressing day of my life and I couldn't help thinking of Mum. And it was thinking of Mum that did it. I couldn't help it. It started with a little pricking feeling at the corner of my eyelids, and then a big lump filled my throat and blocked my nose and I burst into tears again. I didn't mean to howl. I kept thinking of what Mum had said about behaving myself but it was very hard when I was locked in a room with no-one to cuddle. . .
****
This morning Ginny didn't seem quite so friendly towards me. That might be down to my discovery of the cat flap. It was the work of a moment to squeeze through and I had great fun running around the garden chasing the birds. I saw Clive look out of the bedroom window. I must have woken him up. Ooops. Then I heard him shout at Ginny to 'get the b****y dog inside before it wakes the neighbours.' Ginny came out and started chasing the birds too. We were both out there for quite a while running around. Then for some reason she pounced on me, tucked me under her arm, marched indoors, and plonked me back in my bed. And you know what else she did? She got Clive's toolbox from under the sink and hammered a nail in the cat flap so it wouldn't open anymore. Spoilsport! But the presence of a cat flap indicates the presence of a cat. Now cats are FUN! I wonder why I haven't met the cat yet. Hhhhmmm.
When Ginny finally let me back into the kitchen at 5am the atmosphere was definitely frosty. I gather that this household rises late. Now I'm not used to rising late. I've come from a farm and on a farm everyone gets up early. What's the point of staying in bed when the sun is coming up and the birds are singing? There's a whole world out there!
Ginny had bedded down on the kitchen floor. She doesn't look her best at this time of day, although I'm not sure if she has a best. While Ginny made herself several cups of strong Yorkshire Tea I skittered about the floor playing with a little ball. It's one of those that when you push it makes a bell tinkle. Great fun!
When the rest of the family came downstairs they all looked a bit tired.
****
Saturday is a funny sort of day in the Philpott home. In the morning Ginny and the boys disappear. Nick and Ben go to the river to row and Jake plays football. Ginny drives. Clive has a kind of leisurely approach to Saturdays. After the rest of his family had gone out he made himself a cup of coffee and a bacon butty. Then he turned on the computer and logged onto The Racing Post website. He spent what seemed like hours aquainting himself with the latest racing news. I caught a glimpse of one of the pages. It was about a forthcoming event called The Festival. I think this is an important event in Clive's year because I notice that Cheltenham Festival is written in big red letters on the calendar for 15th to 18th March. That's quite soon.
Then Clive visited a site called Paddy Power and then a site called Betfair and then a site called William Hill and then a site called the Tote. At each site he tut tutted about odds and Yankees and each ways. He may as well have been speaking double Dutch! Then he heard the sound of a car in the drive. Before I knew it the computer was off and he was up to his elbows in sudsy water at the kitchen sink. He sure can move fast when he wants to!
Clive wasn't doing a lot of fast moving in the afternoon. Clive is uncommonly attached to his armchair - he spent all afternoon in it watching television. All of it was sport - horse racing, football, rugby. I know this because he allowed me to sit in the living room with him. Only problem was I was desperate for a pee and I didn't know where to go. Eventually I just went. Clive jumped out of his chair grabbed the scruff of my neck and dumped me out in the garden! Then I saw him running in and out with a cloth and a bucket and a worried look on his face.
When Ginny came home he looked even more worried. I saw them through the French windows pointing at me. They didn't look too happy. I made myself scarce.
****
Good move! On exploring the environs of the Philpott garden I found several escape routes to freedom and excitement. It was the work of a moment to pop through the front hedge and out onto the main road. I sat on the pavement. It was a bit daunting to be out on my own. Several cars passed by. Then a girl with long blonde hair cycled past. She stopped and picked me up. I liked her, she smelt of chocolate. She stroked my ears and then snuggled her face against me - I get a lot of that. Then she marched up the Philpott's garden path and knocked on the door.
'Your puppy was on the road Mrs Philpott.'
'Thank you Latoria, that's kind of you to bring him home.'
'He might of got run over.'
'Yes, he might have been run over, thank you,' Ginny said, a touch tartly.
'My Dad reckons you're mad having a springer spaniel. Says they want a firm hand. Reckons a lurcher is the only dog worth having. Our lurcher catches rabbits when we're out. Ever so quick he is.'
'Really.'
I detected that Ginny was ending the conversation. Latoria didn't.
'Does Ben want to come and play at the rec?'
'He's gone out for the afternoon,' Ginny lied.
'Okay, bye.'
'Good-bye, Latoria.'
The rest of the afternoon went quite well. I discovered at least six exits from the Philpott garden. After my third escape the Philpott boys were told to play in the garden to keep an eye on me. This did not prevent me escaping a further three times. After my sixth escape Clive was despatched to the DIY shop. He came home with rolls and rolls of chicken wire, fence posts and nails. He was occupied until well after dark - hammering and shouting. When he eventually came in for his dinner his only comment was: 'We've had that b*****y puppy for two days and he's already cost us 500 pounds!' And the rest, Clive. And the rest!
posted by Arrow at 5:01 AM
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