Alfie All Alone

Chapter Eight

“And they wouldn’t tell you who’d taken him?” Mum asked indignantly.

“Well, no. I can see why not. We gave Alfie up. It wouldn’t be fair on his new owners if we could just storm round and take him back,” Dad pointed out.

Mum sighed. “I suppose not. But it seems so unfair.”

“Can we not talk about it?” came a small voice from the backseat. Evie was sadly dangling a toy in front of Sam’s car seat, and he was giggling, the only member of the family feeling cheerful.

“Sorry, Evie. You’re right, it’s not going to change anything. At least we’re going to Gran’s for tea – that’ll make us feel better. I’ll bet she’s made a cake.”

Evie stared at the car ceiling, concentrating on not snapping at her parents. They were only trying to be nice – but honestly, a cake? That was supposed to make it all right that she’d just lost her gorgeous dog for ever? Evie sniffed hard. She didn’t want to start crying again, she’d only just managed to stop, and her eyes were hurting. She adored Gran, but she wished they weren’t going to her house today. Gran would never have let anything like this happen to Ben or Tigger, and seeing them was just going to make Evie miss Alfie more.

He’ll be with a lovely family, she told herself firmly. He’ll be having a great time. The Riverside people wouldn’t give him to anyone who wouldn’t look after him. Someone like us, she couldn’t help adding.

Evie had never noticed how many dogs lived in the few streets between her house and Gran’s, but that afternoon they seemed to be everywhere. As they turned the corner into Gran’s road, she could hear excited yapping, and something tugged in her stomach. It sounded just like Alfie. But it was only Ben and Tigger, playing in the front garden. Gran let them out there sometimes for a change.

Dad put his arm round Evie’s shoulders. “You can still come and play with these two, you know,” he said sympathetically.

Evie nodded. But it wasn’t the same as having her own dog. Although she’d never noticed before how much Ben sounded like Alfie. It was weird that he had that same squeaky bark. Actually, he probably didn’t – she was just going to imagine Alfie everywhere for a while. I wonder how long that will last? Evie thought to herself miserably. Ages, I suppose. She leaned over the gate to undo the latch and the dogs bounded over to say hello.

All three of them.

“Alfie!” Evie gasped, finally realizing that the squeaky bark sounded like Alfie because it was Alfie. It was Alfie jumping twice his own height to try to get over the gate to greet her. “Alfie!” She fought with the latch, but she was crying so much that Dad had to open it for her. Alfie shot into her arms and tried to lick her all over, his woofs getting squeakier than ever with excitement.

You came back! You came back! he was saying delightedly, if Evie could have understood him.

“I don’t understand,” Evie said dazedly, as they sat round the tea-table. Mum had been right, there was a gorgeous-looking cake, although at the moment only Alfie seemed interested in it. He was perched on Evie’s knee, gradually easing himself closer and closer to one of the delicious chocolatey bits.

Gran smiled. “Well, after I talked to you, Evie, I changed my mind. I hadn’t thought you were ready to have a dog – it’s such a huge responsibility. But then with Alfie gone, you seemed so sad. And I love Alfie too. I decided that even if you didn’t feel you could have him back right now, with Sam so little, then I would keep him myself and you could visit him. Ben and Tigger like having a bouncy young dog to cheer them up.” She looked over at her dogs, who were slumped exhaustedly on their cushions. Tigger seemed to have his paws over his eyes. “Mmmm. Well, the extra exercise is good for them.”

“We can take him home, can’t we? He can live with us, like Gran said. And Gran can help us out if we’re having a problem?” Evie asked her parents anxiously.

“Definitely!” said her dad. “Alfie’s part of the family. Aren’t you, boy?” Then he laughed. “And Sam thinks so too.”

Sam was sitting on Mum’s lap, next to Evie and Alfie. He was leaning over towards Alfie, his fingers clumsily batting at Alfie’s shiny collar tag, so that it jingled and flashed in the sun. Sam gurgled happily, enjoying his game. Alfie shook his ears and snorted gently, edging slightly closer on Evie’s knee so Sam could reach.

Evie smiled down at him, hugging him tightly. Alfie knew that he was home for good.