Mary get another puppy…a terrier of some sort, I remember that. ’ He groaned,‘terrier…terrier…’ Suddenly it clicked and he yelled out loud, ‘Border terrier! That was it…a border terrier.’ He could hardly contain his excitement.
The assistant went onto the computer and located a breeder almost straightaway. ‘They have two left,’ she told Pete. ‘A bitch and a dog. Can you remember which one she wanted?’
Pete could easily remember that. ‘A dog!’ He knew that because when she referred to ‘him’, he thought she was talking about the guy she met off the train. ‘I’ll take the dog. When will it be here? When will I be able to collect it?’
‘I could get it here for you on Friday, if you want to pay for the pick-up. Otherwise it will be next week when they deliver.’
Pete paid the five pounds and went away happy.
Back in Bletchley he gave Tim his car keys, embarked on his local appointments and took Tim down the road for lunch. He watched him down three burgers and two apple pies, in the time it took Pete to eat one chicken burger. On the way out, he bought a bottle of red wine and Tim was delighted.
When Friday came, he collected his companycar and headed straight for his first appointment, which he got through in record time.
After that he went to the pet shop and there he collected the sweetest little puppy, dark brown with floppy ears and big wet eyes. ‘He’s just what I wanted!’ Never having had a pet, he was entranced when it licked his face.
‘He’s not been named,’ said the girl, ‘so he answers to anything at the minute. Also, he’s already toilet trained so he’s not likely to pee on your lap.’
Pete thanked her. Then he bought every accessory imaginable to keep the puppy content; a dog basket, a leash and collar, a coat in case it got cold, and everything else the woman recommended.
He placed the dog and dog basket in the back seat of his car and headed for Bedford. ‘We’re going to see the prettiest girl you’ve ever clapped eyes on,’ he told the puppy, who was curled up fast asleep.
The journey to Bedford took him through Woburn Sands and Aspley Guise, then over the M1 junction and on towards Bedford. It was a straight road all the way into Kempston, then a quick dash through the town and into Bedford. ‘What was it she said…?’ He casthis mind back, ‘…building work going on at the Harpur Centre…dust going into the shop, that’s what she said.’
Pete got as close as possible to the Harpur Centre.
‘Come on you!’ Tenderly lifting the lazy puppy into his arms, he wrapped it close to him. He then locked the car and walked along the embankment and into the Centre.
Once inside the Centre he located Sally Parker’s flower shop. It was a pretty place, in a busy thoroughfare. ‘Here we are,’ he declared, whisper ing to the puppy, ‘I’m hoping we can find you a pretty new owner and a warm loving home.’
As he walked in through the door, his heart sank. Mary was nowhere in sight. ‘Good morning, can I help you?’ The cheery voice belonged to a kindly looking woman who was busy arranging flowers in a bucket.
Pausing for a quick breath, Pete explained, ‘I’ve just found a puppy abandoned, and I was wondering if you or your colleague could tell me if there’s a rescue centre near here.’ He would have gone on, but at the sound of his voice Mary appeared. His Mary.
‘Where is it now?’ she said.
‘Where is what ?’ Pete was momentarily confused.
‘The puppy!’ Mary came round from behind the counter. ‘Where’s the puppy ?’
Standing there, with Mary looking up at him with soft brown eyes and an expression of dismay on her face, Pete could hardly restrain himself from kissing her.
‘Well?’
‘Oh, yes, the puppy. He was shivering, so I thought it best to keep him warm.’ He opened his jacket and drew out the smallest bundle of fur and paws. ‘He’s such a tiny little thing, I really don’t know how any one could
The assistant went onto the computer and located a breeder almost straightaway. ‘They have two left,’ she told Pete. ‘A bitch and a dog. Can you remember which one she wanted?’
Pete could easily remember that. ‘A dog!’ He knew that because when she referred to ‘him’, he thought she was talking about the guy she met off the train. ‘I’ll take the dog. When will it be here? When will I be able to collect it?’
‘I could get it here for you on Friday, if you want to pay for the pick-up. Otherwise it will be next week when they deliver.’
Pete paid the five pounds and went away happy.
Back in Bletchley he gave Tim his car keys, embarked on his local appointments and took Tim down the road for lunch. He watched him down three burgers and two apple pies, in the time it took Pete to eat one chicken burger. On the way out, he bought a bottle of red wine and Tim was delighted.
When Friday came, he collected his companycar and headed straight for his first appointment, which he got through in record time.
After that he went to the pet shop and there he collected the sweetest little puppy, dark brown with floppy ears and big wet eyes. ‘He’s just what I wanted!’ Never having had a pet, he was entranced when it licked his face.
‘He’s not been named,’ said the girl, ‘so he answers to anything at the minute. Also, he’s already toilet trained so he’s not likely to pee on your lap.’
Pete thanked her. Then he bought every accessory imaginable to keep the puppy content; a dog basket, a leash and collar, a coat in case it got cold, and everything else the woman recommended.
He placed the dog and dog basket in the back seat of his car and headed for Bedford. ‘We’re going to see the prettiest girl you’ve ever clapped eyes on,’ he told the puppy, who was curled up fast asleep.
The journey to Bedford took him through Woburn Sands and Aspley Guise, then over the M1 junction and on towards Bedford. It was a straight road all the way into Kempston, then a quick dash through the town and into Bedford. ‘What was it she said…?’ He casthis mind back, ‘…building work going on at the Harpur Centre…dust going into the shop, that’s what she said.’
Pete got as close as possible to the Harpur Centre.
‘Come on you!’ Tenderly lifting the lazy puppy into his arms, he wrapped it close to him. He then locked the car and walked along the embankment and into the Centre.
Once inside the Centre he located Sally Parker’s flower shop. It was a pretty place, in a busy thoroughfare. ‘Here we are,’ he declared, whisper ing to the puppy, ‘I’m hoping we can find you a pretty new owner and a warm loving home.’
As he walked in through the door, his heart sank. Mary was nowhere in sight. ‘Good morning, can I help you?’ The cheery voice belonged to a kindly looking woman who was busy arranging flowers in a bucket.
Pausing for a quick breath, Pete explained, ‘I’ve just found a puppy abandoned, and I was wondering if you or your colleague could tell me if there’s a rescue centre near here.’ He would have gone on, but at the sound of his voice Mary appeared. His Mary.
‘Where is it now?’ she said.
‘Where is what ?’ Pete was momentarily confused.
‘The puppy!’ Mary came round from behind the counter. ‘Where’s the puppy ?’
Standing there, with Mary looking up at him with soft brown eyes and an expression of dismay on her face, Pete could hardly restrain himself from kissing her.
‘Well?’
‘Oh, yes, the puppy. He was shivering, so I thought it best to keep him warm.’ He opened his jacket and drew out the smallest bundle of fur and paws. ‘He’s such a tiny little thing, I really don’t know how any one could
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