Selby Sorcerer by Duncan Ball

Ever since Crusher died that house has needed a dog.’
    ‘But Willy and Billy haven’t always been good to him.’
    ‘That’s a point,’ Dr Trifle said, opening the door to the backyard. ‘Come along now, Selby. You’d better get used to living outdoors.’
    Selby walked out the door and listened to it close behind him — maybe for the last time in his life.
    ‘This is awful,’ Selby thought as he blinked back a tear. ‘I’ve been banished from my own home.’
    All evening, Selby stood outside the back door watching the Trifles through the glass. Occasionally they’d come to the door and wave and then go back to what they were doing.
    ‘I can’t stand this,’ he thought, as the Trifles went off to bed. ‘I’ll have to go away forever. It’s the most merciful thing for everyone.’
    Selby started through the hole in the back fence.
    ‘Goodbye, Dr and Mrs Trifle,’ he said, blowing a kiss in the direction of the house.
    Selby stopped and went back into the backyard.
    ‘I’d better leave them a note or they’ll never know why I left,’ he thought. ‘And I do so very much want to say goodbye.’
    Selby quietly opened the back door and went inside. He picked up the piece of note paper and a pen from the coffee table.
    ‘What can I say?’ he said. ‘How does this sound?’

    By the time Selby finished writing the note, there were tears streaming down his face. He left the note just inside the door and went outside again. Once again he was about to go through the fence when he turned for one last look at the house where he’d lived for so many happy years. He saw Dr Trifle come into the lounge room and pick up the note. Mrs Trifle was standing beside him.
    ‘I can’t go now,’ he thought, ‘I just have to know what they’ll do when they know I can talk.’
    Selby crept closer and listened below the window.
    ‘What is it?’ Mrs Trifle asked.
    ‘I don’t know,’ Dr Trifle said. ‘A note. It’s on some of Madame Mascara’s note paper. I wonder what she wants.’
    ‘Read it to me.’
    Selby could see tears form in Dr Trifle’s eyes as he began reading his note.
    ‘It says,
Dear Dr and Mrs Trifle, You are the most wonderful people I’ve ever met.
Isn’t that sweet of her.
I hope you’ll forgive me but I will
a-choo!
leave you in peace from now on.
A-choo!
I’m sorry about any
a-choo!
inconvenience I’ve
a-choo! a-choo!
caused you.
There’s that allergy again,’ Dr Trifle said, wiping his eyes. ‘Now my eyes are so blurry I can’t even read.’
    ‘Oh, no,’ Selby thought, ‘they’re so allergic to me that they can’t even read my note!’
    ‘Give me that,’ Mrs Trifle said, taking the note. ‘Let’s
a-choo!
see what it says. Where were
a-choo!
you up to? Okay,
a-choo! In case you
a-choo!
don’t know
a-choo!
who is writing this note, it’s me
… Pass me a tissue, will you, dear?’ Mrs Trifle said, putting down the note.
    ‘I think we’re out of tissues,’ Dr Trifle said.
    ‘I’ll look in the bedroom,’ Mrs Trifle said.
    ‘No, I think there are some in the workroom,’ Dr Trifle said.
    Selby watched as Dr and Mrs Trifle disappeared in different directions.
    ‘Now hang on!’ Selby thought. ‘What if it’s not
me
they’re allergic to but the perfume in that stupid note paper?! I rubbed it on my paw,’ he added, sniffing his paw. ‘I can still smell it. That must be it!’ Selby’s mind raced. ‘I think this calls for some action!’
    Minutes later Mrs Trifle came into the lounge room again. ‘Selby, you’re in the house.’
    ‘I’ve found the tissues,’ Dr Trifle said, coming into the room. ‘Goodness, here’s Selby.’
    ‘I don’t think I need the tissues anymore,’ Mrs Trifle said. ‘My allergy seems to have gone away.’
    ‘Mine, too. I guess we couldn’t have been allergic to Selby after all.’
    ‘That’s right,’ Mrs Trifle said. ‘Now where’s Madame Mascara’s note?’
    ‘I don’t know,’ Dr Trifle said, looking around. ‘It