Wednesday, 12th June
This morning, I was up bright and early to tackle the old apple tree in the garden. There were plenty of dead branches that needed to go, so I fetched the ladder from the shed and set to work. The sky was a dull grey, clouds hanging heavy as if a proper downpour was on the way, and the air was filled with that thick, damp stillness you get before the rain. I suppose I should have left it till another day, but it had been on my list for ages and I was determined.
I propped the ladder firmly against the trunk, checking it was good and steady before I started up. Halfway up the rungs, just as I reached for the first branch with the secateurs, something tugged sharply at the back of my jeans. For a moment I was completely baffled.
It was Charlie, my dog. There he was, trying to clamber up behind me his paws scrabbling at the metal and his nose pointed straight at me, eyes wide with worry.
Oi, Charlie, what are you up to? I said, nerves showing as I gave a weak laugh. Off you go, mate. Let me get on with this.
I waved him away, but he stayed put, determined as ever. If anything, he tried harder, standing on his back legs and getting his teeth firmly into the bottom of my jeans. Then he started tugging, hard enough to nearly pull me off-balance.
Have you lost your mind? I snapped, batting him away in annoyance. Let go, Charlie!
But he wouldnt shift, barking as if his life depended on it and pulling me towards the ground. He was so relentless I could hardly keep my feet. At first, I was furious with him, but quickly I realised this wasnt his usual playing about. His eyes were fixed on me, and there was something in the way he looked. He was trying to tell me something.
Despite his protests, I decided to climb a bit higher, determined to finish the job but Charlies insistent yanking made me grab the ladder with both hands, instinctively clinging on. I let out a deep breath, exasperated, and started to climb down.
Thats quite enough, you daft thing, I muttered under my breath. If you keep this up, Ill have to put you inside.
Charlie hung his head, looking as if hed just been scolded at school, but I led him to the kennel and shut the gate, thinking I could finally get back to it in peace.
But just as I returned to the ladder and put my foot on the first rung, a sharp, loud crack sounded right above me. I looked up just in time to see a massive dead branch snap from the tree. It crashed to the ground exactly where Id been standing only moments before, shattering into bits across the grass, barely missing me.
My legs turned to jelly, and I just stood there staring at the broken branch, heart pounding in my chest so hard it echoed in my ears.
Only then did it hit me Charlie hadnt been naughty or silly. Hed been trying to warn me.
He must have sensed something was wrong, picked up on a noise or felt everything shifting. I glanced round at the kennel, and there was Charlie, watching me through the wire mesh, his tail wagging gently, eyes calm and steady as if asking, Do you understand now?
I hurried over, opened the gate, and knelt beside him. Charlie pressed against me, his whole body trembling with relief.
I wrapped my arms around his neck and whispered, You saved me. Good boy.
From that day on, Ive never doubted his instincts again.
