From Hatred to Love
Edward despised dogs. Ever since that distant day, when he was a chubby, ginger-haired first-former with glasses, his satchel stuffed with books and exercise pads, and hed been cornered by a pack of dogs in a wasteland behind the terraced houses.
The leaderlean, coal-black with tan markings on his facefixed his eyes on young Eddie.
The boy whimpered, sobbed, pleaded with the dogs to let him go, even crumbled up his untouched sausage sandwiches from school in the hope of appeasing them, but the pack was implacable. Any move he made, the leader would raise his upper lip on the right, exposing yellow-white fangs and rumble a warning low in his throat.
For over two hours they held Eddie hostage. Suddenly, the leader flicked his right ear backwards, listened, and, silent as a shadow, trotted toward the woods beyond the wasteland. The pack fell in line, lithe bodies weaving beneath the bare trees until at last they slipped away and vanished.
Wiping his tears, Eddie gripped his satchel and ran for home. But he never reached the old timber block where he lived with his family and a handful of neighboursa gas heater had exploded, and the ramshackle house was nearly burned to the ground.
In the fire, his great-grandfather perishedEdwards fathers grandfather, whom Eddie called Granddad Jack.
Granddad Jack had once been a sailor, weathered by salt and sea. His beard and moustache were white as chalk, and each year, just after the New Year, hed shave it off only to let it grow again, at times plaiting it into a funny little pigtail held by a colourful band or tossing the end over his ear for a laugh.
After Granddad Jacks passing and his harrowing run-in with the dogs, Eddie stammered badly for years.
The next time a stray dog took notice of him, he was a lanky, quiet lad in Year Seven, contact lenses now replacing those embarrassing spectacles. Hed stayed after school to walk home with the class beauty, Julia Harper. Julia had also attracted the attention of Simon, a notorious school troublemaker two years her senior, who seemed to rule the school through terror. Still, Eddie dared to walk beside the girl Simon liked.
A great dog appeared suddenly, growling and shouldering Eddie away from Julia. Helplessly, Eddie retreated, pushed back by the fearsome beast until Julia rounded her street corner and the dog vanished elsewhere. He exhaled with relief and turned for home.
The next day in maths class a note was dropped on his deskjust three terse lines:
Dont walk with me. Yesterday Simon almost thrashed you. Sorry.
That was that for his friendship with Julia, and his bitterness toward dogs only deepened.
Years passed, and Eddie grew into Edward. He earned a first-class education and, in due course, started his own business. Business thrived. He made good moneypounds, not penniesand gained valuable connections. In time his private life followed suit. Lovely Julianow Mrs. Harperbecame his wife, and they had a splendid son, Johnny, named after beloved Granddad Jack. At eight months, Johnny couldnt yet form words, but he sat in his pram grinning at every passing dog, babbling, Bow, wow!
One quiet Sunday, Edward took Johnny for a stroll in the park. As he pushed the pram along, he entertained Johnny with tales about birds they’d just fed at the seed-feeder, or the squirrel whod scurried down the pine trunk to take a nut from his hand.
It was time to be heading home. Leaving the park, Edward steered the pram toward the zebra crossing, waited for the green man, then pushed the pram forward.
Out of nowhere, a mad little dachshund charged in, barking her head off, darting to block Edward and the pram from crossing the road. For a moment it seemed she would bark herself hoarse.
Suddenly, a car shot past, missing the pram by inches, mounted the kerb and smashed into a lamppost. Teenagers leapt out and sped away, shrieking.
Edward could barely catch his breath; his heart thudded so hard he was sure everyone could hear it.
The dachshund was nowhere to be seen; crowds ran for the crashed car. A passerby clapped a comforting hand on Edwards arm.
Everything all right? Did the pram get hit? the stranger asked, eyes wide with concern.
Edward managed a shaky shake of his headno, the child was safe, all was well.
He couldnt remember how he got home. He said nothing to Juliawhy worry her, since it all ended safely? But that evening, a quiet gratitude glowed in his heart as he remembered the ginger dachshund who had saved his son.
He spent the rest of the day silent, replaying those three encounters with dogs. He realisedanimals had never threatened him, nor meant him harm; quite the opposite, they had tried to guard him, each in their own fashion. Julia glanced at Edward, puzzled by his pensiveness, but let him be.
That evening, the family stepped out for a stroll before bed. Near the farther bench a knot of neighbours had gathered. As Edward approached, he caught fragments of worried conversation.
What now? Whod want it, like that?
Peering over a neighbours shoulder, Edward saw a box on the bench. Inside huddled a tiny chocolate-brown puppy. The pup had no eyessome blight of nature. Soft whispers rippled through the group. Julia and the pram had gone on ahead, waiting nearby.
What shall we do now?
Wholl take it, so misshapen?
Not me, I couldnt bear it murmured voices.
Edward edged closer. The puppy whimpered, nose questing side to side for a familiar scent, but there was no warm mother now.
He stood silent, then, sure and steady, unwound his scarfthough it was spring, the evenings kept their chill. Tenderly, with both hands, Edward lifted the puppywhose back legs were painfully twistedand wrapped him up, cradling him as one might a baby.
A woman behind him gasped and seemed to brush away tears.
Edward bundled the blind pup close and gently said, Well then, little chap, it looks like its my turn now Lets introduce you to Mum. Shes kind, a good soul. And Ill bet theres some milk in the fridge with your name on it.
And off he walked toward his wife, waiting there with loving eyes beside their child in the pram.
