Walton Merritt

Andrew, please, kind sir, I beg you! I’m pleading—help us! A desperate woman threw herself at the feet of the tall man in the white coat and burst into tears. Behind a string of shabby consulting rooms, her child was dying in the medicine-scented A&E of the village hospital. —Try to understand! I can’t do it. I just can’t! That’s why I came here! I haven’t operated in two years. My hand, the conditions… —I beg you! Please!—the woman clung stubbornly to the reluctant doctor. He had to agree. He had to try—because otherwise… Just a few more steps. A creaking, white-painted wooden door. And there he was—her little Michael. Her own, her only. Tangled in wires, an oxygen mask hiding his faded freckles. Still breathing. Still alive. And the blood seeping from the bandage on his head was as thick and dark as last year’s cherry jam. The green line on the heart monitor wavered with every ragged breath. There was no way they’d make it to the city; it was a hundred miles. The helicopter… but the blizzard outside had stolen their last hope. His blood pressure kept falling. His heartbeat weaker and weaker. The paramedics averted their eyes. —Kovalevsky!—an elderly nurse clutching the stretcher seized his arm—Andrew! She pulled a crumpled old newspaper from her pocket, showing a photo of the man in his white coat, smiling children clustered around him like redbreasts on a rowan. Tears blurred lines about an accident, a damaged hand, a failed operation—yet spoke of a world-class neurosurgeon. A godsend. In their backwater… If only he’d agree! —I can’t take that kind of responsibility! Don’t you see? Last time… my wrist… I failed! I can’t operate anymore. I just can’t! The boy on the gurney was growing paler. The blood, like jam. The colleagues clustered at the doorway, uneasily silent. The sobbing mother. Time—against them all. And a dog… —A dog? —What’s a dog doing here? Only whining replied. A Labrador lunged for the stretcher, claws scrabbling on the floor, someone tugging at the collar, but he strained forward, locking eyes on Michael—and no longer whined. He rasped. And still he pressed on… —That’s Loyal—he’s Michael’s,—the woman wept, forgetting to breathe as the doctor’s words dropped like a stone into the heavy quiet: —Prep the operating theatre. He shut his eyes for a moment. Another memory surfaced—another dog. Hope. His father still alive. Andrew as a schoolboy. The icy New Year road. The wrecked car in the snow, like a shattered ornament. His mother crying. The doctor’s hesitant eyes. The impossible operation, the centre so far away. And Hope no longer whined at the grave. Only rasped. Stopped eating on the sixth day. Watched. Then followed her owner. Faded away. —I’ll be a neurosurgeon, Mum. I promised Hope, whispered the tousle-haired boy at the grave. The very best. Do you believe me? How could he forget? Why? ***** The theatre lights, blinding as the sun. The shine of steel. His wrist pulsed again. “Maybe I should get a dog”—what wild thoughts, now of all times! His fingers were wooden. Never mind, he’d manage. The injury was bad. Complicated. Pressure dropping, praying swelling wouldn’t worsen… Delicate tissue damaged. The skull bone in shards to piece back together. Blood vessels… And even the fastest helicopter would have been too late. The local assistants’ eyes shone. For them, this was a miracle. For him? How many times had he done this? Why give up after one failure? Why run away? Why break all ties? The wrist throbbed. And Hope’s eyes seemed to watch from the corner… Or maybe it was the Labrador, ready to follow his boy—Loyal. It was hard to hold the clamp. The staples. His fingers trembled. Nearly there—just a little longer. Breathe, Michael, just breathe. Don’t give up. We won’t let you slip away. Time—now it ticked for Michael. Was that the sound of a helicopter, somehow? Had it finally made it? ***** —Dr. Kovalevsky, someone’s asking for you,—the duty nurse peeked into his office and couldn’t help but break into a wide smile. Everyone smiled these days. Kovalevsky had returned. Every department was abuzz. Critical children were being sent from all over the county. Now the fear was gone. Kovalevsky’s hands were “golden.” Laughter echoed down the paediatric neuro wards again. The little ones were recovering. And the parents… why, they followed him everywhere… —Five minutes. Just let me check on Matthew. Just around the corner to his six-year-old patient’s room. A cheeky red-haired boy. Called him Uncle Andy. Came for a trip to London, fell from the second floor—just like Michael from the village. His skull—Dr. Kovalevsky had pieced it together over eight hours. Managed. Even the wrist barely ached. Maybe it was the children’s laughter—healed something, somehow… It was right, after all, that he came back. He should have done it sooner—never had the right reason. Had forgotten so much. But life, well—life reminded him. The dog, though, he’d never gotten around to. Too busy. He often wondered how that Labrador and Michael were getting on. He thought of them a lot. —Oh, Dr. Kovalevsky, dear! No sooner had he reached the door. Speak of the devil! —Hello, Michael, hello, Natalie,—he smiled—And you too, Loyal. His hand reached for the soft head, a wet nose nuzzled his palm. Gentle brown eyes watched him, full of knowing. —What brings you here? Is Michael all right—or are you in for a check-up? —Michael’s grand,—Natalie gushed—absolutely fine! That’s not why we’re here! Only now did Dr. Kovalevsky notice the radiant smile, the oddly bulging coat, her glittering eyes—but it felt awkward to ask. Loyal whirled around restlessly, breaking his train of thought. —Here! A taller Michael couldn’t hold his silence any longer. He burrowed behind his mother’s coat and handed the bemused Dr. Kovalevsky something small, black, pathetic and floppy-eared. —Ah…?—words caught in his mouth as he lifted the surprise to his face. —Don’t be cross,—Michael babbled—Loyal found him. Mum said we could keep him. And yesterday, we saw your interview on telly. And Loyal dragged him to the screen by the scruff when he heard your voice. So Mum and I thought… —You thought right. Long overdue,—Dr. Kovalevsky winked at the beaming dog—He’ll be my inspiration. I’ll call him Timmy.

Please, Dr. Matthewson, Im begging you! Youre my last hope! The woman crumpled to her knees before the

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One Morning, I Brought a Stray Puppy to the Office—Here’s What Happened: I Found the Little Mutt Just Minutes Before Work, He Was Dirty and Scruffy, So I Hid Him in My Office—but He Kept Crawling Out and Whining, Soon Everyone Saw Him. And Then, the Masks My Colleagues Wore Began to Fall: The Friendly, Cheerful Secretary’s Kind Mask Shattered; the Grumpy Cleaner’s Stern Mask Melted into a Smile; the Helpful, Ever-Joking Co-Worker’s Pleasant Mask Slipped Away; and Most Astoundingly, My Strict Boss Softened, Told Me to Take the Pup Home, and Let His Own Mask Drop—At My Feet Lay the Discarded Masks of People I Thought I Knew, and Suddenly I Realised How Little I Truly Knew Those Around Me.

One morning, I brought a stray puppy to work. It just happened that I stumbled upon the little chap five

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On the Street I Suddenly Saw My Daughter and Grandson Begging in Dirty Clothes: “Sweetheart, Where Is the House and Money I Gave You?” — Her Husband and Mother-in-Law Took Everything and Threw Her Out. What I Did Next Shocked Everyone 😲😨

As I was driving down the High Street, my mind clouded with exhaustion from the hospital, I stopped at

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NOT THE RIGHT ALEX Daisy stood in front of the mirror, changing her earrings for the third time. “Well, Button,” she addressed her dog, “these or those?” Button yawned. “Thanks for the support.” She glanced at the clock. Half an hour to go. Strange nerves. Usually she felt confident—suitors hovered around her. But this time… “Nonsense,” she decided, giving herself one last look in the mirror. “You’re the best!” Maybe it was because she’d never seen Alex before? Three weeks of phone calls—not a single meeting. Three weeks, and I haven’t got a word in edgeways, she suddenly thought, smirking. Daisy took a deep breath and picked up her handbag. Time to go. THREE WEEKS EARLIER “Oh, when will you finally get married and move out!” sighed her dad—the consultant neurosurgeon—over dinner. He’d just come home from a marathon surgery, hoping for a quiet evening with a volume of Terry Pratchett. But Daisy had spent the past half hour chattering non-stop, comparing British and American science fiction. “Dad, you said Pratchett was the peak—” “I did. Another time, love—I just need some peace tonight.” Daisy pouted and went quiet—for all of three minutes. “By the way, speaking of marriage,” her dad brightened up suddenly. “Remember Dr. Spencer—the head of the GP surgery where I sometimes help out?” “Yes?” “He’s got a son. Supposedly an excellent chap. Spencer asked for your number—to introduce you. I said yes.” Daisy grimaced. All these set-ups—so old-fashioned. For wallflowers, surely—not for her! But she didn’t have the heart to argue with her dad. THE FIRST CALL The “excellent chap” waited a few days before he called. “Hello?” “Hi, it’s Alex. Your dad mentioned me?” “He did,” Daisy replied, cool but slightly intrigued—the voice was pleasant. “My dad spoke really highly of you. Said you’re… extraordinary.” “I don’t know about that!” she laughed. “Just an ordinary med student. Paediatrics at St Mary’s. What about you?” “Oxford. Future surgeon.” Ah, that explained the slightly smug tone. They talked for an hour. Then another two. Then every day after. Alex talked about his cat Miranda, his love for sci-fi, and his worry that he was too thin, too pale, too tired… Sometimes Daisy caught herself thinking: Isn’t that supposed to be my role? She barely kept herself from saying, “Alex, just lighten up.” Though, he hated being called “Lex.” Still, if you overlooked the little things, she liked him. THE MEETING AT OXFORD CIRCUS Eventually, they arranged to meet. At Oxford Circus, by the Underground. To see a new film and then stroll over to “Cosmos,” the ice cream café on Regent Street. The rest—who knew? Daisy burst from the tube carriage and scanned the crowd. Bustle. Noise. That distinctive Underground smell. And there he was—tall, handsome, clutching a bouquet of roses by the pillar, craning for each train to arrive. She marched over, determined. “Alex?” He flinched, looked confused. “Excuse me, are you—?” “Daisy,” she said sharply, extending her hand—part handshake, part invitation to kiss it. Stunned by my beauty, she thought wryly. Gone all formal… He froze. “Daisy?” he repeated uncertainly. “But I—” “Come on!” She grabbed his sleeve. “We need to pick up our tickets!” “Wait, I wanted to—” “We’ll talk later!” She pulled him to the exit. He glanced back at the platform, as if searching for someone, but Daisy swept him away into the crowd. The roses were still in his grip. He looked at them, then at her—then surrendered. “All right,” he murmured. “Let’s go.” CINEMA AND CAFÉ They both enjoyed the film. Daisy admired her date’s stylish coat, the artsy, hand-knit scarf he obviously treasured. A whiff of expensive French cologne. Delicious vanilla ice cream at “Cosmos.” They agreed on pretty much everything. Well, mainly Daisy did the talking while he followed her every gesture with warm brown eyes, nodding along. Sometimes, in support, he’d gently enclose her animated hand in his large, reassuring palm. So manly—and so attractive! “You know,” he said during their walk along a twilit Shaftesbury Avenue, “you’re…” “Yes?” she prompted, wary. “So alive. So genuine.” She flashed an utterly enchanting smile—the best she could muster. She was in love. THREE MONTHS LATER The romance took off. They met almost daily and rang each other several times a day—which was as much as you could do before smartphones. After three months, Alex declared that he loved Daisy, couldn’t live without her, and wanted to marry her. Daisy, after a token ten minutes of dithering, rallied and said yes. “You’ll have to meet my parents,” her fiancé worried. “Let’s not rush that!” Daisy panicked. Much as her family wanted her settled, they were frightfully picky about potential candidates. Especially her gran. No one was ever good enough for her precious granddaughter, and Daisy’s parents tended to back Gran’s arguments. There was no way Daisy was giving up on Alex. She wasn’t hurrying to meet his parents either, in case someone let something slip. HER DAD’S BIRTHDAY A chance came a fortnight later. Despite his dislike for fuss, Dad decided to properly celebrate his 55th, inviting friends and colleagues. Daisy mysteriously announced she would be bringing someone. The guests were nearly all gathered when Daisy ushered her fiancé in, bearing carnations and a bottle of French brandy. “Dad, please meet…” she began, slightly embarrassed. The phone rang. “Hold on, back in a sec,” Dad dashed to answer. He came puffing back moments later: “That was Dr. Spencer—just getting directions from the tube. I’m so pleased he’s actually coming. Thought he was cross since you never met his son!” Daisy froze. “Never met him?” Dad stared at her, puzzled. “Well, yes. He said his boy waited for you at Oxford Circus for two hours. With flowers. But you never turned up.” Slowly, Daisy turned to Alex. He stood in the hall, pale, clutching the carnations, guilt written all over him. “We’ll be right back,” she hissed to her bewildered father. She dragged Alex to her bedroom. THE TRUTH Daisy closed the door. Turned to him. “Wait,” she said slowly, almost afraid to understand. “What do you mean—I never turned up?” Alex stayed silent. “You’re not Alex Spencer?” He shook his head. “You’re not Alex Spencer?!” “No,” he said softly. “I’m Alex Sullivan. A friend set me up with a girl—Natalie. I waited for her at Oxford Circus. And then you came up and…” “And I just took you along,” Daisy finished. They stood, silent, in her room. “I tried to explain—on our way to the cinema that first day. But you wouldn’t listen.” “I never listen,” she conceded. “It’s a gift.” Button whimpered at the door. Daisy sat on the bed. “So what now?” Alex looked at her—a long, serious look, maybe too serious. Then knelt beside her. “I don’t care how we met,” he said, “whether by chance or through someone’s dad.” “I love you. Will you marry me—for real, no mix-ups?” Daisy let out a relieved smile. “Okay. Then, let’s meet the parents. Warning—my lot are complicated.” “So’s mine. And I’ve got a cat with attitude.” “We’ll manage!” They left the room. In the living room, the guests waited—including, just arrived, Dr. Spencer and his son. Tall. Handsome. With a bouquet of roses. Daisy glanced at the real Alex Spencer. Then at her Alex—even paler, with his carnations. No, she thought. Not the right one. And she burst out laughing—for real this time. “Dad,” she called, “I’ve got news. And it’s a long story.”

NOT THE RIGHT ALEX Daisy stood in front of her mirror, changing her earrings for the third time.

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Driving Down a Snowy Road by the Forest, My Path Was Suddenly Blocked by a Pack of Wolves—One Leapt Onto My Bonnet; Just as I Was Certain I Wouldn’t Survive, Something Utterly Unexpected Happened…

So, let me tell you what happened to me the other dayit honestly still gives me chills. I was driving

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Aunt Rose’s China Is Smashed Forever: The Twelve-Person Wedding Set—Goodbye to Golden Rims, ‘Made in Germany’ on Every Dish, and a Lifetime Waiting for the Right Occasion, All Gone with One Fall from the Loft—Why Do We Save Our Best Until It’s Too Late?

So, listen to this Aunt Ruth’s china set is done for. Completely smashed. It was her wedding china

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After the Car Crash That Left Me Hospitalized, My Mother-in-Law Brought My Little Boy to Visit; He Quietly Handed Me a Bottle of Orange Juice and Whispered: “Gran Said You Should Drink This, But She Told Me Not to Say Any More”—The Chilling Truth That Followed Left Me Horrified

After the accident, I was lying in hospital when my mother-in-law turned up with my little boy;

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I Felt Ashamed to Attend My Son’s Wedding in My Old Clothes; Many Guests Whispered and Laughed at Me in Church, But What My Future Daughter-in-Law Did Shocked Everyone

I felt embarrassed to attend my own son’s wedding, knowing full well that my clothes were old and worn.

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“What Do You Think You’re Doing? This Is My Home! Your Son and I Divorced Three Years Ago!” — A Woman Shouts in Shock as Her Former Mother-in-Law Arrives with a Locksmith and Tries to Break Into Her Flat

“What on earth do you think youre doing? This is my home! Your son and I divorced three years ago!”

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I Gave a Homeless Man and His Dog a Hot Meal, and the Very Next Day the Police Came to My Door: “You Poisoned Someone, We Have to Arrest You”

You wont believe what happened to me at work the other day. So, Im a chef in this inviting little café in York.