The dog hung its head at the sight of its former owners, but would not budge from its place.
All this took place years ago, a memory from a time when winters in our little English neighbourhood seemed longer, and the snow piled thick across gardens and footpaths. It began in December.
Rex, a large old German Shepherd with a greying muzzle, appeared out of nowhere near the entrance to our block, almost as if the frosty air itself had conjured him up.
That dogs whining again under our window! snapped Henry, yanking the curtains aside in irritation. Mary, are you deaf?
I hear, Henry, she sighed, weary.
That lonely whimper could chill you to the core.
The newlywed couple in flat twenty-three, Daniel and Grace, had only moved here in Septemberbrought the dog with them too. Each evening Rex would meet them by the door, leaping with joy, licking their hands, loyal as clockwork.
But when the first hard frosts struck, something changed.
Weve decided, Grace explained into her phone, standing outside on the landing. A dog in a one-bed flatits a nightmare: hair everywhere, that doggy smell, neighbours moaning about the barking. If you want him, hes yours. Hes purebredgot all the paperwork!
Her friend, from the sound of it, refused.
Mary Robinson realised as much one evening when she saw Rex sleeping for the fourth night running in the draughty hallway between floors, curled up on the cold concrete and trembling from the damp.
So what now? Henry had no patience for his wifes distress. Weve enough problems as it is.
He was forty-five then, and still recovering from last years heart attack: short-tempered, quick to anger now, even with her.
Hes no street dog, Mary said quietly. His family live upstairs. Flat twenty-three.
If hes got a family, let them take him in. If notcall the council to cart him away.
Easier said than done. How do you explain to a loyal animal that hes been abandoned? That those he loved turned him out without a second thought?
The next morning Mary couldnt stand it any longer. She went down with a slice of ham and some bread. Rex lifted his heavy head and looked at her with gratitude. He didnt pounce on the foodhe took it gently, with dignity.
That evening, she made a bold choice.
What on earth are you doing?! Henry blustered in the doorway, flushing red. Why have you brought that mutt into our home?!
Rex shrank into the corner of the hall, knowing he was the cause of this argumentears flattened, tail tucked, apologising just for existing.
Just for one night, Henry. Its bitterly coldhell freeze out there.
One night? And tomorrow itll be just one more? Then the last time, truly? Mary, are you soft in the head? Were spending our last pounds on medicine, and you want to add another mouth to feed!
Mary kept silent, smoothing the trembling dogs head. Of course he was right; money was tight. His disability pension barely covered the essentials, hers wasnt much better.
Whos buying the food? Henry was winding himself up. Vets fees? We barely afford ourselves!
Henry. Her tone was gentle but firm. Hes old. He wont last outside.
So let him go! Hundreds of strays die every day. Are you going to save them all?
Rex winced at the shout, shrinking further. Mary knelt beside him, arms around his neck. His fur was thick, but mattedclearly neglected.
Not all of them, she mumbled. Just this one.
For five days they lived on a knife edge. Henry slammed doors, griped about every dog hair on the carpet, demanded the sponger be thrown out.
Rex seemed to sense the awkwardness of his presencehe ate in small mouthfuls, barely strayed beyond the hall, always meeting their eyes in silent apology.
And then, on Sunday, the real owners arrived.
Their knock was loud, insistent.
How dare you? Grace stood on the threshold in a fur coat, Daniel by her side, bundled in an expensive jacket. Youve stolen our dog! This is theft!
Theft? Mary was flustered. He was sleeping in the hallway.
Hes ours, Daniel interrupted. We have his passport and pedigree. You had no right!
Hearing their voices, Rex padded out from the kitchen. His tail twitchedshould he be glad, or frightened?
Home, Rex! Grace commanded.
Rex went over and sniffed her handbut stayed loyally by Marys side.
What the devil? Daniels face darkened. Rex, here! Now!
The dog dropped his head low, but stood his ground.
Im sorry, Mary tried to explain. But hes been sleeping on bare concrete for days. I just
Not your concern! Grace snapped. Not your dog, not your problem! Where he sleeps is up to us!
On concrete in a freezing hallway? Mary couldnt help herself.
On the balcony if we want! Hes our dogwell do as we please!
Whats all this racket? Henry appeared in the hallway with the newspaper in hand, just back from the allotment where he did odd jobs during the winter.
Your wifes stolen our dog! Grace blurted, tears of outrage stinging her voice. We demand him back at onceor its the police!
Mary wilted inside. The last thing they needed was police trouble. Henry was angry enough about the dog as it was.
Mary, give them the dog and thats that, he sighed. Lets not have any more bother.
But then, looking at Rex standing trustingly beside Mary, something shifted in Henrys face. The dog gazed up at him, almost beseeching.
Show me the documents, Henry said, unexpectedly.
What? the owners stammered.
The paperspedigree and all that. You say youve got themlets see.
Daniel and Grace exchanged nervous glances.
We forgot them at home.
Well, fetch them then. Well talk after, Henry cut them off.
Youre mad! Daniel broke out. Hes our Rex!
If so, why was he left to freeze in the stairwell?
Thats none of your business!
On the contrary, its very much my business, Henrys voice grew hard. To watch an animal suffer on my doorstepI’ll not ignore it.
Whos suffering? Grace widened her heavily made-up eyes. Were not cruel! Are you all right in the head?
Not cruel? You dumped an old dog out in the cold, and you call that nothing? Henry stepped forward, steel in his voice. Mary watched him with surpriseshe hadnt seen him so resolute in years.
We didnt exactly dump him, Daniel protested. Its just temporarytheres renovation going on!
What renovation? Henry bellowed, making Rex flinch. You moved in three months ago! What renovation?
The young couple hesitated. Their faces all but confessed their guilt.
Its our private matter, Grace quivered.
Your private matter is making an animal suffer? Henrys voice rose. Heres whats going to happen. Either you take your dogand never throw him into the cold againor you leave, and he stays here!
Mary gasped. Shed expected anything but this; Henry, after all, had been the first to want the dog gone.
Henry, are you sure?
Quiet! he snappednot taking his eyes off the couple. Well? Are you taking him or not?
Of course! Rex, come on, boy! Grace tried sounding commanding.
The old dog lifted his head, looked at his former familyand lay right back down on the hallway rug. As if to say, Im staying.
Rex! Daniel barked. Get up, now!
He didnt move.
What have you done to him? Graces voice bordered on hysteria. Youve turned him against us!
No ones turned him, Mary answered calmly. Its his own choice.
Choice? Hes just a dog!
A dog who no longer recognises you, Henry said sharply. And do you know why? Because dogs never forgive betrayal.
What do you know about us? Grace shrieked. We loved him! We fed him!
And then tossed him out like rubbish when you got bored! Henry was truly angry now. You decide: either take him back and treat him properly, or leave and dont show your faces here again!
Why should we take orders from you? Daniel bristled.
Because Ill ring the police myself, Henry replied, pulling out his mobile phone. Cruelty to animals is a crime here.
Youre bluffing!
Try me.
Rex, lying on the floor, was breathing fast. Mary couldnt quite believe this transformation in her husbandher Henry, whod been so determined to send Rex away only that morning.
Well think about it, Daniel gritted out.
Think quickly, Henry nodded. I want your answer by tomorrow night. If not, Rex stays with us.
You have no right!
And you had no right to toss him out of your flat! Henry shouted, so loudly the echo bounced down the corridor.
Nosy heads poked from other flats.
Whats happened? Mrs. Parker from upstairs called, worried.
These two here kept their dog in the hallway, on the cold stone, all winter, Henry nodded towards the couple.
I saw, I did! confirmed old Mr. Shepherd from down the hall. Poor beast was shaking with cold. Told my wife, What kind of people do that?
Soon Mr. Shepherd was joined by Miss Baker from the next floor, then the Smith family from the ground flat. People gathered, judging as a crowd.
Shame on you! Mr. Shepherd shook his head. If you take in a pet, youre responsible for it.
My hamster lives better than that! Miss Baker added tartly.
The young owners found themselves surrounded by disapproving neighbours. Grace was in tears, Daniel glared at everyone.
Thats it! Henry barked. You decide: either take him and care for him, or leave and never return!
And if we go to court? Grace quavered.
Try it! Henry snapped. Explain to the judge why your dog was left to shiver in the hallway for weeks!
The neighbours murmured their approval. Mary watched Henry, struggling to fathom where this newfound strength and decisiveness had come from.
All right! Daniel suddenly shouted. Keep him! We dont want him anymore!
And with that, they turned and slammed the main door so hard the glass rattled in its frame.
Rex lifted his head, glanced at the door, and gave a soft, uncertain whine.
One by one, the neighbours drifted off, discussing what theyd seen, and in the end it was just the husband, the wife, and a dog that now belonged entirely to them.
Rex stood, walked up to Henry, and gently but firmly pushed his nose into the mans hand.
Well, old chap? Henry crouched, rubbing behind the dogs ear. Staying with us, are you?
The tail gave a slow, hopeful wag. Yes, he was staying.
Henry Mary began softly, uncertain how to say what she felt. You were against this.
I was, he admitted, wiping his hands on his trousers as he stood. But not now. Mary, Ive understood something important, watching how they treated him.
What is it?
Henry was silent a good while, and then sank into his armchair. Rex settled himself at his feet.
I realised were not so different from them, you and I. Living side by side, but each aloneme with my aches, you with your worrieslike strangers under one roof.
Mary felt something twist inside her.
And suddenly I wonderedwhat if someday we were cast off? Unwanted? He stroked the old dogs head. It frightened me, Mary. Terribly.
She perched on the arm of his chair.
So, shall we keep him? she asked quietly.
We shall, Henry smiled at last, for the first time in many months. Lets be a real family. Right, Rex?
The dog licked his cheek and nestled his head on Henrys knee.
Within a week, the whole neighbourhood was talking: Henry from number two walks his dog every morningand looks ten years younger for it, cheerful as a schoolboy.
The young couple? They moved away, to another part of town, without a word. Most said they must have been ashamed.
Pity them, Mary thought. Rex would have forgiven them.
