Found a Reason to Propose. A Story
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So, your daughter wanted a pedigree dog, did she? asked one neighbour, sidling up to a woman on the landing.
She did, but where am I supposed to magic up the money, especially being on my own? replied the woman with a sigh. But the neighbour just grinned. Ill give you one for nothing! Hop in the car, Ill show you.
Wouldnt you know it, Polly, her daughter, had just come home from school and latched onto the idea like a limpet on a rock.
Mum! Can we go? Its free, Mum! Ill walk it, Ill even get nothing but top marks at school, I swear, Mum!
Oh, Nigel, reallyyouve got Polly all worked up, and now Im left to clean up the mess! grumbled Marina.
You know, Marina, maybe have a proper look at me before you start complaining. Im not a bad bloke, steady job, not too many skeletons. Just a bitwell, lonely, really!
Oh, for heavens sake, Nigel. Why would I look at you any differently? Ive known you since you wore short trousers. Id finished school when you were still in the juniors. Get a grip, Marina shot back even more irritably.
Yeah, but look at us now! Were basically on an even playing fieldyoure only a smidgen taller, not as strong, though! Nigel stood up, sidled over, and threw a loose arm around her.
Polly, look how much taller and stronger I am than your mum!
Yet a little short in the brains department, giving your mother a squeeze in front of her daughter, Marina scoffed, wriggling free.
Thats just itclever women tie me in knots, and I cant stop thinking about you, Nigel said with a sheepish grin.
Oh, come on now. Are we going to get this dog, or arent we? Polly whined, fidgeting with anticipation.
Exactly! Where else do you get a dog like this for free, spotty and adorable too! And wait till you hear the storyits a corker. Lets go, Ill show you, Nigel said, suddenly mysterious, and Polly clung tight to her mothers hand.
Oh, Mum, you promised!
From the look in Marinas eyes, Nigel could tell she was a bit flummoxed, so he pressed his advantage.
Right, Ill warm up the car then? Not far, youll see, totally worth it!
Marina gave her neighbour a sideways glance and sighed, saying to her daughter,
All right, but they said its a small dog. And youif you start bringing home Cs, therell be trouble
All the way there, Polly barely drew breath. Is the dog bouncy? Whats its name? Uncle Nigel, are we nearly there?
Eventually, they drew up at an old terraced house.
This was my late mums flat. I used to rent it out, but well, that was a disaster. Youll have to excuse the messI only discovered it all yesterday, when I popped in to collect the rent
The place was, to put it politely, an utter tip.
Amidst scattered bags of ancient pasta, empty biscuit boxes, and dented, stinky tins, there they satshoulder to shouldera grey cat with glaring yellow eyes and a scruffy dog who looked like hed been through a hedge backwards.
Both looked filthy and bedraggled, but, as theyd soon discover, not completely vanquished by the appalling fate handed to them by their previous humans.
Just look at them! Nigel said, half-laughing, half-annoyed. I hadnt been round for a month, came to collect the rent, and found this!
Neighbours later told him that the two lasses whod rented from him had slipped away in the night a couple of weeks back, skipping the rent.
Theyd simply abandoned the cat and dog, as if they were last seasons shoes.
So the poor souls were left marooned, not knowing if anyone would ever come back for them.
No food, no water, shut in entirely alone.
How did they even survive? Polly asked, aghast.
Evidence of their battle for survival was everywhere. Starving, the pair had scoffed anything ediblebiscuits, sweets, uncooked pasta, even dry porridge oats. Miraculously, theyd managed to open up some tinned stew and a packet of evaporated milk left by their fleeing former owners. Anything they could find, down it went!
You had to hand it to them for resourcefulness.
The truly miraculous thing, though, was the water. Somehow, the cat must have figured out the bathroom tap or maybe managed it by accident. Thankfully, only a trickleany more and downstairs would have enjoyed an indoor rainstorm. Still, theyd have been rescued a lot sooner that way…
Nigel had clearly planned this. Polly instantly set about fussing over the dog and cat, feeding them from the supplies Nigel had brought along.
Even Marina looked misty-eyed with compassion.
Knew I was right about you, Marina, Nigel murmured to her while Polly stroked the now-stuffed animals. Youre a good soul, you. Sowhat do you say, shall we take them both home? Andhow about it, will you marry me, Marina? I never found anyone quite like you. Lets get hitched. Well have a smashing life. Ive got a car, two flatswe could put Polly up in one when shes old enough, rent the other to someone with an actual moral compass. What do you say? Who knows, we might have more kids yetand weve already got the mandatory cat and dog, just like a proper English family. Go on, what dyou reckon?
Say yes, Mum! cried Polly, not entirely following the adult conversation but delighted all the same.
Nigel chuckled.
Look at that, unanimous support. Go on, make an honest man of me!
Oh really, Nigel, are you having me on? Marina blushed furiously.
Because really, the man was rather handsome, and, well, kind too. Who could resist a chap who wouldnt abandon a helpless creature?
And truth be told, Marina hadnt let herself imagine someone might propose. But as Nigel pulled her in for one of his bear hugs, she felt her heart skip a joyful beat.
Let me think it over, you charmer! Give a woman a moment, will you? she managed, completely flustered.
Take your time, love, were not proud. Ill take the cat for now, and you have the dogjust as planned. Tomorrow, me and Whiskers will be back for your answer. You keep your new flatmate in line, Rover! Nigel addressed the pooch, who barked with what sounded suspiciously like approval.
And thats how Nigel persuaded Marina to marry him.
A month later, the entire street was dancing at their wedding.
Cooking was done in Marinas, but the tables (and the party) were over at Nigelsplenty of room in his old bachelor den.
Whiskers and Rover didnt stray far from their new humanstheir instincts spot a good egg a mile away, after all.
A year on, Marina and Nigel had twins: Sophie and Alfie.
Whiskers and Rover found themselves with new jobskeeping an eye on the youngsters. In a big family, theres something for everyone to do.
And best of all, in a big, loving family, theres happiness to spare.
Joy for the children, and joy for the animals too.
Especially when youve got both a cat and a dog under one roof!
