“I haven’t forgotten!”
“Grandma, guess what! We found a gold ring at the beach today! In the sand! Dad just stuck his hand in the sand, and there it was!”
“Really?!”
“Yeah, Grandma, don’t you believe me?”
“Of course I do, sweetheart.”
“And Dad gave it straight to Mum! It even had a tag on it!”
“A tag?!”
“Yes! Dad explained that it must have accidentally ended up in the sand from the jewelry shop.”
“In the sand?!”
“Yes, Grandma!!! That’s what he told us. That it’s not from a drowned person or a stolen ring!”
“Well, if Dad said so…”
“Yes, Grandma! And he said there are lots of rings like that around! Tom and I have been searching through that silly sand all week! Just to find even one tiny ring.”
“Has Tom’s cough gone?”
“Of course, it’s gone. When would he have time to cough?! There’s so much to do here! How’s Max?”
“He’s doing fine. What are you all having to eat there?”
“Grandma, don’t change the subject. Show him to us!”
Grandma turned the phone’s camera toward the dog. Max was lying nearby, attentively listening to the conversation.
“There. Say hi, Max.”
“Grandma, why does he look so sad?!”
“He’s fine, dear.”
“No! I know what ‘fine’ for him looks like! Max!!! What’s wrong with you?!”
Max thought he heard a familiar voice and wagged his tail.
“Alright, sweetheart, I need to get ready to head to the garden. Are you staying a while longer?”
“Mum wants to stay for two more weeks.”
“For two weeks?!” Grandma glanced at Max.
“Yeah. It’s lovely here! If we could just find another ring… Max, do you want a ring on your collar?!”
“Bye, dear.”
***
“Mum, hi! Liz said it was urgent?”
“Yes. When are you flying back?”
“Not sure. It’s really nice here. Maybe a couple more weeks. Why?”
“Nothing much! Max won’t eat!”
“What do you mean, he won’t eat?”
“Exactly that. Ever since you left, he just sleeps and looks out the window, and at the slightest noise outside, he runs to the door and barks.”
“Are you giving him the right food?!”
“No, we’re feeding him raw potatoes! Of course, we’re giving him the proper food!”
“Well…”
“Exactly, ‘well’. He’s lost weight, you know?”
“Show me!”
Grandma showed a sleeping Max.
“There. All skin and bones.”
“Maybe you should take him to the vet?!”
“Which vet?! Are you serious?! He misses you all! You’ve never been away this long!”
“Mum, let’s do this. I’ll book a vet appointment. Please take him.”
“Alright.”
***
“Mum, hi! How’d it go?”
“Oh, hi. We went. He bit the vet when they tried to weigh him. I couldn’t hold him down. Had to put a muzzle on him to do the ultrasound.”
“Well…”
“Exactly, ‘well’. He’s huddled in a corner, growling. Don’t know where the strength came from.
“What did the vet say?”
“Said we need to do blood tests. Everything seems fine physically. It’s probably stress.”
“Why?”
“Why, indeed?! Are you really asking???”
“Mum, don’t shout! We’re stressed too.”
“Oh, do whatever you like…”
***
“Mum, hi. Why so late?”
“It seems like he’s barely breathing.”
“What?! Our flight’s in the morning. Mum, calm down. Don’t cry.”
“He hasn’t eaten in days. He used to eat even just a little…”
One of the kids asked from behind, “Grandma, why are you crying?”
“Sweetheart, Max isn’t well.”
“Dad said… But we’ll be back tomorrow!”
“I’m afraid that might be too late…”
Suddenly, the girl’s face appeared in Grandma’s phone camera.
“No!!! Grandma, put the phone near him and turn on speakerphone!”
“Sweetheart, he…”
“Do it!!!!”
She brought the phone close to the sleeping dog.
“Max, can you hear me?! We’re coming home tomorrow! I know you’re upset with us. You think we’ve forgotten you! Max, listen to me!”
The dog raised his head slightly, listening intently.
“I get upset too, but then I forget. Otherwise, what’s the point?! Just living sad and upset all the time? Understand, Max, you belong to the Smiths! And Smiths don’t give up when things get tough. Max Smith, do you think I’d forget you, after you threw yourself at that dumb Rottweiler when it went for me?”
“You were half its size, but you protected me! You got beaten up then. And you think I forgot you after that?!”
The dog weakly wagged his tail.
“Max Smith, I ask you to go to the kitchen and eat those brown bits! Go on, off to the kitchen!”
Slowly, the dog headed to the kitchen and began eating from his bowl.
***
When they arrived the next morning, Max forgave them. But not immediately. After about five minutes, he turned away, went to his corner, then rushed back to cover them all in licks. Dirty from travel and all.
