Mum, Dad was right when he said theres something wrong with your head! Now I see it for myselfyoure not right in the mind. Ever thought of getting help?
Antonia Peters stared at her son, stunned. Yes, hed always been a difficult boy, but to say such things to his own mother, straight to her face
Antonia had never imagined shed divorce her husband after twenty-five years of marriage. Yet it was she who filed the papers.
Because one day, Antonia realised she didnt know him at all. After so long, youd think you could read someone inside out. But no. It turned out Dmitri was a heartless man.
The day Antonia brought home a scrawny stray puppyso thin you could count every ribhe erupted.
Tonia, have you nothing better to do? he bellowed through the flat. Whyd you drag this wretched thing in here?
Dima, listen to yourself, Antonia said, bewildered. Look at him. Hes skin and bones. How could anyone walk past?
Everyone else managed! What, are you Mother Teresa now? Think youre some saint?
That night, Antonia criedfor the helpless pup trembling on unsteady legs, and for the man whod revealed himself as a stranger.
No, hed never been perfect, but shed overlooked his flaws. After all, who was?
But that day, Dmitri crossed a line. *How?* she sobbed. *How hard is it to be decent? To help a living thing in need?*
Of course, one argument wasnt the end. He made it clear the wretch grated on his nerves.
When are you getting rid of it? How long must I put up with this half-dead mutt?
Half-dead mutthis name for the trembling pup, though the flat was warm.
Instead of helping his wife nurse the little one or find it a proper home, he vanished to the garage with his matesother miserable blokes hiding from their wives.
Hed stumble home late, reeking of drink, only to berate her and the filthy stray again.
*I could understand disliking animals,* Antonia thought, sitting alone in the parlour. *But do you even care about me? Cant you see Im struggling?*
She was. She had to skip work oftenvet visits, walksand dreaded leaving the pup alone with him. After twenty-five years, she no longer knew the man shed married. Worse, hed started drinking heavily.
Then, one day at work, a cold dread gripped her chest. That gnawing sense something was wrong.
She left early, claiming illnessand caught Dmitri red-handed. He was dragging poor Bim toward the garages, likely to abandon him.
That, she could never forgive. So she filed for divorce.
Over a *dog*? he roared, waving his arms. Youve lost your mind in your old age!
She ignored him. Old? She didnt feel it. Nor was she mad. She just couldnt live with him anymore.
Their grown son, Vadik, living abroad with his girlfriend, took his fathers side.
Mum, are you serious? Youd wreck our family over some mutt?
There *is* no family, love, Antonia sighed. And its not about the dog. Its about your father losing his humanity.
You dont have to like animals, but to hurt them? No decent man would!
Her explanations fell on deaf ears. In protestor male solidarityVadik cut ties, snarling *she* was the one whod lost her mind, leaving his father homeless.
(The flat was hers before marriage; Dmitri had no claim. His parents rundown country house? Abandoned for years. Not her concern.)
Dmitri chose his path. No one made him a monster. The thought of what hed have done to Bim made her shudder.
So she kept him. Nursed him back to health, restoring his trust in people. Shed planned to rehome him, but
If I picked you up, Ill see it through, she told the fluffy tail-wagger.
Woof! Bim wagged harder. He wasnt leaving her.
Later, Antonia began volunteering at a local shelter on her days off. Helping creatures abandoned by people like Dmitri.
Were strapped for cash, the manager admitted. Any pay would be pennies. I dont know if
Dont worry, Antonia said. Im here for the cause.
Soon, she and Bim were regulars. Thats where she met another dogor rather, Bim introduced them.
An old hound the staff called Grumps for his constant growling. Shed seen him before, but now she really *looked*.
His eyes held the same despair Bims once had.
She knelt beside his kennel, stroked his head, hugged him. She longed to spark joy in those weary eyes. But nothing.
Later, a worker shared his storyone of betrayal.
Found him roaming three years ago. Hed stare at passers-by, searching. Turned out, he was looking for his owner.
Man tied him to a lamppost and drove off. Folks untied him when no one returned. Hes been waiting ever since.
No one wanted him? Antonia asked.
One bloke took him, brought him back a month later. Called him a useless lump. Three years here now. Old dogs dont get second chances.
*Not on my watch,* Antonia resolved. She posted Grumps photos everywhere.
Is that a beagle? a woman called. Ive always wanted one.
Part-beagle, Antonia said. But listenhes been betrayed. Hes sad, but love could melt that ice.
The woman took him. As Grumps left, Antonia wiped tears. Be happy, lad.
He didnt wag or bark. Just gave her a sorrowful glance. Hed grown used to her. Now he was being taken again.
Weeks later, the woman called. Can we return him? Were off to Brighton, and theres no one to watch him.
Antonia hesitated. The shelters full. But Ill take him.
When Grumps arrived, she barely recognised him. Gaunt, as if starved.
You didnt *feed* him?
He wouldnt eat! I didnt force him. You shouldnt force dogs.
A vet visit revealed serious health issues. Antonia called the woman, asking for help with bills.
Ive no money! the woman snapped. You never said hed get sick!
He wasnt sick when you took him
Oh, so its *my* fault? Keep the damn dog. Dont call again.
Stunned, Antonia panicked. Two dogs? Financially, physicallyitd be hard. Especially with retirement nearing.
But Grumps eyes met hers, and she knew. No one would abandon him again.
How many times must he suffer?
When Grumps realised he was staying, something flickered in his gazethat tiny spark of joy, growing brighter each day.
Even with his shaky legs and cloudy eyes, Antonia knew shed done right. It was hard, but now? She was the happiest woman alive.
Despite the divorce. Despite Vadiks rejection. He visited once, pleading for his fathers returnuntil he saw the second dog.
Mum, Dad was rightyoure *mad*! One mutt wasnt enough?
Antonia stared. Vadik, how can you
Its true! No sane person does this!
I do. Because no one else will help them. And your father? Hes *never* coming back.
Then rot alone! He slammed the door.
Antonia whispered after him, Im not alone, son. Not with loyal friends wholl never betray me.
The shelter manager offered to take Grumps back.
Thank you, but no, Antonia said. I wont risk another abandonment. Let him live out his days in peace.
So there it was. Animal lovers would understand. Others might judge*She wrecked her family over dogs?*
But what of her husband and son? What would *you* have done?
