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The Loyal Companion: A Celebration of Man’s Best Friend

The boy turned the key and slipped into the flat. He didnt call out the usual, Mum, Im home!

Do I Remember? Impossible to Forget! “Polly, we need to talk… So, do you remember my illegitimate daughter, Annie?” My husband spoke in riddles—always a bad sign. “Hmm… Do I remember? I could never forget! Why?” I sat down, bracing myself for trouble. “I hardly know how to tell you… Annie is begging us to take in her daughter—my granddaughter,” he mumbled, not meeting my eyes. “Oh, and why exactly, Alex? Where’s Annie’s husband? Run off, has he?” I was intrigued in spite of myself. “You see, Annie doesn’t have long to live. There’s never been a husband. Her mother moved abroad ages ago—remarried to an American. They haven’t spoken in years. Annie’s alone. That’s why she’s turning to us,” Alex shuffled his feet, looking embarrassed. “So? What do you plan to do?” I’d already made up my own mind. “I’m asking you, Polly. Whatever you say, that’s what I’ll do,” Alex finally looked at me. “How convenient. You made your mistakes, Alex, and now you want me to take responsibility for someone else’s child?” My husband’s helplessness infuriated me. “Polly, we’re a family. We have to decide together,” Alex tried to plead his case. “Oh, now you remember I’m your wife! Where was this ‘togetherness’ when you were sleeping with that girl?” Tears welled up and I fled the room. …Back at school, I was seeing my classmate Victor when Alex transferred in. I was smitten from the start. I quickly broke it off with Victor. When Alex noticed me, he started walking me home, giving me stolen flowers, and soon enough—we ended up in bed. I was completely in love. We finished school, and Alex was called up for military service in another city. We exchanged letters for a year before he came home on leave. I was so excited I could hardly contain myself. Alex swore up and down that he’d marry me as soon as he returned for good. After those words, I melted every time he looked at me—it was true love. But six months later, a letter arrived: Alex had met “his true love” at the army base and wouldn’t be coming back. And there I was—pregnant, alone, abandoned at the altar. As my grandmother used to say: “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.” …When my son, John, was born, Victor, my old classmate, came back into my life and offered to help. Out of desperation, I accepted. Our relationship turned romantic, but I never forgot Alex. Then, suddenly, he reappeared. Victor answered the door. Alex looked surprised to see him but wanted to come in. Victor reluctantly agreed. John, sensing something was up, clung to Victor for dear life, but I sent them out for a walk. “Were you married to him?” Alex asked jealously. “Why do you care? What do you want?” I snapped. “I missed you. But I see you have a family now. I’ll go,” Alex started to leave. “Wait, Alex. Tell me honestly—why are you here?” I tried to hold him back. My feelings were still there. “I came back for you, Polly. Will you take me back?” Alex looked hopeful. “Come on in—we’re about to eat,” I replied, my heart pounding. He was back. And that was all that mattered. Victor was sent packing once and for all. My John would have his real father, not a stepdad. Later, Victor married a lovely woman with two children of her own. …Over the years, Alex never really took to John—he assumed he wasn’t his own. Alex’s heart never warmed to him. To tell the truth, Alex was a hopeless philanderer, always swept up in new affairs. He cheated on me left and right—with friends, acquaintances, anyone. I wept, but I never stopped loving him. Oddly, loving him made life easier for me. The one who loves is always the happiest. I never had to lie or pretend, I just loved. He was my sun. Sometimes I wanted to leave, but each night I told myself: Where would I go? No one would ever replace him, and Alex would be lost without me. I was his lover, wife, and mother rolled into one. …Alex lost his own mother at fourteen—she died in her sleep. Maybe that’s why he searched for affection elsewhere. I forgave everything, always. Once, our rows were so fierce that I kicked him out. He left to stay with family. A month later, long after I’d forgotten the argument, Alex still hadn’t returned. I had no choice but to visit his aunt. “Polly, why do you want him back? He said you’d divorced, he’s got a new girlfriend now,” she told me. From Alex’s aunt, I got the address, and went to see the new woman. “Good afternoon! Is Alex in?” I smiled as politely as I could. She gave me a smug look and slammed the door in my face. I walked away in silence. …A year later, Alex came back. The “new woman” had had a daughter, Annie. I’ve always blamed myself for kicking him out—all that followed would never have happened otherwise. From that moment on, I loved Alex even more fiercely, hoping to keep our family together. Alex and I never spoke of his illegitimate daughter, Annie. The very thought threatened to topple our fragile peace. Safer to keep the lid on. A child with some other woman? Stranger things have happened. But why do women always prey on other people’s husbands? That’s how life went on. Over the years, Alex settled down. The flings stopped. He spent his evenings at home, watching TV. Our son John married young and gave us three beautiful grandchildren. And now? All these years later, Annie has reappeared, asking us to take in her little girl. You have to wonder—how do you explain to John the arrival of a half-sister’s daughter? He knows nothing of his father’s wild youth. …Of course, we became legal guardians to five-year-old Alice. Annie died at thirty, her time cut short. Life goes on anyway. Alex sat John down “man to man” and confessed. Our son listened and concluded: “Whatever happened is in the past. I’m not here to judge. We have to take in the girl. She’s family.” Alex and I breathed easier. We raised a good boy, one with a heart. …Now Alice is sixteen. She adores Grandpa Alex, shares all her secrets with him, calls me “Nan” and swears she looks just like I did at her age. I agree wholeheartedly…

DO I REMEMBER? HOW COULD I FORGET? Polly, theres something I need to talk to you about My husband, Alex

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She Gave Birth in Silence and Was Ready to Give Up Her Baby: The Moving Story of a Midwife Who Helped a Young Student Choose Motherhood Over Adoption

She gave birth quietly and wanted to give her baby away I’ve been a midwife for more years than I’

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Five Family Properties, Yet We’re Still Renting—How Our Parents’ Choices Left Us Struggling to Afford Our Own Home

There are five houses in our family, and yet here we arestill shelling out for rent. Honestly, Im so

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Winter Had Draped Andrew’s Garden in a Soft Blanket of Snow—But His Loyal German Shepherd, Duke, Was Acting Strangely Instead of Curling Up in the Large Kennel Andrew Had Built with Love Last Summer, Duke Insisted on Sleeping Outside, Right in the Snow. Andrew Watched from the Window with a Tightness in His Chest—Duke Had Never Behaved Like This Before. Every Morning, When Andrew Came Outside, He Saw Duke Watching Him Tense. Whenever He Got Near the Kennel, Duke Planted Himself Between Andrew and the Entrance, Growling Softly and Looking Up at Him as if to Say, “Please, Don’t Go In There.” This Behaviour, So Unusual Given Their Years of Friendship, Made Andrew Wonder—What Was His Best Friend Hiding? Determined to Find Out, Andrew Came Up with a Plan—He Enticed Duke into the Kitchen with a Tempting Piece of Steak. While the Dog, Locked Inside, Barked with All His Might at the Window, Andrew Approached the Kennel and Sat Down to Peer Inside. His Heart Stopped as His Eyes Adjusted to the Darkness and He Saw Something That Froze Him in Place… …Inside, Tucked in a Blanket, Was a Tiny Kitten—Filthy, Frozen, and Barely Breathing. Its Eyes Opened Only a Little, and Its Body Trembled with Cold. Duke Had Found It Somewhere and, Instead of Chasing It Away or Leaving It to Freeze, He Gave It Shelter. He Slept Outside So He Wouldn’t Scare the Kitten, Guarding the Entrance Like There Was Treasure Inside. Andrew Held His Breath. He Reached In and Carefully Lifted the Tiny Creature to His Chest. At That Moment, Duke Rushed Over and Sat Close Beside Him—No Longer Growling, But Gentle and Ready to Help. “You’re a Good Dog, Duke…” Whispered Andrew, Holding the Kitten Tight. “Better Than Many People.” From That Day On, Not Just Two Friends But Three Lived in the Garden. And the Kennel, Built with Love, Found Its True Purpose Again—as a Little Home for Rescued Souls.

Winter had transformed Williams garden into a landscape of soft white frost, but his loyal dog, Dukea

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My Name is Julia.

My name is Emily. When I first met her she was twentytwo, shoulders burdened with a weight too great to name.

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My Son Missed My 70th Birthday, Claiming Work Kept Him Away—That Evening I Saw Him on Social Media Celebrating His Mother-in-Law’s Birthday at a Restaurant

The phone rang precisely at midday, slicing through the stillness of my waiting. I remember how I hurried

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Leftover Love: A Tale of a Mother-in-Law, Sister-in-Law, and the Battle for One’s Place

Again an envelope for them, and only a jar of pickles for us? I recall sitting at my motherinlaws kitchen

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You don’t love him, but we were happy together – shall we try to start over, what do you say?

You dont love him, and things were good between us; shall we try starting anew, alright? We divorced

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Unwanted: A Short Story.

I first learned that her father was still alive when Olivia fell ill. Shed been feeling poorly for weeks