We sold you the house, but weve got the right to stay here for a week, said the previous owners.
Back in 1975, our family moved from the countryside to the city. We bought a house on the edge of town and got more than we bargained for
Folks in villages always used to help one another, and my parents were just the same. So when the previous owners asked if they could stay in our new house for a couple of weeks until they sorted out some paperwork, my parents agreed.
These people had a massive, rather menacing dog. We certainly didnt want it left with us since it wouldnt listen to a word we said. I can still picture that dog to this day.
One week passed, then two, then threeit soon became apparent that the former owners had made themselves quite at home in our house, with no signs of leaving. Theyd sleep in until well past lunch, rarely went out, and carried on as though it was still their place. The mother especially acted as though nothing had changed.
My parents kept reminding them of our agreement, but they found one excuse after another to delay their departure.
Theyd let their dog roam free in our garden, never bothering to keep an eye on him. Not only did he use our garden as his toilet, but we were all too frightened to step outside. The dog was aggressive and would lunge at anyone. My parents asked repeatedly for it to be kept on a lead. But as soon as my father left for work in the morning, and my brother and my sister went off to school, the dog was released into the garden again.
In the end, it was that dog who helped my father get rid of these cheeky lodgers.
One afternoon, my sister Emily came home from school and went to open the garden gate, not realising the dog was loose. The great black brute knocked her to the ground, and by sheer luck, she escaped with only a torn coat. The dog was finally caught and tied up. Instead of apologising, they blamed my little sister for coming home too early.
That evening, my father had had enough. He came through the door from work, didnt even bother to take his coat off, and dragged the old ladystill in her dressstraight out into the street. Her daughter and husband dashed outside after her. All the belongings of those impudent guests were promptly thrown over the fence, landing in the mud and puddles.
They even tried to set the dog on my father, but at the sight of the commotion, it tucked its tail between its legs and slunk off to cower in the shed. The dog clearly didnt want to get involved or leave.
Within the hour, all their belongings were outside the gate, which my father firmly locked behind themwith the dog and its owners left standing the other side.
