Barking Maddy's Puppy Love

by S M Mala

  ‘Maddy,’ Stan gently said. ‘Don’t you think you should get off her now before people spot what’s going on?’

  ‘No!’

  ‘Bob! Aren’t you going to help me get this mad bitch off my back?’ barked Tara.

  All three of them looked at Dr. Bob who was looking down at his wife. It was when he slowly shook his head from side to side in utter disappointment did she realise he wasn’t quite sure what was going on.

  ‘This is about some feud dated back from when you were at school, isn’t it?’ he said, and Maddy realised he might be good with healing kids, but he was thick as a coconut when it came to the blatantly obvious. ‘Can’t you talk about it like adults?’

  ‘Your wife is a terrible woman!’ hissed Maddy, subtly pulling the tail a little tighter but caught Stan’s eye. It was evident he knew what she was doing so, he released her grip, not by that much. ‘She said some awful things about Dora dying, so I pushed her into a puddle. How you could allow her to compete in the fun run is beyond me! This woman has germs contagious to the western world considering who has been in her knickers!’

  ‘Why don’t you get off her, Maddy?’ asked Stan, trying not to laugh. ‘Then we can finish the run and make sure that neither one of you meet again.’

  ‘Yeah, get off me!’ screamed Tara who was now kicking her legs in frustration.

  ‘Why don’t I fart on you instead?’ growled Maddy menacingly as she turned to Dr. Bob. ‘How could you have married this thing? I knew you were distraught after your marriage breakdown but choosing this… this…’

  ‘Madeleine,’ said Stan gently. ‘Be careful.’

  ‘Take her!’ Maddy said, trying to get up but making sure she put her hand on the back of Tara’s head, so her face went into the muddy grass.

  She kept it a couple of seconds longer than intended.

  As she jumped up, she ran behind Stan for added protection while the screaming and near hysterical woman was helped to her feet.

  ‘This isn’t over!’ shouted out Tara, mud covering her face. ‘Far from it.’

  ‘It is,’ Dr. Bob said, looking at her. ‘I wondered why you wanted to do the fun run when you’ve never been bothered before. Was it to get back at Maddy? You know, she has done so much to raise money for the hospice. I can’t believe you’d be so spiteful.’

  ‘That’s because she’s a-.’

  Stan had turned to put his hand over Maddy’s mouth, giving a warning glance to shut up.

  ‘Dr. Bob, the women can’t get along, and I was there when your wife was a little nasty about Dora passing away. I think it was to antagonise Maddy, which isn’t that hard, and considering how devastated she has been since Dora passed, it’s not right. I think it’s best you keep her away from Madeleine and vice versa. I don’t think they’re destined to get on.’

  ‘Never in a million bloody years!’ shouted Maddy, removing Stan’s hand.

  Just then Ted walked over with Pearl.

  The pair stopped when they saw the state of Tara.

  ‘Will it never end?’ sighed Ted, shaking his head and looking at Maddy. ‘What happened?’

  ‘That bitch you call your friend,’ began Tara. ‘She attacked me.’

  ‘You’ll find it was the other way around!’ shouted Maddy, stepping forward as Stan pulled her back. ‘She jumped out at me.’

  ‘Let’s just clear this up once and for all,’ said Pearl, stepping forward and using her authoritative tone. ‘You Tara were nasty and meant to Maddy. The girl never did anything wrong, but you didn’t like her. Your rumours and snide remarks were harsh and hurt Maddy. It upset me to see that someone could be so cruel.’

  ‘I don’t care what you think!’ Tara said, wiping the mud off her face.

  ‘I think the reason you got at Maddy, even more, was when we became friends. That was the last thing you thought would happen.’ Pearl went closer to Tara. ‘But I don’t think it was about Maddy. I think it was about me, and you were finding a way to cause trouble. Yes, you slept with Ted but let’s be honest, most people did. I mean, he’s not that hard to get.’

  ‘Pardon me?’ said Ted, aghast at the comment. ‘What does that mean?’

  ‘Slut,’ mumbled Maddy glancing at Ted as Stan tried to stop laughing.

  ‘My best friend was hurt, and you weren’t to know how it would affect her, neither would we. You’ve not been in this part of town for years, and when you do turn up, you coincidentally run into Maddy. Is it because you want to carry on with your crusade or is it because you still pine for Ted?’

  ‘Slut,’ Maddy said again, and this time Stan put an arm around her shoulders.

  Maddy wasn’t quite sure if it was out of affection or to stop her from running at Tara.

  ‘You think you’re that important?’ snapped Tara, on the verge of tears. ‘I was showing you I could have anything you had. Prancing around as if you were the bee’s knees! It made me sick, and the fact he couldn’t keep it in his pants when you were together showed me that you weren’t up to scratch.’

  ‘She was more than up to scratch, it was me that wasn’t,’ Ted said coolly. A tone Maddy rarely heard unless he was angry. ‘I was young and what do they say? Full of cum so I was going to take anything.’

  ‘Really, Ted?’ Maddy said, her mouth dropping open in disgust. ‘You could have said so many other things to justify your poor taste.’

  ‘And as for you!’ screamed Tara, pointing a very angry finger at Maddy. ‘You wouldn’t stop talking! Always coming back with a smart-arsed answer just to humiliate me. Of course, I was going to tear you to little pieces when I could. What else could I have done?’

  ‘Stopped bullying me!’

  Everything went silent, and Tara had now regained her full composure.

  ‘I never bullied you,’ she eventually replied.

  ‘Yes, you did, and you know it.’

  ‘You were vile, Tara. Very nasty and that made me sad,’ added Ted, stepping closer to Maddy. ‘Because I thought that underneath all your hard face exterior there might have been a nice person. Even when we were together for that split second, you still weren’t nice about Maddy. That’s why I didn’t want to see you again. Your level of cruelty was hard to stomach, but you had one up on me. I’d cheated on Pearl with you, and that was a bad thing but here we are, years later, and Pearl and I are still friends. So are Maddy and me. That speaks volumes, don’t you think?’

  ‘I’m going, and you won’t see me here again.’ Tara replied, her angry eyes focussed on Maddy. ‘See that man you’re standing next to? He’s written far worse about you.’

  ‘I see the funny, quirky side of her. It wasn’t done in malice just amusement,’ Stan piped up and held Maddy’s hand. ‘She’s a good person with a loving heart, and that speaks volumes. Obviously, I agree she talks too much sometimes, but that’s what makes Maddy, well, barking Maddy.’

  Maddy’s’ response was to scowl at Stan as that wasn’t a justifiable answer in her eyes.

  ‘I see,’ Dr. Bob said, speaking for the first time since all of them stood together. ‘And this is a spat that has lasted how long?’

  ‘Seventeen years and counting,’ sniffed Maddy, glaring back at Tara. ‘It’s funny that you, the saviour of children at the hospice, is married to the person who made my childhood hell.’

  ‘When you’re young, you make silly mistakes,’ he replied, diplomatically. ‘I don’t approve of skirmishes, especially when we’re here in the memory of Dora.’

  Immediately Maddy felt a pang of guilt and pain, knowing Linda would hear about it.

  ‘You’re right,’ replied Maddy, nodding emphatically. ‘We’re here for my thirteen-year-old friend who died. I want her to be proud, not ashamed of me.’

  ‘Well, that’s too late, isn’t it?’ snapped Tara.

  Again, Maddy was about to lunge at the bitch, but Stan put his arms around her to make sure there were no other repercussions.

  ‘Tara, sometimes you don’t think before you speak, do you?’
said Dr. Bob, looking embarrassed. ‘Why don’t you go home, and I’ll speak to you later, now I know you didn’t come here to raise money but to continue a spat from school. Go on.’

  ‘Aren’t you coming with me?’ she asked, getting quite angry at the man which made Maddy scowl even harder.

  ‘To be honest, I’d prefer to finish the fun run and have a quiet, stress-free, drink in the pub.’

  On that comment, he then ran off ahead as Tara stormed off into the wilderness of the park.

  ‘Okay people!’ Ted said, clapping his hands together, let’s do this as a team.

  He linked arms with Pearl and Maddy, who hung unto Stan as they marched on to continue the race.

  It didn’t take long before Maddy had to say something.

  ‘Why’d you sleep with her again?’

  ‘Twenty-seven seconds,’ mumbled Stan looking at his watch. ‘Longer than I thought.’

  ‘Were you timing me?’

  ‘Just out of interest,’ he said with a cheeky grin.

  ‘Because she was there,’ Ted replied tiredly. ‘And what could I have said?’

  ‘No,’ added Pearl as Maddy poked her head forward to see her friend’s pissed off expression. ‘But I wasn’t surprised, and she didn’t get the reaction she wanted from me.’

  ‘Yes, she did,’ interjected Ted. ‘We split up.’

  ‘I was going to dump you anyway.’

  ‘You what?’

  Maddy burst out laughing seeing the shocked expression on Ted’s face.

  ‘That’s funny!’ she said, pulling them along and seeing Stan was smiling at the comment. ‘Ted getting dumped. That’s a new one.’

  ‘Why would you want to dump me?’ he asked, turning to Pearl. ‘I’m hot.’

  ‘Ted, you just can’t keep it in your pants. When you meet someone new, it’s the real thing. A few months later, it’s the old thing, and something else has come along. The only thing you are consistent with is your job and friends. As for women? That’s a whole other matter.’ Pearl glanced over at Stan. ‘I don’t mean to be rude about Stasia, but they all think they can tie him down. Unless it’s in a metal cage, it’s not going to happen.’

  ‘She was cut up about it when he finished it with her,’ whispered Stan. ‘But I know she can be annoying, so I wasn’t surprised.’

  ‘Stanley! She’s your sister. You have to stick up for her.’ Maddy glared at him. ‘Ted, one of my dearest friends, broke her heart.’

  ‘My sister is like a rubber ball. She bounces back quickly.’ He kissed her forehead. ‘On a positive note, I got to meet you guys.’

  ‘Isn’t he sweet?’ sighed Pearl, flashing Maddy a glance. ‘Completely adorable.’

  ‘I’m adorable.’ Ted looked miffed at the comment. ‘You don’t say that about me?’

  ‘Oh, come here!’ Pearl grabbed him by the neck and gave him a massive kiss on the cheek making Ted laugh. ‘You’re Ted, and that’s what matters.’

  They walked down the route as a team of people jogged by in fits of giggles. Maddy realised some of the competitors were full of Christmas spirit courtesy of the local distillery.

  ‘She made me feel shit, but that’s nothing compared to how losing Dora has made me feel,’ Maddy said, thinking out loud. ‘And so, in a way, I’m cured of Tara even though I could still thump her on a daily basis.’

  ‘Ah, the season of goodwill,’ Stan said, laughing out loudly. ‘Touches me every time.’

  ‘It’ll take time,’ Pearl whispered. ‘But Dora would be so proud of you for doing this again and making sure that you’re still a part of St Martha’s. You’ve had a little break and now go back to what you do best. Giving those children some hope and laughter, okay?’

  Nodding in response, she squeezed Stan’s hand and focussed what was ahead.

  Maddy had no idea what that was, but she’d have to turn a corner all for the sake of Dora.

  ‘Where’s Stan?’

  They were all in the noisy pub, surrounded by revellers and the people who had taken part in the fundraiser.

  Maddy was in a dress, as the suit was covered in mud, waiting for Stan to turn up. He decided to go home and get Phyllis to join in the party.

  Ted was trying to ply Maddy with drinks and Pearl was with TJ, who was holding onto his baby for dear life considering the amount of attention the child was getting. Then she spotted Dr. Bob speaking intimately to Linda and wondered what was going on. The woman’s face lit up, so they must have been talking about Dora.

  Deep down she hoped he had realised estranged wife was no good and his heart would heal in the arms of Linda.

  ‘If only,’ she sighed, sipping her drink then turned to look at the flushed face of Ted staring at the couple.

  ‘You want them to get together, I take it?’ he asked, grinning. ‘You romantic fool. Which reminds me, are you ever going to go to Rome or are you pinning your hopes on Mr. Franks?’

  ‘I’m pinning nothing on no-one.’ Maddy glared at Ted. ‘What will be, will be, so they say. And what about you? Stasia wants you back, and you’re not playing ball. What’s that about?’

  ‘I think one Franks in the family is enough, don’t you?’ came the smart arsed reply. ‘Anyway, I like being single.’

  ‘You mean you like the idea of looking for the real thing, but it’s the voyage of discovery you prefer.’ She let out a little laugh. ‘Slut.’

  ‘Label it as you wish, but I’m happy.’ Then he gently elbowed her in the side. ‘Are you feeling happier?’

  ‘Seeing all these people come together for Dora and Christmas makes me happy. I’m sorry for all the hell I put you guys through over the past few months. My head and heart weren’t thinking straight.’

  ‘I know.’ Ted put an arm around her. ‘It’s not how I expected you to celebrate your birthday. Not like that.’ She noticed his expression saddened. ‘No-one expects a child to die, do they?’

  ‘No.’ Maddy shut her eyes for a few seconds then took a deep breath. ‘That’s not the way life should be.’

  There was a bark from the corner of the pub, and she noticed people were parting as Phyllis was wheeled in her buggy, courtesy of Stasia.

  ‘Hello there!’ the pretty woman said, looking down at Phyllis. ‘It seems Stanley thinks she needs dressing up.’

  The dog was sat on a red cushion with a bow tied in her hair, which matched the bling collar.

  Maddy did a double take.

  ‘Why’s he dressing her up? He rarely allows me to put anything on her without scrutiny. But she does look cute. Like a present all wrapped up.’ Maddy reached out forward and tickled Phyllis’s chin. ‘You are a pretty girl.’

  ‘Strict instruction is that she has to be kept in the buggy until Stan says so,’ Stasia added, smiling at Ted. ‘How are you?’

  ‘Great!’ he replied, holding up his nearly empty glass of beer. ‘Fantastic.’

  ‘He’s drunk,’ added Maddy now tickling under his chin. ‘Fresh air, you see, goes to his head. Sorry to hear you split with your boyfriend.’ She knew Ted would get annoyed that she mentioned it. ‘Life.’

  ‘Ah, he was dull!’ Stasia replied, flicking her hand in the air. ‘These things happen, but on the plus side, we’re all still friends.’ She sat down next to Ted. ‘And it seems little bro is camping in your home once again.’

  ‘Bedroom,’ giggled Ted. ‘If we're honest.’

  ‘Shut up,’ whispered Maddy knowing he was going to wind her up. ‘Where is he?’

  ‘Preparing something,’ shrugged Stasia. ‘I’ll get the drinks in.’

  ‘It’s not like him,’ mumbled Maddy, hoping he was okay. Pearl was walking towards her looking very merry and sat down on her other side. ‘See your baby is taking center stage as is mine.’

  ‘A baby and a dog! What more do you need?’ laughed Ted. ‘Only two beautiful women by my side.’

  ‘Here comes the punchline,’ mumbled Pearl into her drink.

  ‘But I’ll have to make do with you two while I wait
for them to turn up!’

  ‘Dah, dah!’

  ‘Look,’ Ted said as Maddy saw Linda stand on a little platform.

  The place hushed in anticipation as she saw Dora’s mother smiling brightly with Liam at her side. Then she swore Dr. Bob winked at the woman making her blush.

  ‘I’d like to say a few words,’ Linda began, her voice crackling with nerves, very much like the microphone. Kevin, the pub landlord, managed to take it and slam it against the stand before it became clear. ‘I appreciate everyone turning out for this special day. As you know, it’s to raise money for St Martha’s who are naming a part of the hospice after Dora.’ There was a massive cheer. ‘She would have been so proud to see all of you taking part. I…’ She began to falter. ‘I lost my beautiful baby girl on 13th June, but she wasn’t alone. I had the good people at the hospice and not forgetting her best friend, Maddy, was at her side. She held my daughter’s hand as she passed away as the pair slept. I will always be eternally grateful that Dora wasn’t alone.’

  ‘Oh,’ Maddy said, biting her lip and trying her hardest not to cry.

  ‘It’s people like Maddy who make it bearable for us parents when our children are sick. They bring hope and sunshine into their world when that’s what our babies need. All our worries are put on the backburner as some good people try to make our children happy. And as parents that’s all we want, to see them smile. So, thank you and thank you, Maddy. You’re a special person, and I hope that never changes. Here’s something for you.’

  Putting her head in her hands, Maddy knew she was going to sob but held it together for a moment.

  Then lights were suddenly dimmed which was odd. She knew Kevin liked to save money on electricity, but this was extreme even for him.

  ‘Silence! Silence!’ she heard the pub landlord shout. ‘We have a special performance tonight, so I would ask you all to give a warm round of applause to Stan Franks.’

  Stan walked into the pub, and he was strumming on the guitar before going to stand on the step that Linda had been on just seconds ago.

  ‘Oh no!’ laughed Pearl, turning to Maddy. ‘What’s he up to now?’