by Claire Garth
‘Benji is a new arrival,’ Annie explained. ‘He’s completely blind, so we’re looking for a very special human to adopt him.’
‘Oh, I don’t think they’ll be hard to find. He’s a real gem. I’d keep him in a heartbeat, if I could,’ Nanna Jean said, holding Benji in her arms like a baby.
‘Come on, boys. Should we head out to the garden?’ Annie said.
‘I think I’ll come too,’ Nanna Jean said. ‘Now, where are my slippers?’
Just then, Grover had an idea. Maybe he could find a home for Benji RIGHT HERE in the Grandparents’ Home!
‘Psst, Benji,’ he whispered loudly, so Benji could hear him. ‘Do you remember how to fetch slippers?’
‘Of course,’ Benji replied. ‘I fetched my Nancy’s slippers for her every day. I was very good at it,’ he said proudly.
‘Great! Then jump off the bed and walk forward four steps. Nanna Jean’s slippers are just near the doorway,’ said Grover.
Benji followed his directions and picked up the slippers, bringing them back and dropping them at Nanna Jean’s feet.
‘Well, I’ll be!’ said one of the nurses, who had just come to the door. ‘This dog could do my job!’ she said, laughing with Annie.
‘Good boy, Benji,’ said Nanna Jean, patting him softly on the head.
Benji was beaming with pride.
‘I don’t suppose you’re any good at crosswords, are you?’ Nanna Jean joked.
She waved her crossword puzzle near Benji’s nose.
Without hesitating, he leant forward and took the newspaper in his mouth. Then he trotted over to the doorway to wait for Nanna Jean and Grover.
‘My word!’ Nanna Jean cried. ‘This dog can understand me!’
Grover looked at Annie, and he could see that she was watching Benji and Nanna Jean closely. The nurse was watching, too.
Grover’s brilliant plan was WORKING!
CHAPTER 9
Grover, Benji and Nanna Jean headed towards the garden. But they had to walk very slowly, because Benji kept bumping into the walls. He was bouncing off the sides of the hallway like a bowling ball!
‘Well, this won’t do!’ Nanna Jean said, watching Benji zigzag down the hallway.
She turned around and shuffled back towards her room. ‘Wait there, boys!’ she called.
Oh no! Grover thought. I bet she’s getting the nurse and Annie. My brilliant plan will be ruined!
But when Nanna Jean came back she was still on her own, and she was carrying a small bottle.
Nanna Jean opened the bottle and began to walk down the centre of the hallway, placing little droplets on the carpet in a straight line as she went. It didn’t take long for the whole hallway to smell of lavender.
‘Okay, Benji,’ Nanna Jean said, once she was done. ‘Just follow your nose!’
Benji sniffed his way to the first lavender drop, right in the middle of the carpet, and then he followed the droplets all the way to the end of the hallway.
‘There you go!’ Nanna Jean exclaimed. ‘Problem solved!’
Benji and Nanna Jean both looked very pleased with themselves.
Once they were outside, Grover went to find Mr Sam. He loved Sam, and Sam loved him. Grover thought he must have had a border collie in a past life, because he knew all the right spots to scratch.
Grover lay at Sam’s feet and watched Benji following Nanna Jean around the garden. They were stopping at every flower, just like Benji used to do with Nancy.
Then, out of the corner of his eye, Grover saw a big red flower on the other side of the garden.
He tried to remember what Benji had told him about roses. Big and red, lots of petal layers and huge green stems with big spiky thorns … Yes, I think that’s a rose! he thought excitedly.
Grover jumped up and headed over for a closer look.
It was DEFINITELY a rose!
While no-one was watching, Grover leant forward and carefully grabbed the stem with his teeth, making sure he avoided the thorns. With a little snap, Grover took the rose from the bush, and ran with it towards the Aged Care Home.
Now I know my plan will work for sure! Grover thought.
Once he had finished inside, Grover went back to the garden, just as Annie was announcing that it was time for them to go home.
All the grandparents slowly made their way back inside, stopping to pat Grover and Benji one last time.
Standing next to Benji, Grover could feel that his friend was about to burst with excitement.
‘We did the crossword, Grover, and then Nanna Jean told me all about the flowers, just like Nancy used to,’ Benji said. ‘This was the best day EVER!’
Just then, Annie called from the doorway. ‘Benji,’ she said, ‘come over here. I have a little surprise for you.’ She winked at Grover, and then she picked up Benji and carried him inside.
CHAPTER 10
Nanna Jean was sitting in her chair, holding a beautiful rose in her hands.
‘I don’t know where it came from,’ one of the nurses was saying. ‘But since it was there, on your chair, it must be for you! Perhaps it’s from a secret admirer.’
‘A ROSE!’ Benji yelped. ‘Grover, is it really a rose?’
‘Well, it’s big and red with lots of layers of petals,’ said Grover, ‘and it has a spiky green stem …’
Benji was wriggling so much that Annie put him down. He ran towards the scent of the rose, leaping straight onto Nanna Jean’s lap.
‘Is this from you, then, young man?’ she asked jokingly, stroking Benji’s soft fur. ‘Are you my secret admirer?’
‘Actually, Jean,’ Annie said, ‘the nurses and I have had a chat, and we were wondering if Benji could stay here with you. He’ll be a very special resident, so he’ll need someone to take care of him —’
‘OH, YES!’ Nanna Jean said, bursting into tears.
‘I will love you more than anyone, Benji,’ Nanna Jean whispered, burying her face in his fluffy coat.
Benji was in shock.
‘Do I really get to stay?’ he asked Grover. ‘Is Nanna Jean my new human?’
‘Yes,’ replied Grover. ‘Nanna Jean is your new human, and so are Mr Sam, Grandma Lorna, Grandpa Jimmy, Mr Jack, Nonna Carmen and all the other residents, and the nurses as well.’
Benji was so thrilled he could hardly speak. He WRIGGLED with excitement.
‘Now you have a special job, too,’ said Grover. ‘You’re the Grandparents’ Home Dog, so you will have to do your best to take care of all the grandparents here. Just like you did with Nancy. Would that be okay?’
‘Oh yes, Grover, I’ll start right away!’ Benji said. Grover, Annie and the nurses laughed as they watched little Benji run around to all the residents to let them pat him. Grover had never seen all the grandparents so happy.
As Grover and Annie walked to the car, Grover felt very proud of himself. He had helped Benji find the perfect new home, and now he could go home and tell Mr Tibbles that he’d lost. And then that awful cat would be gone for good!
Grover thought of Benji the whole car ride home. The Aged Care Home really was the perfect place for him. He’d never be lonely, with so many people who’d love and spoil him all the time. And Nanna Jean would have someone to talk to, as well.
As soon as Annie had parked the car on Cavendish Lane, Grover leapt out and ran towards their house.
He bounded up the stairs and found Mr Tibbles taking up an entire section of the porch with his big fluffy body.
‘I hope you’ve packed your bags,’ said Grover.
‘What are you talking about, Dog?’ Mr Tibbles replied, without even lifting his head.
‘I’ve just found Benji a new home. So, I won the challenge and YOU LOST!’ Grover pointed towards the gate. ‘Goodbye, Mr Tibbles. See you later. Toodle-oo!’
Mr Tibbles laughed. ‘Did you really think I would give up any of my territory? You fell for my trick, Dog. I just wanted that pathetic Toy Dog gone. And now he is. MWAHAHAHAHA.’
‘Yo
u’re a horrible cat!’ Grover barked.
Mr Tibbles didn’t flinch. He closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep.
Then Grover had an idea. ‘Well …’ he said slowly. ‘Now that Benji is gone, I guess we’ll be able to bring another dog home from the shelter to stay.’
Mr Tibbles pretended not to be listening, but Grover saw his ears twitch.
‘And I’m going to make sure that the next dog we bring home is the biggest, scariest, nastiest dog you’ve ever seen,’ said Grover.
Mr Tibbles sat up.
‘Now, Dog, don’t be hasty,’ he said, his voice all shaky. ‘I was only joking about tricking you. I really did want that little Toy Dog to find a home, I swear.’
Grover just smiled and walked inside.
That’ll teach him to mess with me! Grover thought, as he settled down in front of the fireplace.
‘Sweet dreams, Mr Tibbles!’ Grover called out from his soft, comfy bed. ‘I hope you sleep really, REALLY well.’
MEET GROVER McBANE
AND HIS FRIENDS…
GROVER
AGE: Three
BREED: Border collie
LIKES: Warm beds, travelling in the car, playing hide and seek
DISLIKES: Rain, water, baths
FAVOURITE FOOD: Roast chicken, and a sneaky roast potato
NAUGHTIEST TRICK: Chasing cats
HAMISH
AGE: Nine months
BREED: Terrier
LIKES: Tennis balls, soccer balls, footballs, cricket balls
DISLIKES: When no-one will play ball with him
FAVOURITE FOOD: Liver treats
NAUGHTIEST TRICK: Stealing tennis balls from other dogs
MR TIBBLES
AGE: Twelve
BREED: Domestic cat
LIKES: Attention
DISLIKES: Dogs
FAVOURITE FOOD: Salmon
NAUGHTIEST TRICK: Teasing dogs
BENJI
AGE: Nine
BREED: Pomeranian
LIKES: Pats, treats, sniffing lavender, the smell of red roses
DISLIKES: Being left alone
FAVOURITE FOOD: Liver treats and shortbread crumbs
NAUGHTIEST TRICK: Sneaking into humans’ beds
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Claire Garth is a former primary school teacher. She now works as the General Manager at the Sydney Dogs and Cats Home.
Claire adopted the real Grover in 2013, and together they work to raise awareness about animal rescue.
ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR
Johannes Leak is an illustrator and commercial artist who specialises in cartooning, magazine illustration, music album artwork and storyboards. He lives and works on the New South Wales Central Coast, where he can also be spotted surfing and walking his dog, Calvin.
SYDNEY DOGS AND CATS HOME
The Sydney Dogs and Cats Home (SDCH) is an animal pound that has been taking care of Sydney’s lost and abandoned animals since 1946.
Each year, the Home helps over 3000 animals just like Grover to find a new family. Dogs, puppies, cats, kittens, rabbits, birds, chickens, guinea pigs and ducks – even occasionally sheep and llamas! The Sydney Dogs and Cats Home searches far and wide to find new homes for the animals. Sometimes they fly them to other parts of Australia or even overseas. Animals stay at the Home as long it takes to find them new owners.
The Sydney Dogs and Cats Home is open 365 days of the year. If your family is looking for a new pet, consider adopting a lost animal from the Home instead of buying one from a pet shop. Adopt, don’t shop!
www.sydneydogsandcatshome.org
By purchasing this book, you are supporting the work of the Sydney Dogs and Cats Home.
DID YOU KNOW GROVER McBANE IS A REAL DOG?
Author Claire Garth adopted him from the Sydney Dogs and Cats Home.
You can see more photos of Grover on Instagram: @grovermcbane
READ MORE OF GROVER’S ADVENTURES IN:
GROVER FINDS A HOME
Grover McBane escapes from his owner’s yard and is taken to the animal shelter.
READ MORE OF GROVER’S ADVENTURES IN:
GROVER’S NEW FRIENDS
Lots of surprises are in store for Grover as he meets some of the other dogs at the shelter!
