3 Heads & a Tail

by Vickie Johnstone

  “What have you done with my dog?” yelled Ben, his hands bunched into fists.

  “What are you talking about?” asked David, sitting up and flicking his hair out of his eyes.

  “Stop messing with your bloody hair! What is that about? Why don't you just get it cut?”

  “Hang on!” said David, sitting upright. “What's up with you? What's my hair gotta do with anything?”

  “My dog! What have you done with my dog?”

  “I haven't done anything with him. Why are you asking me?” demanded David, standing up.

  “Because you stole Glen's papers and tried to sell him to a woman for money! That's why!” shouted Ben. “I can't believe you did that. I wanted to smack you in the head when I found out, but the girls talked me out of it. How could you be such a conniving bastard?”

  David's face fell.

  Ben stepped right in front of him. “Have you got nothing to say? Have you forgotten how long we've been friends? You're meant to be my mate, but you've been acting like a selfish prick!”

  As David opened his mouth, Ben shoved him in the chest, and he toppled back on to the bed.

  “Years,” replied David, pushing himself up on his elbows. “You've known me for years.”

  “Yeah, so stop bullshitting and tell me what's going on?”

  “Okay,” mumbled David. “Look, I needed the money. I'm sorry I took your dog, but I brought him back. The other dog was nice – I thought Glen might enjoy it.”

  “What? So, that makes it alright, does it?”

  David went to get up, but changed his mind. Ben looked ready to punch him.

  “Sorry. Glen freaked out, had a fit and tried to hump that woman's leg. She chucked us out, told us never to come back, refused to pay me because Glen didn't perform. That's it. Sorry, mate. I was skint. I lost my job.”

  “That's no excuse.” Ben clenched his fists. He didn't know how much longer he could control his anger.

  “Fair dues, it won't happen again. I don't want any trouble with you. I had no money to pay the rent.”

  “Well, you didn't need to pay the bloody rent did you? Seeing as you're shagging the landlady!” shouted Ben.

  “Y-you k-know about that?” stammered David, sitting up very slowly.

  “Everyone knows about that! She's old enough to be your mother!”

  “She's not that old... and she's a very experienced woman...”

  “David!” yelled Ben. His patience had run out.

  “Look, calm down, I've told you the truth, but there's just one other thing. Last night, when I came home after band practice, Glen ran at me. I tried to stop him – really I did! But he knocked me sideways and legged it.”

  “Really? You expect me to believe that? Or did you sell him again?”

  “No! Honestly, that's what happened, he ran out. I tried to grab his collar. Weird thing is, I think he'd been waiting for me to open the door because he ran so fast I didn't stand a chance.”

  “And if what you say is true, why didn't wake me up?” asked Ben.

  “It is true!” David protested. “But you haven't been talking to me. I got the idea you were avoiding me. Anyway, I thought the dog would come back,” said David.

  “Get up!”

  “W-what?”

  “Get up – I've got an idea.”

  David flicked the hair out of his eyes and pushed himself up into a standing position. “Cool, how can I...”

  He didn't get a chance to finish his sentence. Ben punched him on the nose and David made contact with the bed again.

  “Just stay away from me... and my dog!”

  Chapter 33

  Ben opened the hatch and stormed back downstairs. He was so angry he didn't know what to do with himself, but punching David had helped a bit. When exactly had his so-called friend changed so much? Probably when he realised he could get any woman at the snap of his fingers... well, almost any.

  He didn't know what to do next. If Mimi was missing too, had they both been stolen? Who would want to steal both dogs? Had someone seen them in the park? No, that didn't make sense. Ben had this nagging feeling in the back of his head that they had disappeared voluntarily... together. They hadn't seen each other for a week because Ms Hill had banned it. Ben shook his head – impossible. What was he thinking? His ruminations were interrupted by the doorbell. He opened the front door.

  “What have you done with my Mimi?” demanded an angry looking and somewhat rumpled Ms Hill. She looked as though she hadn't washed. “Where is she?”

  “I haven't got your dog!” Was this day just going to get worse and worse?

  “You crazy man! You keep sending me pictures of the dogs together and then my Mimi vanishes. Where did you think I'd come looking first? If you don't give her back, I'm phoning the police.”

  “Please come in. My dog has gone missing too.”

  “A likely story! You're just hiding...”

  “No, Ms Hill, my dog is missing. I've spent all morning looking for him,” said Ben, too tired to argue. “I've already been to the police and they weren't helpful.”

  The woman scowled and walked into the house, just as David appeared at the top of the stairs holding his nose in a small towel.

  “You!” screeched Ms Hill.

  David scurried back up to his hatch.

  Ms Hill turned her anger on Ben. “You said you didn't know...”

  Ben sighed, exhausted. “Please, please, just come and sit down.”

  She followed him into the kitchen and they sat.

  “I worked out that it was my housemate, David, whom you just recognised, who brought my dog to your house,” explained Ben. “You gave some clues and I twigged it was him. He stole the papers for Glen from my room, tricked you, and tried to make some money because he is broke. I'm really angry with him for doing it. When we went to the park next, my dog and your dog, Mimi, took an instant liking to each other. I didn't realise they'd met before – because of David. To make a long story short, the dogs really enjoy each other's company.”

  “I know. You sent me the pictures.”

  “I sent you them, along with a letter from Glen's vet showing he's not crazy or sick, in the hope that you might see that the two dogs get along great,” said Ben. “I didn't think it was fair to separate them.”

  “So you stole her?”

  Ben shook his head. “Nope. As I said, my dog has gone too. David told me he rushed out of the house last night. He's never done that before. You say your dog has gone missing too. Is it too crazy to think that they might have gone missing together? Because I can't work out in my head how it's possible that they could have both been stolen on the same day. Why would anyone steal both of them?” He leant back in his chair.

  Ms Hill looked as if she'd just swallowed a bucket of lemons. “You think the dogs ran off together... like some love story gone wrong?” asked Ms Hill. “Are you a loony, young man?”

  “I can't think of any other plausible explanation. I know my dog. He's no ordinary dog.”

  Ms Hill opened her mouth to say something, but they were disturbed by the front door opening, followed by footsteps and the sound of shoes being kicked off.

  “Hi, Ben! Oh, hello!” It was Josie.

  “Hello, I'm Ms Hill.”

  “Ah, you're owner of the dog that Glen likes!” said Josie, smiling. “It's nice to meet you. I guess you've realised they're devoted to each other?”

  “More crazy notions!” said Ms Hill. “Yes, I am Mimi's owner, but I'm here because she has gone missing.”

  “Oh,” gasped Josie. “I'm sorry, really, and there's me opening my big mouth...”

  “Glen's gone missing too,” Ben added.

  “Oh no,” said Josie, sitting down. “When did you last see the dogs?”

  “I last saw Glen yesterday. Ms Hill says Mimi was gone this morning and the back door was open. David said Glen ran out last night, almost knocking him over.”

  “That doesn't sound like Glen.”

 
Ben nodded.

  “Yes, well, you're not much help. I'm going to see the police now,” said Ms Hill, standing up. “And if you do have my dog, you'll be hearing from me.”

  “Ben doesn't have your dog, Ms Hill. If Glen's gone missing that's the worst thing that could happen to him. His dog is like his best friend,” said Josie.

  “Well, miss, we'll see about that. All this nonsense about the dogs running off together, really – I'll see myself out.” She got up and left. The front door slammed.

  “Are you alright?” asked Josie.

  “Not really,” said Ben, looking lost.

  Josie got up. “You need a coffee and I'm going to make you one. Tell me everything. And what's this about the dogs running away together? Do you really think that?”

  “Does it sound so crazy?”

  “No,” replied Josie. “I don't think so. If I was Mimi and I knew Glen, I'd be running off with him!”

  “Thanks,” said Ben. “I needed to hear that. Anyway, this is what happened...”

  Chapter 34

  Three days after Glen's disappearance, everyone was sitting in the kitchen, hugging glasses of juice and trying to think up helpful ideas.

  “I don't know what else to do,” admitted Ben. “I've spoken to the police, vets, put up posters, rung the RSPCA, PDSA and every animal related acronym – what else is left to do?”

  “You could put an ad in the newspaper,” said David, poking his head round the door.

  “We're still not speaking to you!” said Kay, waving him away.

  David went back upstairs.

  “I'm so glad you popped him one,” said Josie. “He so deserved it.”

  “I think he deserved more,” added Kay. “What a twat!”

  “You know, an ad in the paper isn't a bad idea,” said Ayla.

  “Right-o, idea number one – even though it came from a crap source,” said Ben, writing on his pad. He nibbled the end of his pen.

  “Posters in shops and supermarkets,” suggested Josie.

  Ben nodded, writing it down.

  Brinnng-brunngya-dooyip-doo-ddoo-yam!

  “Oops, my mobile, sorry!” stammered Ben, reaching into his pocket. He looked at the caller ID and grimaced – none other than Ms Hill! He held it up to the others.

  “Whoa!” said Ayla. “Answer it!”

  Ben shook his head.

  “If you don't, I will,” said Ayla.

  Ben did as instructed. “Hello Ms Hill.”

  “Hello Ben.”

  He paused, waiting for the inevitable.

  “Ben?”

  “Yes, I'm still here.”

  Ms Hill took a deep breath. “I'm just ringing to apologise.”

  Ben was shocked and smiled at the others, to signal that everything was alright. They smiled back. “Okay,” he replied, a bit gingerly.

  “I was very upset about Mimi, you understand. Then I thought about what you said. I realise that I overreacted.”

  “That's alright.”

  “I also rang your vet, who assured me that you're not remotely crazy – and he said your dog isn't either, although he's a bit eccentric!”

  “That makes sense!” said Ben, a bit more cheery. “How are you holding up?”

  Ms Hill paused. “It's a bit hard to be honest. I wondered if you had any ideas.”

  “I've contacted everyone and I've put up posters everywhere. I've done just about everything except call the BBC!”

  “That's it!” shouted Josie, her eyes lighting up. “That's it!”

  “Ms Hill, hold on a minute,” said Ben. “Josie has an idea.”

  “I can run a feature in my magazine – it's a weekly. I can put together an article about the two dogs.”

  “Do you think they'd really run it?” asked Ben.

  “I think so. My editor loves stories like this. You should see some of the crazy things I've had to cover, like cows with patches that are meant to look like famous people,” laughed Josie. “Look, we'll make it a doggie romance, taking a 'have you seen these dogs?' angle!”

  “That's a great idea,” said Ben. “Ms Hill, are you hearing this?”

  “A little, but can you explain, please?”

  “I'll just go and ring my editor,” said Josie, jumping up. She almost sprinted out of the kitchen.

  “She's enthusiastic!” said Ayla, surprised.

  Kay grinned. “She really lights up when she gets a big idea. And she gets a lot of them.”

  “Do you think it will work?”

  “Well, if her editor goes for it, you never know,” said Kay, glancing at Ben, who was explaining everything to Ms Hill.

  Within minutes, Josie poked her head round the door, with her hand covering her mobile. “She loves the idea! It's all go. We'll need photos, background info on both dogs – how they met, etcetera. Can you and Ms Hill put that together today? We go to press tomorrow night, so we have to act fast to get it in!”

  “Yep, I'll ask her. Thanks Josie, and please thank your editor,” said Ben, smiling for the first time in ages.

  “Will do. She loves stories like this and she's going to flag it up on the cover,” added Josie, returning to her call. “Ben said thanks. He's chuffed. What else do you need?”

  The story went to press the next day, and the following morning it was sitting among the other animal and nature magazines in almost every newsagent and supermarket across the country. Josie came home with a proof copy, but Ben still rushed out the next day to buy his own. Nature's Way had a picture on the cover to accompany the lead story, but in the bottom, right-hand corner there was a photo of Mimi and Glen in a heart shape. The caption read: 'Did this doggie duo elope?'

  Ben grinned. The heading still made him chuckle. Perhaps someone somewhere would recognise them. He had to stay positive. Flicking through the pages, he found the article. It was quite near the front. There were a few pictures of the dogs, along with their names and where they lived, their habits, their backgrounds, and details of their owners. There was also a number to call. 'Have you seen these dogs?' the headline screamed out from the pages. 'Was it puppy love or did someone steal Mimi and Glen? Please phone this number if you have any information.' He imagined Ms Hill racing out that morning for her own copy. The big picture of Glen suddenly saddened him. A knot formed in his stomach.

  “Take care, boy.” He tucked the magazine under his arm and strode back to the house.

  Glen

  It's been five days since we headed off into the unknown on Sunday night. I'm trying not to think about Ben and Josie, and the familiar things I'm really missing. I know Mimi misses her home too, but if we go back now we will only be separated, so we press on. It's great being with Mimi. She's amazing. She's much more independent than I thought and she's coping well with our time on the run. We're like Bonnie and Clyde of the doggie world.

  That first day, we left the park because we guessed that Ben would search there first. A shame, as we love that place. I'm missing my doggie baths. I know most dogs like being stinky, but I love my baths. I know I'm due one and I hope I'm not voofing smelly!

  We've been wandering the streets by day. The summer is amazing – skies so blue, not a cloud to block the sun. We're just wanderers. Sometimes people smile at us and make those 'ah' noises, seeing us two dogs walking down the street. We have collars though so no one suspects we're homeless. I don't think we can get arrested for just walking down the street. Can dogs get arrested?

  Foodwise, I'm missing my Pedigree Chum! Now and then we've been lucky enough to come across an old lady. Old ladies are great. They're my favourite people, after Ben and Josie, of course. Old ladies have always got some nice food they want to feed us with – it always tastes voofing good. At first, Mimi thought that was taking advantage, but then she got hungry. Now she's not so posh about it, and we always say yes to food!

  Other times we hang around outside the fast food places or cafes, and wait for them to throw out the food. It's still fresh and wrapped, but they throw it out at
the end of the day for some reason. Some humans are so wasteful! We've worked out the timing to perfection. We just hide and wait, and, hey presto, food! Nicely gift wrapped and all ours. So, we haven't gone hungry at all. Some people leave out bowls of water for dogs, especially the animal charity places. Otherwise we're hunting drips and streams.

  I'm not sure where we are just now. We'll just keep walking. We've been to a few parks. There are more than I guessed there would be – where we live is greener than I thought. Ah, Mimi is racing ahead of me, so I better pad a little bit faster to keep up. This is like a mystery tour. We've no idea where we are going, or even where we've been, but we're together and that's the most important thing.

  “What are you thinking about, Glen?” asks Mimi, stopping and looking back at me. “You're a big dog-dreamer!”

  “I can't help it,” I say. “I was just watching the way you walk! It's a great view!”

  “You cheeky dog!” she says. “Seriously, were you thinking of Ben again?”

  “No,” I say, telling a little white lie. “I was thinking about food!”

  “You and your big belly!” she voofs at me, raising her eyes to the sky and wagging her tail. “We only just ate.”

  “A dog can dream,” I say, grinning and showing all of my teeth. I know she likes it when I smile. She's wagging her tail now. See, I'm so right about that!

  I'm wondering where we are. This street is quiet. It's lined with trees and very clean. Seems like a posh neighbourhood, so maybe we'll get some posh food here. A woman is walking out of her house to put her rubbish into a bin. She's looking in our direction. She's staring... for too long. Now she's waving! How odd. I glance at Mimi and she's looking surprised.

  The woman starts shouting and waving at us. “Mimi! Glen!”

  I step backwards in shock, sensing danger. We need to get out of here and fast. Mimi is nudging me to ignore the woman. She's turning and sprinting down the road, back the way we came. I'm ducking my head and following. We're running as fast as we can and we're not looking back.

  How does that woman know our names? I'm sure I've never seen her before in my voofing life. We're sprinting down a few streets and then stop. We're panting. I feel the heat suddenly like a slap in the face.