The Dog’s Tail
Once upon a time, not very long ago, and possibly far, far away – depending on where you are – there lived a small, black, furry person of a doggish persuasion, who’s name (to those who fed him) was Blaze.
Blaze lived in a little house, deep in the suburban wilderness, with his five humans: Paul, Annie, Tom, Matt and Andy. He was a happy little dog, for he was well loved, well stroked, and well fed: but sometimes he wished for more walks: for there were so many enticing smells to sniff, and some to add to, and places he wanted to run. So one day he made up his doggie mind to go and find one of his humans and get them to take him for a walk.
He searched the house high and low until he came to Tom’s Lair. Tom talked to invisible people (over the internet) and rarely came out except to add to his collection of dirty cups and plates. But Blaze didn’t see why that should keep him from going for a walk. So he pushed the door open with his nose and walked in.
“How about a walk?” he asked Tom. “Come on, you could use the fresh air”.
“Stop whining, Blaze.” Said Tom. “I’m busy here. I’ve got lot’s of school projects to finish off. I’m going to University next year, you know. I want to get in at Bournemouth, but to do that I need good grades now – so off you go! I’ve got a lot of work to do, as soon as I finish this game….”
“That’s all very well,” said Blaze “but what about my walk?”
But Tom just pushed Blaze out and shut the door. Blaze sighed. Tom didn’t walk him very often. Tom didn’t walk anywhere very often: since he’d got a car he mostly drove places, dragging Mum or Dad with him as he was still on a provisional licence. Blaze had no objection to cars, as long as they took him somewhere he could walk, but Tom wouldn’t even let Blaze in his car. Tom said Blaze smelled bad. Blaze couldn’t understand what could be bad about a smell, but that was humans for you.
Blaze went on his way, and found Andy. Andy, he knew, was very interested in animals generally, and wanted to be a vet or a zoo keeper when he grew up. Blaze thought it would be good for him to start by looking after his dog more, and suggested it to him.
“Stop whining, Blaze.” Andy said. “I’ve got to practice my lines for the school play – I’ve got a speaking part this year!”
“That’s all very well,” said Blaze “but what about my walk?”
He went looking for Matt. Matt took him for walks sometimes.
Matt was on the computer, designing an Advent Calendar for himself and Andy. Matt did a lot of things like that. He had a very active imagination.
“Imagine how nice it would be to go for a walk?” Blaze said .
“Come here and have a hug!” Matt answered..
“That’s all very well,” said Blaze, trying to untangle himself “but what about my walk?”
It being clear that Matt wasn’t listening, Blaze carried on with dogged persistence, searching for a walk. Finally, he came across Paul and Annie in the kitchen.
“How about a walk, then?” He asked hopefully.
“Hush, Blaze.” Said Paul. “I’m trying to think what to put in our Christmas Letter.”
“There’s plenty of things to write about.” said Annie. “For a start, you can tell people about that play you were in.”
“House Guest”. Paul nodded. “Yes, that was a lot of fun. I struggled a bit learning those lines – but apparently I was very convincing as ‘the mad murderer’”.
“And you could tell them that Matt went up to Secondary School this year – your old school, Friesland.”
“Very smart he looks in his uniform as well – which reminds me – Matt! Come and pick your blazer up off the floor!”
“Andy’s started Cubs – he needs a uniform for that!”
“Tom’s got a new uniform, since he started that job at Sainsburys. He’s a CSA now!”
“And I’m a CSI – since I got the promotion. Well, I will be, as soon as they’ve sorted the paperwork. And once I’ve done the course I’ll be able to work on major crime scenes.”
“Can you take me?” Blaze asked hopefully. “I’d like to be a Police Dog, and get paid for sniffing at things!”
“I can tell people about our summer holiday in Hastings.” Said Paul. “You liked running on that beach, didn’t you Blaze?”
“That’s all very well,” said Blaze “but what about my walk now.”
“And,” Paul continued, rudely ignoring Blaze “I can tell people how your training’s coming on. You’ve crammed a lot into the year: Café’ Church, Sacred Space, Mini-Zone… and all the essays. Nearly finished though – next summer you’ll be a Deacon!”
“Probationary Deacon.” Annie corrected. “And there’s still a lot to do before then. You’d better mention that this will be our last Christmas in Sandiacre. Next summer we’ll go wherever the Methodist Church sends us!”
“Can we walk there?” Blaze suggested.
“I’ll be glad to know where.” Paul said. “At least it’s not long to wait. Beginning of January, isn’t it?”
“That’s right.” Annie agreed. “So we’ll have to send out some more letters then. But you’d better get on with this one first!”
“I will, I will.” Paul assured her. “But first I’d better walk the dog – we won’t get any peace while he’s whining to go out! OK, Blaze – don’t give me that dog-eared look, I’m just getting my boots on!”
“At last!” said Blaze, and ran for the door. And they all lived happily ever after, until it was time for another walk.
Once upon a time, not very long ago, and possibly far, far away – depending on where you are – there lived a small, black, furry person of a doggish persuasion, who’s name (to those who fed him) was Blaze.
Blaze lived in a little house, deep in the suburban wilderness, with his five humans: Paul, Annie, Tom, Matt and Andy. He was a happy little dog, for he was well loved, well stroked, and well fed: but sometimes he wished for more walks: for there were so many enticing smells to sniff, and some to add to, and places he wanted to run. So one day he made up his doggie mind to go and find one of his humans and get them to take him for a walk.
He searched the house high and low until he came to Tom’s Lair. Tom talked to invisible people (over the internet) and rarely came out except to add to his collection of dirty cups and plates. But Blaze didn’t see why that should keep him from going for a walk. So he pushed the door open with his nose and walked in.
“How about a walk?” he asked Tom. “Come on, you could use the fresh air”.
“Stop whining, Blaze.” Said Tom. “I’m busy here. I’ve got lot’s of school projects to finish off. I’m going to University next year, you know. I want to get in at Bournemouth, but to do that I need good grades now – so off you go! I’ve got a lot of work to do, as soon as I finish this game….”
“That’s all very well,” said Blaze “but what about my walk?”
But Tom just pushed Blaze out and shut the door. Blaze sighed. Tom didn’t walk him very often. Tom didn’t walk anywhere very often: since he’d got a car he mostly drove places, dragging Mum or Dad with him as he was still on a provisional licence. Blaze had no objection to cars, as long as they took him somewhere he could walk, but Tom wouldn’t even let Blaze in his car. Tom said Blaze smelled bad. Blaze couldn’t understand what could be bad about a smell, but that was humans for you.
Blaze went on his way, and found Andy. Andy, he knew, was very interested in animals generally, and wanted to be a vet or a zoo keeper when he grew up. Blaze thought it would be good for him to start by looking after his dog more, and suggested it to him.
“Stop whining, Blaze.” Andy said. “I’ve got to practice my lines for the school play – I’ve got a speaking part this year!”
“That’s all very well,” said Blaze “but what about my walk?”
He went looking for Matt. Matt took him for walks sometimes.
Matt was on the computer, designing an Advent Calendar for himself and Andy. Matt did a lot of things like that. He had a very active imagination.
“Imagine how nice it would be to go for a walk?” Blaze said .
“Come here and have a hug!” Matt answered..
“That’s all very well,” said Blaze, trying to untangle himself “but what about my walk?”
It being clear that Matt wasn’t listening, Blaze carried on with dogged persistence, searching for a walk. Finally, he came across Paul and Annie in the kitchen.
“How about a walk, then?” He asked hopefully.
“Hush, Blaze.” Said Paul. “I’m trying to think what to put in our Christmas Letter.”
“There’s plenty of things to write about.” said Annie. “For a start, you can tell people about that play you were in.”
“House Guest”. Paul nodded. “Yes, that was a lot of fun. I struggled a bit learning those lines – but apparently I was very convincing as ‘the mad murderer’”.
“And you could tell them that Matt went up to Secondary School this year – your old school, Friesland.”
“Very smart he looks in his uniform as well – which reminds me – Matt! Come and pick your blazer up off the floor!”
“Andy’s started Cubs – he needs a uniform for that!”
“Tom’s got a new uniform, since he started that job at Sainsburys. He’s a CSA now!”
“And I’m a CSI – since I got the promotion. Well, I will be, as soon as they’ve sorted the paperwork. And once I’ve done the course I’ll be able to work on major crime scenes.”
“Can you take me?” Blaze asked hopefully. “I’d like to be a Police Dog, and get paid for sniffing at things!”
“I can tell people about our summer holiday in Hastings.” Said Paul. “You liked running on that beach, didn’t you Blaze?”
“That’s all very well,” said Blaze “but what about my walk now.”
“And,” Paul continued, rudely ignoring Blaze “I can tell people how your training’s coming on. You’ve crammed a lot into the year: Café’ Church, Sacred Space, Mini-Zone… and all the essays. Nearly finished though – next summer you’ll be a Deacon!”
“Probationary Deacon.” Annie corrected. “And there’s still a lot to do before then. You’d better mention that this will be our last Christmas in Sandiacre. Next summer we’ll go wherever the Methodist Church sends us!”
“Can we walk there?” Blaze suggested.
“I’ll be glad to know where.” Paul said. “At least it’s not long to wait. Beginning of January, isn’t it?”
“That’s right.” Annie agreed. “So we’ll have to send out some more letters then. But you’d better get on with this one first!”
“I will, I will.” Paul assured her. “But first I’d better walk the dog – we won’t get any peace while he’s whining to go out! OK, Blaze – don’t give me that dog-eared look, I’m just getting my boots on!”
“At last!” said Blaze, and ran for the door. And they all lived happily ever after, until it was time for another walk.