Page 60 of One Summer

We both know the somebody to whom I am referring.

‘You know Ted and he likes you. Would you consider looking after him for a few days? Just until Nemo calms down?’

‘No.’

He doesn’t even think about it. Just comes out with a flat no. He’s so quick with his negative that I feel insulted.

‘How about just for today and tomorrow, then? Please, you’d really be helping me out.’

‘No, I can’t. I’ve got other responsibilities. Not to mention work I have to do – work that’s already late.’

I can feel myself growing desperate.

‘I’ll come and walk Ted twice a day. Three times a day! He just has to stay here in between walks.’

‘Sorry, but no.’

‘I’ve heard you out on your balcony, listening to dog-grooming videos,’ I say, a touch accusatorily.

‘Wait – is this a noise complaint?’

‘No – although maybe you could consider using earphones when you’re watching your weird videos. I’m just saying you clearly like dogs.’

‘I do, but I’m not looking after Ted for you.’

‘Well, thanks very much,’ I say, through my teeth, and wonder if Betty might consider taking Ted.

As if reading my thoughts, he says, ‘Don’t ask my nan either. She’s not good with dogs. I let her walk my collie once when I was a boy and she got stuck down a rabbit hole. It took me three hours to dig her out with a shovel.’

‘Your nan got stuck down a rabbit hole?’

‘The dog did.’

‘Fine. I wasn’t going to ask her, anyway,’ I lie.

‘Good, because it is actually your job to look after all the pets in the house,’ he says. ‘It’s literally what you’re getting paid for.’

‘Well, they didn’t tell me about Ted, did they?’

‘Too bad. Ted comes with the house. You want the house; you have to look after him too. Or, you know, you could always…’

‘What?’

‘Go back to the mainland.’

I smile in disbelief. He is so inflexible. He won’t even consider helping me – or the cutest little dog in the world.

‘You really won’t even take him for a couple of days?’

‘I can’t, okay? Sorry, but it’s a no.’

‘Great, well, thanks for nothing,’ I say, setting my pretty little cup of tea on the table with a bump.

‘You’re welcome,’ he says. ‘Any time.’

He follows me up the hall and closes the door on me.

I feel the air swish against my back.

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