Homeowners & Horrors by Diane Jones

Author:Diane Jones
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Write from the Heart Publications

ELEVEN

Liz’s strangeness played on my mind, and a couple of days later I knew I needed to talk to Suri. She’d help me make sense of the situation, and my imagination, which was clearly running riot.

After work, I drove home and picked up Mo. The little dog jumped up as I unlocked the front door, licking my hands, thrilled to see me. I felt guilty about leaving him at home alone all day but I certainly wasn’t in a position to have a second dog to keep him company. And giving up my job to be with him every day wasn’t an option either. But I was lucky enough to be able to work from home once a week, time that I now appreciated more than ever.

“No. We’re not going for our walk tonight,” I said, but nonetheless Mo decided we were, and ran into the hallway. He came back a few minutes later with his leash trailing from his mouth, and deposited it on the floor in front of me. Then he pirouetted round and round in circles. “We’re going to visit my friend, Suri,” I said, and he stopped his turning and sat in front of me, his head cocked to the side, his chocolate button brown eyes fixed on mine.

Outside, Mo jumped into the car, in the front seat next to me. I tethered him into the seatbelt, and we drove to Suri’s place. Before getting out of the car, I glanced next door to see if my parents were home. I knew I’d have to drop in and say hi to them, but I wanted to catch up with my friend first.

“Attie, what a lovely surprise,” Suri said when she opened the front door. “And who is this little guy?”

“This is Mo. Short for Modus Operandi.”

Suri bent over to pat Mo and when she touched him, his rear end wiggled in ecstasy, as if she was a trusted friend, rather than someone he’d just met. “What a lovely, cute boy you are. Would you like a treat?”

I hadn’t realized Mo knew that word, but all of a sudden, he launched upwards and at Suri. Even though he was small, she was too, and she stumbled. I grabbed her forearm, steadying her.

“I’m sorry, Suri. Are you okay?”

“Yes. I’m fine. I like his enthusiasm.”

“I don’t know if my parents will,” I told her. “Mom in particular isn’t very tolerant of children or animals that misbehave.”

“I don’t think your parents are at home. They went out in the car a little while ago.”

I sighed with relief, not even bothering to feel guilty. It was easier if I didn’t have to visit. I’d do that another time when I didn’t have Mo with me.

I followed Suri into her living room, took a seat on the couch and settled Mo at my feet with some difficulty.

“I’m glad you got a dog, Attie. The companionship will be great for you. And how’s home ownership going?” I didn’t want to admit failure, even to Suri, who never judged me.

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