Nobody's Dog by Colin Dann

Author:Colin Dann
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781446478875
Publisher: RHCP

11

Frank tried to forget about Digby but it was impossible to erase the young border collie’s image from his mind. He decided to do something positive, and applied for the job in the park. The supervisor gave him a curious look.

‘I know you, don’t I?’ he asked. ‘Anyway, I’ve seen you around.’

‘Maybe. Does that stand against me?’

‘No, not necessarily. What experience have you got of this kind of work?’

‘None especially. Only the strength I was born with, which might just be sufficient for a labouring job.’

‘Are you being sarcastic?’ the supervisor asked suspiciously.

‘I didn’t mean to be, no.’

‘All right. I’ll tell you about the work and then I’ll need to ask some more questions.’

At the end of the interview, Frank was taken on at once on a provisional basis to see how he coped. The supervisor held the door open as Frank left.

‘Is that your dog sitting there waiting?’ he asked. Chip was doing just that.

‘Not exactly mine, no,’ Frank replied.

‘Because you’ll have to leave him behind if he is. We don’t allow staff to bring pets into the park.’

‘Understood,’ Frank answered. ‘I’ll see he goes home before I start.’

‘Be quick about it, then.’

Here was a problem. There was no home for Chip to go to and Frank wasn’t at all optimistic about his ability to drive the mongrel out of the park and make him stay away. Chip had got too used to Frank’s good nature and relied on him more and more.

‘Now, Chip.’ The dog was looking at him expectantly. ‘I need this job. I can’t earn enough busking and I want a place of my own. Doorways aren’t comfortable and I’ve been used to just a little more luxury. So you’re going to have to leave me – at least until later. This job could be my passport to a proper home – and proper food for both of us. Come on, then.’ He led Chip a few steps and then pointed to the nearby street. ‘Go and find Norman. Go. That way!’ He raised his voice to one of command, gesturing firmly that Chip must leave him. The mongrel trotted a little way off, then turned to see if Frank was following. When he saw that he wasn’t, he began to run back.

‘No!’ Frank cried. ‘No! Go back! Oh, Chip,’ he muttered beneath his breath, ‘don’t muck this up for me.’ He ran towards Chip, shouting at him to go. In the end Chip took the hint and ran off with a puzzled and rather hurt expression on his face.

Frank went to see the head gardener and receive his instructions. He felt sad and guilty and Chip’s bewildered look stayed in his mind. He would go on feeding the mongrel if Chip stayed in the locality, but any care or attention could only be given after working hours.

He was put to work on a rockery which was being constructed in a corner of the park. His job consisted mainly of humping huge chunks of sandstone from one place to another and setting them in position.

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