Twelve days (It takes two) : Day 8

Ryan was in the park early. He sat in his usual place on the bench and Amber lay at his feet. He was exhausted. Most of yesterday had been spent sat in A & E waiting to get checked over in case of concussion and his pride was still stinging after been caught by his mother in flagrante.

His worries about her killing him because of the tattoo had yet to come to the surface as she still found it difficult to look at him without getting the giggles. Ryan hoped the baby would hurry up and be born so that it would all soon be forgotten as they focussed on cooing.

There was no dog obedience class today but Ryan had needed to get out of the house and get some air. As he looked down at Amber he felt relieved that she was well behaved already, if he had of had to train her then who knew how that would have gone. He patted her on her head, “youre such a good girl Amber, you sure do make me look good” and the dog wagged her tail as if to concur.

“Alright there Ryan”
“Oh, hello Thomas. I was just out with Amber. How are you? How’s skipper?” Skipper was Thomas ‘ Jack Russell and had the energy of about ten Jack Russells.
“I’m good. Skipper is the same.”

Thomas looked worried to Ryan but didnt want to speak out of turn so just waited for Thomas to speak.

“Actually Ryan, its serendipity that has brought me to the park today. After the last class, I took the ladies for a coffee, some of them were a bit upset about the cardigan incident. Anyway, I smoothed it over for you young ‘un, and after they finished their drinks they all left. Except for Gladys. It seems she likes me.”
“Likes you?…”
“Yes, would like me for a suitor”
“a suitor?…oh! a suitor, hey, well, thats good, right?”
“I thought so, only she wanted to meet for lunch today and well, her dog Bambi doesnt like Skipper very much. I think they just need some time to warm up to each other. And, so, I cant go.”
“Why? You must have someone who can keep an eye on him.”
“No, not me. Its just me and Skipper now and there isnt anyone else. So I guess I will just have to accept that I will spend me last years alone…”

Ryan looked across to Thomas and Thomas feigned a woeful look.

“Ok, Thomas. What do you want me to do?”

A big grin appeared on Thomas’ face and he leaned in closer to Ryan, “its easy, all you do is look after Skipper for me for a couple of hours today whilst I go to lunch with Gladys. I can pick him up at say 2pm here?”

Ryan checked his watch, it was only 10 am, “Ok, I will meet you later then to collect Skipper..

“Oh, I thought seeing as you are here now you could take her now, it makes sense, right?!”
Ryan realised he had been trapped and two hours dog sitting had now become four.
“Ok, now is fine. Is there anything I should know?”
“erm…not really…he’s just a dog. A really good dog. So dont lose him!”

Ryan laughed, “of course I won’t! rule number 1: dont lose the dog.”
“thank you Ryan, I really am grateful to you for this and so too is Gladys”
“Gladys? How does she know…..” and the penny dropped as Ryan realised he had been well and truly hoodwinked by the couple.

Ryan sat on the bench and watched the world go by for another half hour before he was too cold, and with Ambers lead in one hand and Skippers in the other he headed off to take them on a walk around the park.

It wasnt long before Ryan had come to the conclusion that he had made a mistake. Skipper had littered in the park a total of 4 times and the end product barely looked much smaller than the dog, Ryan was running out of bags to put it in and had started tipping it all into the one bag, he took it to be sign that they should head to the car. As he turned around to head back he saw a horse and rider, it was the one thing that Amber was rattled by, sometimes she would try to chase them and other times run scared in the opposite direction. Ryan held his breath and wondered if t was possible that she hadnt seen them, being a large boxer dog with a lot of energy would mean that if he couldnt control the situation then he would be running very soon. It was the one lesson they hadnt covered yet in class and he remained frozen, trying his best to remain calm and relaxed, and desperately racking his brain for any insight he may have gleaned at some point somewhere. Nothing.

He watched at the horse moved away and he turned in the other direction and gently said “C’mon Amber, this way, shall we play catch?”

But it was too late, she had spotted the horse and began barking and pulling on the lead, this set Skipper off who joined in with her. Ryan could feel other people in the park looking at him and he held tightly onto the dogs whilst trying unsuccessfully to distract them. The only the he had managed was to keep them walking slowly and just pulling and barking and that was mainly because of the slow pace of the rider.

He breathed out, and began to relax, he found the gentle pulling along quite therapeutic and at least manageable.

“Are you ok?” he heard a voice squeak next to him. “Oh yes, I’m fine. we’re fine. just a little excitable. As long as the horse doesnt gallop off we’ll be ok… touch wood.” and he smiled at the elderly lady who had spoken to him.

All she said was “Oh dear” and Ryan felt the lead give an almighty tug as he was yanked forward until he found himself having to fight to keep hold of both dogs as he bounced along behind them whilst they chased the horse across the park. The bag of excrement that he had hooked over his wrist, to get a better grip of the lead, was bobbing along too, the dogs had drawn everyones attention and the rider looked panic stricken as she urged the horse on faster.

There was a loud noise from behind that momentarily distracted them and gave the horse and rider a chance to get out of sight. The dogs stopped pulling and barking and Ryan wiped the sweat from his brow with the back of his arm, he definitely needed to get them to the car, and he walked them back in the original direction.

As he passed the old lady he nodded politely, it was that very moment that Skipper spotted a wild rabbit and yanked again at the lead, Ryan pulled back harder but this time the catch that attached the lead to the collar snapped and the lead whipped up into the air as his arm flew skywards as if he was flying a kite and the bag of dog crap was flipped upwards  and some flew out and over his head.

Ryan spun around just in time to see the turd hit the elderly lady on the cheek, he couldnt believe it and rushed forward to offer some help, but Amber was having none of it and pulled him after Skipper and the rabbit.
****
At exactly 2pm Ryan was sat on the bench with amber laying at his feet, he had tried to find Skipper but to no avail and had been run ragged by Amber instead. He was exhausted, sweaty, dirty, hungry and wondering if he would ever be able to show his face again when Thomas turned up.

“Alright young ‘un, you had a good day? I’ll tell youe something..I have.”

Ryan wasnt quite sure how to tell Thomas about Skipper, not seeing as he had broken the only rule there was, and he turned to face the music.

“So, where is Skipper then? Skipper! Here boy.” and Thomas gave a little whistle.
“I’m sorry Thomas, theres something I must tell you….”
“Hello boy, who’s a good dog, who’s missed me then, hey Skipper” and there at Thomas’s feet was Skipper, as if he had been there all along.