Chapter 14 – Jay
Jay ran home from school, his satchel thudding against his side in time with his steps. He flung open the front door to the sound of happy barking and the thumping of a tail against the floor.
"Hey Albert! I know! It's time to go out. Just gotta dump my school stuff." Albert barked once and trotted off to fetch his lead. Jay sprinted up the stairs and into his bedroom. His satchel was dumped onto a pile of clothes, along with his school uniform. The least worn clothes were taken out of the pile and thrown on. As Jay left his room, he could hear his mum pottering about in the kitchen. He bounded down the stairs, two at a time and hurtled into the kitchen. "Hey, Mum! Just going to take Albert to the park. Need to get some practice in before Sunday. Ooooh, cup-cakes! Can I have one?" He grinned at his mum as he took one of the cakes before she could answer. She swiped at him with the wooden spoon. "Those are for the church fete."
Around a mouthful of cake, he replied, "Just as well I've tested them for you then, you wouldn't want to accidentally poison anyone, would you?"
"Go on with you. Get out from under my feet and take your dog with you. He's been moping about all day."
As she finished speaking, Albert trotted back into the kitchen carrying his lead in his mouth.
Ignoring the drool, Jay bent down and took the lead, fastening it to Albert's collar. "He doesn't mope. Do you, boy?"
"Go on! Out! Though why you think Airedales can do obedience is beyond me."
"Mum! Oh ye of little faith! Albert's totally awesome at obedience, right boy?" Albert obligingly barked on cue. "Anyways, we'll be back later, probably just in time for dinner." Jay grinned and strode out, Albert loping along at his side.
As they walked towards the park, Albert spotted something on the pavement ahead, near Mr Evans’ house, and barked at Jay.
"Eh? What's up Albert?"
Albert barked again and tugged at the lead, pulling Jay in the direction of Mr Evans’.
"Ah, c'mon boy. Mr Evans hates me. He's not fond of you either. He'll go berserk if he sees us near his house."
Albert ignored Jay, his curiosity roused by the object on the pavement, and continued to lollop towards it. As they got closer, Jay noticed what Albert had seen a few moments before. It was a small parcel, wrapped in brown paper. Albert sniffed at it. Nothing particularly interesting to him, so he sat next to it, tail waving in satisfaction for finding something. Jay stooped down to pick it up. It wasn't a large parcel, nor particularly heavy. He turned it over and read the address out loud. "Mme Normandie Belfont, 21 Rue de Safont, 35500 Béziers, S. France. What's a parcel destined for the south of France doing outside old man Evans’ place?"
As he stood there looking at the parcel, there was the sound of a door opening, followed by, "What are you doing outside my home, you obnoxious spotty oik? Get away from here and take that filthy mutt with you before it does something to my prize begonias!" yelled from the safety of the doorway.
Albert growled. He didn't like Mr Evans any more than Mr Evans liked him.
"C'mon Albert, he's not worth our effort," Jay muttered and stalked away from the house.
Without looking back at the old man, Jay yelled back, "He's not a filthy mutt!"
The pair continued on down the road, parcel tucked under Jay's arm. They wandered down a few streets and back alleys, heading for the centre of the estate.
At the heart of the labyrinthine estate was a very small park with a few rusty swings and a creaky roundabout. Almost no one came here anymore thanks to the huge new play area built just outside the estate, which made it perfect for Jay and Albert.
Jay set the parcel down by the roundabout and took Albert's lead off his collar.
"Right, Albert. Listen to me. We need to really impress on Sunday. Show them that Airedales are awesome and capable of far more than silly sheepdogs."
Albert barked, his tail thudded against the ground, bright eyes trained on Jay. Jay fished about in his pocket and found a vivid purple hanky. He showed it to Albert. "This one. I want this one back. Wait here." He strode off toward the far end of the small park, not turning to check on Albert, he knew that he'd be waiting as instructed. At the end of the park, he crouched down and set the hanky on the ground, along with another four hankies that he'd found in his pockets, all arranged in a straggly line. He straightened up and headed back to Albert, who, as expected, hadn't shifted himself from his spot by the roundabout.
"OK! Let's do this. Albert! Fetch!" Jay flung his arm up to point at the hankies but Albert had already set off, a beautiful blur of black and tan headed straight at the purple hanky.
Albert reached the hankies and had just picked up the purple one, it was easy to find the one that smelt most like Jay, when he spotted something in his peripheral vision. Something small lurked in the nearby bushes. He sniffed in that direction. Definitely something alive there. Hankies forgotten, Albert trotted over to investigate. In the distance he could hear Jay yelling but that wasn't important now. This was far more interesting. Besides, he'd done the hanky fetch yesterday, it was old. This was new.
As he got closer, the scent got stronger. Fear. Also, cat. Baby cat. Albert stuck his nose into the shrub and yelped as a thousand needle-sharp tiny claws embedded themselves in him.
Jay had sprinted across the park and reached him. "Albert! Albert!! Bloody hell, dog, what you doing?"
Albert whined and braved the shrub again. The fear smell was strong but he could only scent one cat, the baby. No mother scent, not even anything days old. He pawed at the bush, trying to get in.
Jay had come closer. "What've you found, boy? Let me see." He leant over Albert and pushed the branches of the buddleia to one side. Nestled deep under the shrub was a tiny black kitten. It looked up at Jay and mewled.
"Awww, it's a kitten. Poor little dude, he looks terrified. Hey fella, come here. It's ok, Albert found you. We'll look after you." The gentle tone of Jay's voice seemed to soothe the frightened kitten and it crept towards Jay's outstretched hand. Jay let the kitten come close enough and sniff him before picking it up, all the while making soft reassuring noises. The kitten was shivering, clearly scared and appallingly thin. He tucked it inside his jacket, hoping it would be more comfortable and warmer there.
Albert watched as Jay fussed over the tiny cat, pleased that Jay had managed to get it out, as it saved his nose from those needle sharp claws. Time for home. He trotted over to where Jay had left his lead, picked it up and headed back to Jay.
"Right. Yes. I guess we need to get this little guy back home. You want to keep him?"
Albert barked.
"Ok. I'm sure Mum won't mind. Besides, the little guy is kinda cute."
The little kitten, warmer and secure within the jacket started to purr, a low rusty sound.
The trio headed out of the park, hankies left in a straggled line, parcel forgotten by the roundabout.
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