by

Kate Loveday

Scoopy stood on the back verandah, staring out over the garden. His body drooped. He heaved a sigh. He felt like crying, but dogs don’t cry, do they?

Flopping down on his belly he rested his head on his paws, ears drooping and disinterested eyes surveying the garden. A pair of butcher birds swooped down and started pecking the tomatoes in the vegie garden. It was his job to chase them away, but he couldn’t be bothered. He had lost his best friend.

He remembered the day she’d arrived, a small bundle of white fluff with a pink ribbon tied around its neck. Mum had given her to Sarah as a present on her twelfth birthday. After all the ‘oohing’ and ‘aahing’ was over and they’d finished cuddling and petting the creature, Mum put her down on the floor.

‘Now Scoopy, this is BeeBee. She’s not a big dog like you, she’s just a little Maltese and you have to be nice to her.’

What was a Maltese? Scoopy sniffed at the thing. It smelled like a dog, but he’d never seen one this small before. Huh. A poor apology for a dog. Was it going to live with them? Well, he’d certainly take no interest it. As he was about to lift his head and walk away, the thing stood up and reached its head up to sniff him, then poked out a tiny pink tongue and licked his nose. Scoopy was hooked and for the next eight years they’d done everything together. Chased rabbits, kept the birds away from the tomatoes, barked when visitors came and slept together in the same kennel.

They’d never been apart until that day a few weeks ago when Dad helped Sarah load all her things into a van. Scoopy and BeeBee watched, wondering what was happening. When everything was loaded Sarah came over to the two dogs.

‘Now, BeeBee, it’s time to say ‘Goodbye’ to Scoopy. You and I are going to live down in Sydney. We’ve got a lovely little terrace house in Surrey Hills. Scoopy’s far too big for such a small house with a tiny garden, besides he couldn’t leave Mum and Dad. But you’ll have me to keep you company.’

With that she picked BeeBee up and put her into a basket. BeeBee barked but it made no difference. Sarah put the basket in the car and off they went.

Scoopy thought his heart would break. He mooched around the house, even food no longer tasted as good. Life had lost its sparkle.

As he lay on the back verandah he heard a car pull up out the front. Sarah’s car! He jumped up and shook himself, then hurried around to the front.

Mum and Sarah were talking through the open window of the car. ‘BeeBee’s become really naughty,’ he heard Sarah say. ‘Last week she chewed my favourite sandals, and she spends hours barking at everyone that goes by. And I thought she’d like coming out to have coffee with me at a sidewalk café but she terrorises everyone that comes near. Last night was the last straw. I had friends in for dinner and she pulled the cloth off the table. Smashed all the crockery. That’s it! I’ve decided to get a cat instead.’

With that she opened the door and BeeBee jumped out.

She flicked her tail and then raced towards Scoopy. He could see the big doggy grin plastered all over her face.

THE END