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“That’s why you didn’t give him the key,” Justin said. “Hey, you really do look after me and I appreciate it.”

“Not sure you’re gonna appreciate what I do next.”

Justin looked at Robin and his expression changed from puzzled to angry as Ash watched.

“I’m not having that dog here!” he said.

“Just for a few nights, and I’ll be here. I’ve asked me dad and he doesn’t like the idea, but cos I’ll have the dog, he’ll be ok with it as long as I go to school ok.”

“And who’s going to look after it while you’re at school? Brenda won’t come in while the dog’s running loose!”

“I’ll just have to not go to school then. It’s only for a few days.”

Ash stayed with Justin, doors locked, curtains drawn while Robin went to fetch his gear and the dreaded dog.

Justin didn’t speak and Ash didn’t try to make conversation, she just watched the television, made Justin a cuppa when he asked for one and listened for strange noises outside.

“I don’t fucking like dogs,” Justin muttered.

Ash looked at him. He sipped his tea and muttered into the mug, deliberately avoiding eye-contact with her.

She smiled to herself because she knew he was lying. He did like dogs. He’d always had dogs, but the fact that he could no longer have one was too difficult for him to admit.

Ash knew he liked dogs because there was one picture on the sideboard, a tongue-lolling German Shepherd called ‘Max’ if his collar and tag were anything to go by.

Robin unlocked the back door and said, “Wait!” in a stern, no-nonsense tone. He scrabbled about a bit, getting his bag and the dog’s things into the kitchen.

Ash waited and watched the door into the kitchen.

Robin brought the dog into the living room. She had expected a large GSD like the picture but the dog that came in was a large Rottweiler instead.

Whether it was because she was sitting down or because she was only nine and not ‘big’ for her age at that, or whether it was because the dog was just HUGE, she didn’t have time to guess at.

She was well-trained and obedient, although excited. She looked around the room, clocked the two humans there and looked up at Robin, a smile on her face.

Yes, Ash actually did believe the dog was smiling.

“Are you fucking joking?” Justin said.

The dog snapped her attention toward Justin and as she did, her mouth closed and she looked instantly transformed from a smiley, friendly dog to a focussed, on-the-ball, working animal.

Once the dog had assessed the situation again, she settled back to her chilled, relaxed and smiley position of before.

Robin took the dog, still on her lead, though she didn’t pull and the lead hung between her and her handler.

“This is Josie,” Robin said.

Justin made a move to allow her to sniff his hand.

“No, let her come to you first,” he said and Justin did as he was told and sat still. He wasn’t tense, he allowed her to come to him, just as Robin said.

Josie sniffed Justin’s legs and then his hand which rested on his lap. She sat and the grin returned. She looked up at Robin in that adoring manner dogs have.

“Good girl, Josie,” Robin said.

Ash took the instruction that Robin had given Justin and she sat still and tried to relax.

Josie took a little longer to scent Ash, but once she was satisfied, she sat, grinned and looked up at Robin.

Then Robin let her off her lead.

The dog padded around the room, taking a sniff and a ‘huff’ at the piss bucket and then she went to inspect the rest of the downstairs.

“I called in at Brenda’s and told her to take the next few days off,” Robin said.

Justin began to complain but Robin cut him off.

“Stop whingeing. I’m gonna be here and I’ll make your food. You’ll eat better than if she was here, anyway.”

“I don’t mind cleaning the kitchen and I’ll even do the bathroom,” Ash said.

“Yeah, that’s more than Brenda does, the lazy bitch,” Robin growled.

Josie, once satisfied that the house was clear of any danger, settled herself on the rug in front of the fire.

The unlikely group sat chatting and watching television until Ash decided it was time she left for home.

“Be careful gong home, lad,” Justin said.

Ash nodded and said, “Seeya tomorrow.”

Ash left the house and made her way down the steps, being careful in the gloom that she didn’t miss her footing and fall.

She crossed the road and trotted up the road toward the short-cut back lane home.

At the exit to the lane, Ash passed a mass of brambles in need of cutting back.

“I thought I knew you, kid,” a voice spoke from the shadows of the brambles.

Ash leaped out of her skin at the words. She knew exactly who was hiding in the shadows and she had no inclination to stick around to see what he wanted.

She ran for home, not caring that the bloke from Justin’s would see where she lived. She knew he already knew where she lived. He probably knew the situation at her house too, and there’d be no protection afforded her from her dad. Not against the word of one of his drinking buddies.

Ash would have to be on alert for any indication the bloke had had words with her dad.

She had no idea what she’d do if he did, but she’d have to cross that bridge when she came to it.

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