jtd@dec.uk.net

Tom could not remember a time without his dog Tilly. From the moment Tom could walk Tilly was by his side watching out for him. If Tom fell over Tilly would grab Tom’s clothes (often his nappy) and pull him to his feet. They were comfortable with each other and loved each other deeply; the type of love that only a dog owner can know.

When Tom was able to run Tilly used to run with him urging him to run faster,

‘Come on!’ she would bark in the excitement of the chase.

"Wait for me, Tilly!" Tom would shout back.

When Tom started school, Tilly used to walk with them to school. Tom’s mum had great difficulty in pulling Tilly away from the school gate, as she wanted to be with Tom. Often Tilly would sneak out of the garden and make her way to Tom’s school and bark outside the gate. Mrs Snell (Tom’s mum) would receive a phone call from school asking her to pick up ‘the dog.’ This embarrassed Mrs Snell and she would watch Tilly carefully for the rest of the day.

When Tom came home from school he would change and play in the garden with Tilly. They used to play hide and seek, chasing and digging the garden.

When it was time for tea Tom would have to wash his hands and change his clothes as he used to get very muddy. Tilly would then sleep in her basket until it was time for her supper and walk.

When it was time for bed Tilly used to sit on Tom’s bed as his mum read his bedtime story. Sometimes she would listen but more often than not she would snore loudly.

"Stop snoring, Tilly!" Tom would say.

As soon as his story was finished he would hug Tilly and wish her goodnight. Tom always said the same thing each night,

"I love you, Tilly."

Tilly used to lick Tom’s face and wag her tail in appreciation.

When Tom was asleep Tilly used to sleep outside his bedroom until morning. Occasionally she would look under the bedroom door to check that Tom was safe then lie down in her favourite position at the top of the stairs.

On Tom’s eighth birthday he transferred to his new junior school and Tilly used to walk to school with Tom, as he was old enough to go to school on his own. Tom would say goodbye to her at the gate and Tilly would make her way home.

As soon as it was 3 o’clock in the afternoon Tilly would run back to school to meet Tom. They would play in the park on the way home and Tom would sometimes let her lick his ice cream. She liked this.

As time passed Tom noticed that Tilly was getting slower. More often than not he would beat her at racing and she seemed to have less energy.

"What’s wrong with Tilly, mum? She’s getting so slow," Tom asked his mum.

"She might be getting slower but remember you’re getting faster, Tom," said his mum.

A few months later Tom noticed that Tilly’s lovely black fur was going white around her mouth. His mum explained that she was getting old. Tom worried about this, as he could not imagine his life without his best friend Tilly.

One morning Tom opened his bedroom door to say good morning to Tilly but she wasn’t there. He rushed downstairs into the kitchen to look for her. Tilly was lying in her basket under the kitchen table. She wagged her tail when she saw him and tried to get up. She yelled in pain and fell back into her basket.

"What’s wrong with Tilly?" asked Tom.

"She has lost the use of her back legs. I’m afraid that she will not walk again, so the vet says," replied mum trying not to look directly at Tom.

"But why? Has she had an accident?"

"No, she’s just getting very old. She is fifteen, Tom. Now get dressed and get ready for school. Your breakfast will be on the table in five minutes. Hurry up!"

Reluctantly Tom climbed the stairs and headed for the bathroom. He was worried about Tilly.

After school Tom rushed home without going to football club. Tilly was still in her bed. She seemed pleased to see him. Tom rubbed her head compassionately.

"I’ve got an idea," said Tom. "How do you fancy going for a walk, Tilly?"

She wagged her tail in excitement but then looked at her back legs.

Tom got changed and then came back into the kitchen. He went outside into the shed and pulled out his skateboard. Tilly sniffed the outside air that started to fill the kitchen as Tom had deliberately left the door open.

"Right, my girl, I’m just going to pick you up."

Tom Carefully placed his teenage hands under her and carefully lifted her from the basket. Tilly cried a bit but knew that Tom would not hurt her. Tom carried her into the garden.

Mrs Snell was cleaning the front windows and could not believe her eyes when she saw Tom pulling Tilly on her lead. Her strong front legs were pulling herself along and her redundant rear legs and body were carefully placed on Tom’s skateboard. Tom had even strapped Tilly to the board with one of his belts so she would not fall off.

"Well I never did!" said Mrs Snell who decided to let them get on with it.

Tom and Tilly went for a very long walk to all her favourite places. She was happy and fulfilled, no longer a prisoner in her own kitchen.

As the sun was setting in the western sky Tom and Tilly sat in their favourite place near the old watermill. Tom had his arm around her and Tilly rested her head on his lap looking at him in adoration.

During the night Tilly stared howling, something that she had never done before. Tom got up and went to her. As soon as he entered the kitchen she stopped howling.

"What’s the matter, Tilly?"

Tilly said nothing and just wagged her tail.

Each time Tom tried to leave her she would start to howl. In the end Tom decided to sleep on the kitchen floor next to her for company.

Tilly liked this and Tom was prepared to put up with the discomfort.

This unusual sleeping arrangement went on for many nights but Tom did not mind, as he loved Tilly so much.

One Thursday afternoon in March Tom returned from school and went into the kitchen to say hello to Tilly. He was surprised to see an empty basket containing only a neatly folded blanket.

"Mum, where’s Tilly?" asked Tom.

"Sit down Tom and I will explain everything."

"Where’s Tilly?"

"Tom, you know that Tilly was very old and she lost the use of her legs."

"Yes."

"I’m afraid I have some very bad news for you. Tilly had a fit just after you went to school and fell unconscious. I called the vet but he could do nothing for her. He said that it was the kindest thing to put her to sleep."

"What? Why couldn’t you have waited until I came home from school?"

"When the vet was here Tilly woke up and became very agitated. She howled and even tried to bite the vet. Soon after this she went to sleep again. The vet told me that he had better put her to sleep immediately as she was in a lot of pain and suffering greatly."

"Oh, poor Tilly," replied Tom as his eyes filled with tears.

"I had to make the hardest decision of my life Tom. I hope you understand." Tom nodded as he wiped his eyes on his sleeve.

"Where’s Tilly now?"

"In the shed."

Tom pushed back the chair and went outside to see Tilly. She was wrapped up in her second favourite blanket. He pulled back the cover and saw his beloved dog. She seemed very peaceful and Tom started to stroke her gently.

"Tilly, you’re my best girl. No other dog will ever come before you."

Tom lost control and started to cry openly; true tears for his best friend. Tom’s mum could not bear to watch, as she knew their time together was private. She just remained in the kitchen preparing the tea trying to hold back her own tears.

Later that evening when Tom’s dad came home from work they buried Tilly in the garden. Tom made a simple, wooden headstone and wrote this.

Tom remained by the grave for several hours remembering the good times they had together. In some strange way this made him feel better and his sadness began to pass.

Each weekend Tom’s parents would suggest a trip to the pet shop, but Tom was not interested as no dog could ever replace his Tilly.

One day Tom’s dad brought home a puppy but Tom did not seem interested in the puppy. Mr Snell took the puppy back to the kennels and she went to another loving home.

As the months passed Tom’s parents gave up looking for a replacement dog realising that Tom did not want one. Time began to heal Tom’s hurting.

During the summer holidays Tom went for a long walk. In fact he took the same route as he had walked with Tilly. As he was sitting down in their favourite spot, by the old watermill, enjoying the golden sunshine he heard a curious sound behind him. He looked but could see nothing.

The sound came again and Tom got up and walked over to the old mill as the sound was coming from the cold, dark cellar beneath. Tom knew the mill like the back of his hand so he knew how to get inside to see what was making the sound. Inside he found a puppy tied to the old grinding stone. The puppy looked thin and emaciated obviously abandoned by a cruel owner.

"Hello there. What are you doing here?"

The puppy cowered away from Tom’s hand obviously frightened.

"There’s no need to be frightened of me. I’m your friend."

The puppy looked over its shoulder at Tom.

"That’s better. Now what have I got here?"

Tom reached into his pocket and pulled out one of Tilly’s old biscuits and offered it to the puppy. She took it from his hand and started to wag her tail. Tom untied her and picked her up. The puppy started to wash his face wanting something else to eat. Tom carried her outside and started to play with her.

He taught her to roll over,

To sit and

To stay.

They had fun together and Tom started to feel whole again just like he did when her used to be with Tilly.

As the sun started to sink on the horizon Tom and his puppy started to make their way home. Tom was over the moon and the happiest he had been for ages. This was the start of a new friendship based on mutual respect and love.

17^th May 2003.

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