Hearing his master unlock the front door, Timid crept under the table.
Mary said, "Mummy, Timid is frightened of Daddy."
Mummy replied, "Timid is scared of his own shadow. If Daddy is in a good mood, Timid won't be nervous."
Daddy sat down at the table, he was in a grumpy mood. Timid whimpered.
Daddy shouted, "You soppy dog! Your'e under my feet again. Put him in the garden."
Mary pleaded, "Please Daddy it's raining."
"Do as I tell you, put him out--Now!"
Mary coaxed the trembling dog from his refuge and put him out in the rain.
Timid was a hotch-potch of poodle, spaniel, and other breeds. He had huge saucer-like eyes, and his colouring was dirty yellow. Mary found the shivering, pathetic creature in a dogs' home. And she talked her unwilling mother into buying him. Mary named the cowering animal: Timid.
Since he was a puppy, Timid had endured beatings, starvation, and a final abandonment. Mary was the only person to have shown him kindness.
Outside, Timid squelched towards the wire fence. Mary's neighbours owned a pedigree poodle called Parisian Ranni. Timid was in love with her; he spent hours admiring her through the fence. Parisian Ranni had medals from Crufts. She wore a jewelled-collar, and dressed in ribbons tied in bows. Rani was aware of her lowly admirer, but she chose to ignore him.
Mary was not allowed to take Timid walkie's.
"Bad men steal pretty, young girls," Mummy warned.
She turfed Timid out to face the terrifying world alone.
Bruiser Bulldog would chase Timid, trying to make him fight. In the village, Rita the Siamese cat lurked, waiting to pounce and scratch Timid's black nose. Her furry back arched, she would hiss and spit in a most unfriendly way. Cruel boys threw stones at Timid and called him an ugly yellow mutt.
Then one day the poor dog's luck changed. He said Hullo to Parisian Ranni, who as usual ignored him. He evaded Bruiser Bulldog by making a detour. And Rita was too busy drinking milk to notice Timid slink past her gate.
Timid was sniffing a lamp post, when a lady pushing her toddler in a pram, slipped and fell. She lost her grip; the buggy bumped off the pavement, ran onto the road and overturned. The toddler bawled and the mother scrambling to her feet, screamed. A lorry, travelling fast, approached the helpless child. Without hesitation, Timid dashed to the buggy; with his strong teeth gripped the straps holding the child. Tugging with all his strength, he pulled the buggy and the baby to the safety of the kerb side. The lorry's wheels missed the child's head by inches. A relieved and grateful mother took the baby in her arms and and gave it comfort.
The lorry stopped and its driver appeared.
He patted Timid on his head, "Thanks pooch, you did me a great favour."
He asked the child's mother, "Are you and the little one OK?"
Smiling through tears the woman answered, "My child is safe, thanks to this brave dog."
"This dog deserves a medal," the driver said.
A crowd gathered; everyone fussed over Timid. School was out; Mary and her mother had witnessed Timid's bravery. Mary was proud of her brave, yellow dog.
The next day, everyone in the village had heard about Timid's exploits. Bruiser Bulldog tried to make friends by showing Timid where he had buried a bone. And Rita, the Siamese cat, ran away when she saw Timid approach.
But best of all, Parisian Ranni spoke to Timid.
"I hear that you've been brave. It comforts a lady to know there is a brave dog to protect her."
Moving nearer to the fence she whispered, "I am bored, I desire someone to play with. Will you play with me when my owners are not around?"
Timid nodded his agreement.
A voice shouted, "Ranni, come here at once, you naughty girl."
Quickly Timid and Ranni rubbed noses, and then she was gone.
His tail wagging vigorously, Timid went home. He curled into a ball and fell asleep. Timid had a happy dream: he was frolicking with Parisian Ranni in her back garden.
Philip's Army is now available in Paperback and Kindle formats.
ISBN-10: 1479242624
ISBN-13: 978-1479242627
Chapter One The War Council can be read for free here.
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