Empty Nest

By Allison Hay

Illustration: Shutterstock

WRITTEN BY TARA WESTGATE

Jenny’s life had always been full of children and their animals. Now her youngest was preparing to fly solo…

For several months, Jenny had been expecting her son to say that he wanted to get another dog but so far, he hadn’t mentioned it. Enough time had passed, she thought. She could bring it up herself now, without seeming insensitive.

But when she did, Max’s response surprised her.

“I think I’ve got too much on, to be honest,” he said. “I’ll be up to my neck in revision and exams next year, and then I’ll be off to uni – or I will if everything works out.”

But you’ve always loved having a pet.

“Yeah – I did love them. They were all great companions.”

He’d had a long succession of animals, which had started with white mice and ended (for the moment) with Rupert, his Irish Setter. Rupert had passed away in his sleep, after a good and long life. He and Max had been devoted to each other.

“It would be such a shame not to have a dog,” Jenny persisted. “I can look after it when you’re away.”

“Oh, I know you would. It’s not fair on you, though.”

Goodness, she thought – not fair on me? That’s a first. He really is growing up.

Max went out that evening. The house seemed empty without him. When all three children had lived at home, it had never felt like this.

She had no doubt that clever Max would make it to university, and then, without children or animals, she would be alone in the house all the time.

Being the divorced mother of three children hadn’t been easy, but they had been happy together, and she was going to miss having her children at home.

She would miss the animals, too. Jenny had never minded the extra work involved in caring for her family’s many pets. Having animals around added joy to life.

There would be no harm in checking out the local animal rescue shelters. Just suppose the perfect dog was out there; a dog that Max would absolutely love?

Finding and then adopting a dog was a slow process, and it was a few weeks later when Jenny collected Bracken from the shelter. As soon as she’d seen Bracken – a brindle and tan collie crossbreed with an alert, intelligent face and ears like the flaps of envelopes – she’d known that he was exactly her son’s kind of dog.

Jenny waited with rising excitement for Max’s arrival home. A new dog wasn’t the only surprise she had in store for him. She’d spent her afternoon on Bracken, but she’d also had a busy morning arranging something else.

At last, she heard Max’s key in the door. When her son came into the kitchen, Bracken approached him with his tail wagging gently.

“Hello mate,” Max said. Bracken’s tail wagged faster, but he didn’t bark or jump up. “What are you doing here?”

“I just couldn’t believe that you’d be happy without one,” said Jenny.

“He’s a cracking dog.” Max rubbed Bracken behind his dark chocolate fold-over ears. “But I don’t have time for one. I told you, Mum.”

“I bet anything that you’ll make time, now he’s here.” Max didn’t say anything, but he looked confused. “And I’ve something else to show you. Come outside.”

She led him into the garden. Inside the old rabbit run, two guinea pigs nibbled the grass. Jenny watched gleefully as her son’s expression went from confused to astonished.

Mum! What are you playing at?

“Meet Peanut and Panda.” Jenny knelt down at the end of the run, and Max did the same. She opened the top flap, carefully picked up one of the guineas and handed it to him, and then she reached in again and took out the other.

“Hello little fella,” Max said. Panda looked up at him, the black markings on his white face making his eyes seem huge.

Jenny held her own warm, silky bundle close to her chest. Peanut was incredibly fluffy, and with his constantly twitching nose he looked like an animated ginger powder-puff.

“Is there anything cuter than a guinea?” she asked.

“They’re sweet little guys. But I didn’t really want any new pets just at the moment, never mind three of them. And guinea pigs? I’m not still twelve, you know, Mum.”

“Your face – it’s priceless!” She was loving his reaction, but she supposed the joke had gone on long enough. “It’s OK,” she said. “I’m just winding you up. Bracken’s going to be my dog – and these gorgeous furballs are mine, too.”

“Seriously?” he said, wide-eyed.

“Seriously.” She stroked Peanut under his furry chin. “I’ve helped to look after everyone else’s pets for all these years, but I’ve never had any of my own. I miss having a dog around. And I’m definitely not too old for guinea pigs.”