When Mum was working for the doctor his cocker spaniel called Susie had puppies. I was allowed to keep one, he was a lovely black and white puppy and we became the closest mates. I called him Bobby and we played all day and every day. I could do anything with him and while he might be dreadful to others he never hurt me. Unfortunately he used to jump over the fence and try to bite anyone riding past him on the their bikes. The post man was also his enemy. He attacked anyone who came in to buy their doctor's bills. While this may have been a problem for everyone else I was completely happy with him.
As I was not allowed in to the kitchen except for meals Bobby and I had lots of time to get up to mischief. One day I decided to go to Aunty Dossie's. She was the lady who came on Mondays to do the washing. She lived quite a distance away and over the railway line. between Woodville and Woodville North railway stations. I knew my way easily. Mum used to ask me which way to go on our way there as she had the worst sense of direction in the world. I was quite pleased with myself and thought that everyone would be happy to see me. Aunty Dossie and her sisters however were horrified. They couldn't believe that I had come all that way by myself and over the railway line. My only complaint was that Bobby did not look both ways at the railway crossing.
There was much running about, or flapping really. One of the sisters was dispatched to go and ring the doctor's from the phone box. No-one had missed me at home but were equally horrified at my escapade. I was completely happy both at my feat and that they gave me some cake and a drink of milk. I was soon popped into the cane child seat on the back of Laurel's bi-cycle with Bobby attached by a piece of old rope and taken back to the beginning of my journey.
No-one was happy with me. I could not understand it. I knew which way I was going plus I stopped at the railway crossing and looked for trains, plus I managed to keep control of Bobby without a lead. Not one person was impressed by the whole thing. Well of course I was and could not understand the furore going on around me. Really if they didn't want me to go anywhere I would have been told. Plus if I was sent outside to play for hours and got bored why shouldn't I go for a bit of a walk?
Not surprisingly there were lots of new rules to learn. No going for a walk and especially no crossing the railway line. I don't remember if I got a smack or in fact if I got punished in any way but knowing Mum as I did I suppose there was some type of retribution.
As Bobby's visciousness grew toward the general public and in particular the doctor's patients, he had to be put down. They wanted to tell me he had run away but Mum said if they did that I would go and look for him. It was the worst thing in my whole short life. I cried and cried and no-one could comfort me. He was my dog and my friend and I loved him completely and now he had been taken away from me. One would think that after sixty-two years I would grieve no more but I still do, and I still cry for him.
Although I have had lots of pets and have been extremely close to them, I have never been as close as I was to Bobby. Writing this has taken me back to my sorrow and I cry again. No-one has ever taken something from me that has engendered such grief. Perhaps there is something else that has hurt me as badly but I will get to that in another story.
So it is that I remember Bobby and I remember how happy we were together. He was a faithful friend and I miss him.
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