Lemonade and Lies by Elaine Johns Read Free Book Online Page A

something I’d always seen as a plus (until now) for its easy maintenance. But surely this brute would need a field, at the very least. And didn’t these RSPCA people have to come out and vet you? In which case we were sure to fail. I mean, no one in their right mind would allow us to adopt this animal.
    “You’ll need to fill out the usual questionnaire, of course. And then there’ll be the follow-up home visit. The assessment.”
    I must still have looked confused because the man felt the need for some sort of further explanation.
    “That’s in the best interest of the dog,” he said “ and the family. We need to know that our rescue animals have gone to the right environments.”
    “’Course,” I mumbled, and tried to picture this thing in the environment of my kitchen.
    “Oh Mum, please say yes.”
    Tom’s eyes were pleading. The boy-and-dog bonding had already begun and I didn’t want to disappoint him, but I’d imagined an altogether smaller beast.
    “Sweetheart, I really don’t think it’s up to us.”
    “This is just the beginning of the process,” the guy explained to Tom, trying to make him feel better. But ‘process’ wasn’t one of the words Tom had brought home in his weekly spelling list, so it was hard to judge how helpful this information actually was.
    Rupert was licking Tom’s hand now, as if he sensed that this was his moment in the sun. And I knew it would be a tough one to get around. Tom was after instant dog-gratification, and a long selection process needed patience. Not a quality a six-year-old was known for. There might even be an ultimate rejection to face, and my son had already been rejected once.
    “They’re friendly animals, affectionate with kids too.” The man pushed home his advantage. He was a great salesman, but that would probably change once he saw the size of our garden and read the finished questionnaire that said I was a single-parent who worked full time.
    When would I be able to exercise such a large dog ? I pictured myself getting up at five-thirty instead of six and this thing hauling me around the park opposite us.
    And it wouldn’t be fair, would it ? The dog had already been let down once by humankind, surely he wasn’t prepared to give it another go? Though the way he was playing around with Tom, it looked like Rupert was the forgiving type. Ready to start off with a blank sheet and a new, excited owner.
    “Awe, Mum. Look at him. He’s already one of us,” yelled Tom.
    Whether that was a good or bad thing for the dog would be too early to judge.
    “I’ll get the questionnaire, if you like . . .”
    I made one more half-hearted attempt to distract Tom. After all, it didn’t have to be a dog. If he was after an animal, a smaller, more manageable one might reasonably fit into our hit and miss lifestyle.
    “Wouldn’t you rather have a rabbit? That little white one was cute and you could call him Snowy.”
    My son eyed me like I was a mass murderer. “You promised!”
    “I know, but that rabbit’s had a tough time. Don’t you think he deserves a second chance in life with a family who’d love him?”
    The officer came back with the paperwork, and I filled it in without looking at my son again. I’d promised a dog in a weak moment and a dog it would have to be. Shot in the foot by my own bullet, for I’d always told the kids that once you’d given your word it was important to keep it.
    “Excellent. Well, Rupert’s had all his health checks,” the man said. “And he’s passed his behavioural assessment with flying colours.”
    I eyed the dog. He cocked his head to one side as if he knew we were talking about him, and the expression on his face was the doggy-equivalent of smug. I figured that was due to the ‘flying colours’ endorsement. He licked Tom’s hand once more, marking out his territory, sealing the deal.
    “Okay. So, we wait to hear from you then?”
    “I’ll let you know about the home visit.” The man smiled and was