So, you remember Henry, right? He went down to the countryside to check on his aunthis mums older sister. Before his mum passed away, shed asked Henry to keep an eye on Aunt Mabel for her.
Aunt Mabel was this tiny, elderly lady. Henry had tried time and time again to convince her to move in with them in the cityhe told her shed have her own room, a garden to enjoy, there were other old ladies to chat with, shed never feel lonely. But she absolutely refused to leave her home.
So, every three months, Henry would book five unpaid days off work, travel all the way down to her villagea two-day journey there and back, and then hed spend three days helping her around the house. Luckily, Henry was the manager of his department, so he could manage these little getaways. Plus, the director of the company was a good mate of his, so no one made a fuss.
This spring, though, he couldnt get down in Marchwork just got on top of himso he only made it at the end of April. Aunt Mabel had really gone downhill over the winter, and her neighbour, Mrs. Martha, told Henry theyd had to call an ambulance for her twice.
Henry was a bit shocked and asked why no one told him, since every time he rang, theyd simply say everything was fine.
Mrs. Martha said it was Aunt Mabels doing, that she insisted Martha keep mum about her health and didnt want to bother him at work. She said to only tell you when shes gone, Martha explained.
Anyway, Henry popped to the village shop, grabbed the sugar and salt Aunt Mabel wanted, and stocked up on all sortsoats, tinned goods, the works. When he got back, there was this young sheepdog pup, maybe five months old, sitting at the doorstep.
He looked unusual, big head, long snoutHenry had never seen a dog quite like him.
He called out, Aunt Mabel, wheres this puppy come from?
She told him the little fella had turned up about a month agoshed opened the garden gate and found him shivering, skin and bone. Shed nursed him back to health; she said she kept him because it made things a bit more cheerful.
Henry stroked the pup, and straight away he plopped his head on Henrys lap, completely trusting. Henry had always adored dogs and dreamt of having one as a kid, but his parents wouldnt allow it. Not much chance now eitherwith work and life. His wife, Caroline, had brought home a cat years ago, but that had wandered off after three years. They didnt have any kids; Caroline couldnt have them, and in the end, they made peace with it, just living for themselves, travelling often.
He asked Aunt Mabel, Whats the pup called?
She said, Bertie. Thats what I used to call my old cat.
Henry chuckled, Isnt that a cats name, though?
She just replied, Does it matter? He responds, doesnt he?
Over the next few days, Bertie followed Henry everywhere. When it was time to go back, Henry pleaded with Aunt Mabel not to hide anything if she felt poorly, to let him know if she needed medicine, and to never feel shy about calling.
Aunt Mabel just said, Im already putting you through so much, Henry, running about for me. Not that itll be for long now.
He told her not to say that, that it wasnt a bother and that, truly, he wished shed live happily for years and years.
Then she asked a favour. If anything happens to me, dont abandon Bertiehes got a soul too, after all.
Henry promised hed find Bertie a home. No, please take him yourself, she insisted. I have a feeling he turned up here for a reason.
Right on cue, Bertie nudged his head into Henrys knee, staring deeply into his eyes.
Henry said, Alright, Aunt Mabel, if something happens, Ill take Bertie.
A month later, Aunt Mabel passed away. Henry arranged her funeral and the nine days of visits and condolences with the neighbours. Afterwards, he and Bertie visited the churchyard together to say goodbye.
Then came the day to leave. Henry brought a lead and a muzzle, and they headed to the railway stationpup in tow. He bought tickets for the carriage that allowed pets. As soon as they got into their compartment, Bertie bristled and growled at the man by the window.
The chap turned and burst out, wide-eyed, Have you lost your mind, bringing a bleeding wolf on the train?
Henry replied, You what? Hes no wolf, hes my dog, Bertie.
But the man insisted, Thats no dog, thats a ruddy wolf. Im a hunter, I know these beasts.
Bertie bared his teeth and growled again.
The man glared. Get that brute away from me before I do something about it.
Henry said firmly, How about you mind your own business and calm down? No ones bothering youjust leave us be.
Well, Ill spend the trip out in the corridor thenmy stops in an hour.
That left just Henry and Bertie in the compartment. Henry looked at Bertie and asked, half joking, Bertie, are you really a wolf? The pup only put his head on Henrys lap and wagged his tail. Well, either way, youre brilliant, Henry said, ruffling his ears.
Later, the train attendant poked her head in. Excuse me, but is that a wolf or a sheepdog?
Did that chap tell you that? Henry asked. Hes a sheepdog, special breed, works as a tracker for me.
Alright then. Have you got his papers?
I do oh blimey! Henry said, patting his pockets. I mustve left them at the ticket office. You know they wouldnt have let me buy him a ticket without them.
She nodded sympathetically. Of course.
Truth was, he hadnt shown any paperwork at all because the lady at the ticket office was Mrs. Marthas daughter. The next morning, they arrived in the city. That very day, Henry took Bertie to the vet at the corner of their road.
The vet looked Bertie over and asked, Are you lot from the circus?
Henry laughed, Eh? No, why?
She said, Because hes a wolf, isnt he?
He sighed. Wolf, maybe, but not from a circus. My aunt died and asked me to take him. So, here we are.
She had another look and said, Hes a crossbreedone parents German, probably a shepherd. These mixes are called wolfdogs; theyre generally calm, loyal and not aggressive. Youve got nothing to worry about. Lets get him registered and vaccinated so no one gives you trouble down the line.
Henrys wife, Caroline, absolutely doted on Bertieshe took care of him, fed him, walked him, the lot. About ten months went by. Then, one early January evening during the Christmas holidays, Caroline decided she needed some fresh air after being cooped up at home, so she took Bertie for a walk. They headed for the little park ten minutes from the house.
As they ambled along the winding footpaths, Bertie suddenly pricked up his ears and shot off into the darkness.
Caroline shouted after him, but there was no sign of him for a good five or seven minutes. She was about to ring Henry when, at last, Bertie came lumbering out of the shadows, dragging something by the teeth.
Caroline raced over. It was a swaddled bundlea newborn. The baby was alive. Carolines a doctor herself, but she called an ambulance and the police straight away.
They arrived surprisingly quickly. She couldnt go with them on account of Bertie, but once he was home she and Henry went straight to the hospital. The staff told them it was a month-old baby girl, healthy and safe. There was a note with herher name was Sophie and her mother begged someone to give her a good home.
Caroline immediately asked to see little Sophie and, at first glance, that was ither heart was lost. She looked at Henry, and he just nodded.
Caroline spoke up, said that she was a doctor herself, and they wanted to adopt Sophie, to keep her from being sent anywhere else.
Two months later, they brought little Sophiefound and saved by Bertiehome for good. Just as Aunt Mabel had felt all along, Bertie was meant to be with them.
