On the evening of Christmas Day, a wine glass in one hand
and a bottle of Californian white in the other, Julia realised that life was a
series of disconnected events, designed to make everything more difficult.
“First things first and first would be wine”, she muttered
as she opened the bottle and poured herself a huge glass. The wine tasted of
American sunshine. Somewhere beyond the icy roof tops of London was a place
that was bathed in sunshine all year round, where grapes grew plump and juicy
and nice Californian people spent their days turning the sun kissed grapes into
wine. Her thoughts were interrupted by a persistent scratching sound. It was
coming from the direction of the kitchen.
“Oh no, I forgot about Fred, how could I forget about Fred”,
she put the wine glass down and raced to the kitchen. As she opened the door, a
bundle of wet fur hurtled past her. Fred raced into the lounge, crashing into
everything. “Stop Fred, sit. S I T , I SAID.” The dog ignored her, as he ran round
the room. Julia sprinted back to the
kitchen, opened the fridge hoping to find a treat that would stop Fred long
enough for her to put the leash on him and calm him down.
The only things in the fridge were 8 bottles of Californian
wine and some mouldy cheese. No food because at this moment she was supposed to
be in a ski lodge, sipping après ski cocktails in the Italian Alps not sitting here
in London, alone with a big lump of a dog.
“It will have to do” and she grabbed a bottle of wine and
the cheese and went back into the lounge.
“Fred,” she waved her hands theatrically to get his
attention. He trotted towards her, grinning in anticipation of the treat coming
his way. When he was close enough, she grabbed his collar snapped the leash on
and gave a big sigh of relief.
“There you go” she said putting the cheese on the floor in front
of him. Opening the wine, she took a swig out of the bottle.
Fred was her boyfriend’s (Michael) mother’s dog, and Julie
had kidnapped him; well not kidnapped him exactly, it was more like borrowing
him without permission.
It seemed like a good idea at the time - a way to get back
at Michael for cancelling their Christmas ski trip because he had to dog sit
Fred, while his mother went cross country to visit her new grandson. When Julie called Michael to inform him that
she had Fred and that she was keeping him until they went skiing, adding for
good measure “and I am not releasing him a moment sooner”; she was met with
complete silence.
“Michael?”
“I am speechless, truly gobsmacked. Mum will be so pleased that I am driving her down to see the baby, since you have
so kindly offered to dog sit. See you in 4 days, darling."
Aw, what a gut punch at the end!
ReplyDelete:) xx
DeleteOy! What an ending, and thus the reason for so many bottles of wine. That'll teach her to kidnap dogs and bargain for a ski trip! So funny and so well written. I liked this a lot.
ReplyDeleteThank you . I appreciate your comments.
DeleteOh, dear.... time for a new boyfriend, methinks.
ReplyDeleteThe bugger.
ReplyDelete