A Very Happy Christmas After All by Ann Reader

 Jane was up early , she dressed with care, today would be the best day of her Christmas, the one she looked forward to most.  Her nephew Michael was coming, as he did every year, to take her out for the day! She reflected that it would all be downhill from then on, the pensioners party at the community centre had happened two days ago and after today it was likely she would not see anyone till the centre opened again in January.  She thought with longing of the days when her dear George was alive.  They would have gone to the pub together on Christmas eve then to midnight mass. Did that still happen she wondered. She dreaded Christmas day, she used to love buying presents for friends and family,  especially when all the children were young.  Now the children all had children of their own and most of her friends were no longer alive,  she felt she had outlived her usefulness. 

The doorbell went and there was Michael,  she wrenched herself out of the depression that was threatening to engulf her as it did so often these days.  She arranged her smile. 

“Aunt Jane, you don’t look a day older it’s so good to see you!  Do you mind if I bring this in? “

He had a small scruffy terrier on a lead. “Oh Michael he’s adorable,  you know I love dogs of course he can come in. But I didn’t know you had a dog.”

“That’s a bit of a long story “ he replied “ let’s decide where we are going and I’ll tell you over lunch “

It was their custom to sit over coffee and discuss the merits of the local cafes and pubs before they decided where to go.  This time it went without saying that they would only consider dog friendly places. The little dog whose name was Rufus did not seem entirely comfortable with Michael and settled himself at Jane’s feet.

When they arrived at the pub an idea was beginning to form in Jane’s mind. She asked to take the dog’s lead as they crossed the car park to the pub, she was pleased to note that he didn’t pull and was responsive to her instructions. 

“OK” said Jane once they were comfortably seated in her favourite pub,” what’s the story with Rufus”

“He belongs to Karen’s great aunt and she was taken into hospital last week,  to be honest I don’t think she will be coming home again but while she is alive we can’t send Rufus to the rescue and I just don’t know what to do with him.  He can’t stay in our house because Karen’s Maine coon cats are bigger than him and simply won’t accept him. They attack him whenever I bring him in. At the moment the poor little chap is having to sleep in my car as I daren't  leave him alone with them. I just don’t know what we are going to do with him. “

Jane could see what Michael was trying to ask without actually doing so and realised she had also been thinking along these lines.  “Couldn’t he come and live with me?“ she said. Michael’s relieved smile answered any doubts.  “He would be good company and I have the room and the time. We already get on?”  Rufus was sitting so close to her that he was almost on her feet. 

“Oh would you Aunt Jane it would help us so much?” As Jane agreed  she felt a surge of happiness.  Christmas suddenly was appealing again.  She would walk down to the butchers tomorrow and buy Rufus a bone and maybe he would like a toy or two . Christmas meant something when there was someone to give presents to.  Maybe she would even bother with a roast dinner,  surely Rufus would like the odd tidbits. Then there were the walks they could take together.  He was only small so wouldn’t need to go too far but they could go often, and they would be certain to meet up with other dog walkers, suddenly Jane realised she had  not outlived her usefulness.  Rufus needed her but she needed him too “ Oh yes Michael” she said “yes please let him come to me.”