**The Puppy**
Life in a village is lived under the watchful eyes of neighbours. Secrets dont last long here. Sooner or later, everything comes to light.
Everyone knew about this couple. They had married for lovea fine pair, both tall and hardworking. Their well-kept home, which theyd rebuilt themselves, and the tidy garden, where weeds had long been banished and flowers bloomed all summer, spoke for them. The young wife was always friendly, never one for gossip, and respected for it. Her husband was quiet, but not all quiet men are the same. Some are gentle even in silence. He, though, was hardsometimes even cruel. It was in his blood, passed down from his father and grandfather. But not towards her. He took on the hardest chores, drove willingly into town for her shopping, never skimped, andmost importantlynever drank with the lads. Theyd stopped asking him after a while. A firm *»No thanks»* was enough. And he never raised a hand to her. Some of the women envied her. She used to advise them not to tolerate being hit, but theyd brush her offsaid she was just lucky. The bitter ones muttered that her luck might yet run out. She never responded. Their choices pained her, but she couldnt change them.
There was just one shadow over their home: four years of marriage, and no children. Both healthy, yet still just the two of them.
Then one day, a neighbour begged them to take a puppy. Her spaniel had had eight, and this was the last one lefta weak but sweet little girl. *»Take her,»* the neighbour urged. *»Shell be your little bell, barking when someone comes.»* To his wifes surprise, he agreed.
That was how they got Dolly.
And thenwell, it was hard to say who doted on her more. He taught her commands, carried her inside when it rained, and built her a kennelspacious, with a proper wooden floor. He trained her to sleep there, though at night they let her roam. She always came back.
Then they noticed: Dolly was expecting.
That was when something in him snapped. He chained her up. *»If I catch you running off, dont bother coming back.»*
One morning, he found four newborn pups in the kennel. Shed had them in the night. He stormed inside. *»Dollys turned the place into a kennel. Four of them.»*
His wife gasped. *»She didnt make a sound! Let me see»*
*»Go on, then. Before I drown them.»*
She froze. *»Drown them? You cant! Think how Dolly would feel! Shes a mothershe has instincts! Ill ask around, someone might want»*
But he was already outside, filling a barrel with water. She crouched by the kennel, tears rolling as Dolly nuzzled her pups. Shed heard of this cruelty but never seen it.
Knowing him, she knew she couldnt stop it. She went inside, shut the windows and doors so she wouldnt hear.
Later, he came in. *»They didnt feel a thing. Blind anyway. Buried them at the bottom of the garden.»*
*»And Dolly? Does she know?»*
*»Dunno. Didnt ask. Locked her in the kennel.»*
*»Listenshes howling.»*
*»Shell stop. Might learn not to wander.»*
Something broke in her then. Yes, unwanted litters were often drowned herebut why so brutally?
That day, she barely spoke to him. He muttered, *»Sentimental nonsense. Whos going to feed them, eh? Clean up after them?»*
Dollys eyes stayed wet with tears. She kept returning to the spot where hed buried them. Sitting there, unmoving.
Twice more, Dolly had pups. Twice more, he drowned them. Chained her for weeks. She never got used to it.
And neither did his wife. She didnt leave him, but whatever had bound them before faded.
The last time finished her. Dolly, heavy with pups again, waddled awkwardly. Autumn now, she barely left the kenneltoo cold.
But she never froze. One morning, he took his shotgun, lifted Dolly under his arm, and walked to the pond.
Their old neighbour witnessed it. The same woman whod given them Dolly. She stood there, tears on her wrinkled cheeks. As he passed, she whispered, *»What have you done, lad? You didnt just kill a dog. You killed a mother and her unborn pups. Took lives. Arent you afraid God might do the same to your children?»*
He glared but said nothing. Silly old womanwhat did she know?
At home, he planned to break the news gently, but his wife spoke first. *»I think Im pregnant.»*
Joy swallowed everything else. At last!
They rushed to the hospital. Tests confirmed itfive weeks. Hed have waited forever for this.
Now they talked constantlycribs, names, toys. They itched to buy things, but she feared jinxing it. He humoured her.
A month before the due date, she spiked a fever. Thenno more kicks. They raced to the hospital.
Hours later, the doctor emerged. *»We saved your wife. The baby was stillborn.»*
Blindly, he stumbled outside. The pain was unbearable. Then he thought of herhow much worse it must be for her. He went back. *»Was it a boy or a girl?»*
The nurse checked. *»A boy.»*
He sat in the car and wept.
They let him see her. Her face was gaunt, her eyes hollow. Hed seen eyes like that beforebut where?
He kissed her hand. *»Its alright. Well have more. The doctor promised.»*
She tried to smile.
For a year, they followed the doctors orders. She sat in the garden, solving crosswordsa hobby from her days at the village library. He brought fresh cream and cheese daily. Slowly, she recovered.
Then, one day, she met him at the door, shyly smiling. *»It happened. Im pregnant.»*
This time, they barely spoke of itafraid to tempt fate. The village didnt know.
But at eight months, labour began. The ambulance saved hernot the baby. Another stillborn. A girl.
A week later, he returned to the hospital, desperate for answers. *»Why? Was there something we missed?»*
The doctor shook his head. *»No warning signs either time.»*
Superstition crept in. Had someone cursed them?
He remembered a neighbour mentioning a local wise woman, Granny Agnes, who lifted curses. He sneaked out with his wifes photothe one from the village halland drove to her.
Her cottage smelled of incense and lavender. Icons glimmered in lamplight. Before he could speak, she said, *»Your wifes not to blame. You took livesfor no reason.»*
He stormed out. *»Liar! I never killed anyone!»*
But driving home, he saw the old neighbourthe one whod scolded him by the pond. *»God sees,»* shed said. *»He might do the same to you.»*
A sickening thought struck him. Dollys eyes, that daytheyd been just like his wifes now.
Had he really killed?
The next day, he went to the cathedral. Told an old woman everythingDolly, the pups, the stillborn babies. *»How do I fix this?»*
She sent him to light a candle, then said, *»Help those in need. Theres a dog shelter nearby. They always need food, or hands to walk the dogs. Animals feel like we do. Sometimes better.»*
He went. The dogs eyes werent emptythey remembered, feared, hoped. Unlike him, they forgave.
For months, he volunteered. Then he met Bennya one-eared poodle pup, found by railway tracks. Skinny, scarred, but alive. He drove Benny to vet appointments, chatted to him in the car. When Benny cowered at goodbye, he finally told his wife.
*»Im bringing a guest tomorrow. If you dont like him, Ill take him back.»*
She shrugged.
Benny seemed to know this was his chance. He lay quietly in the car, watching.
At home, she barely glanced upuntil Benny yapped.
*»Oh wheres your ear?»* she whispered.
He wriggled into her lap.
That night, Benny slept in a box by their bed. By morning, hed sneaked onto her pillow.
And her eyesthey were alive again.
A month later, she whispered, *»Im pregnant. This time I believe itll be alright.»*
It was. Twinstwo girls.
Now they run with Benny, his proof that kindness is stronger than cruelty. The past is gone. He knows now: life is lighter without hardness. For everyoneeven the smallest creatures.
