Three’s a Crowd

Mum and I have an incredibly special bond. We are best friends. I am the one she spends the most time with and come to think of it, she never has anyone over to the house anymore, so perhaps I am her only friend? If all she has is me, why would she need anyone else?

It is getting late and our usual night-time routine is about to start. After she puts the children to bed, she comes downstairs to relax. I can hear her coming downstairs which is good because she forgot to feed me earlier.

It is not like her to forget and on the rare occasions she does, I have a way of communicating with her. I know which cupboard my food is in and using a skill developed as a puppy (opening the kitchen cupboard doors), I utilise this as a gentle reminder on the occasions when she might forget. I say gentle reminder but there is profuse barking, accompanied by the opening of the two doors, under the kitchen sink. It usually works perfectly on her and tonight it did not fail. She rushed in saying something to me and prepared my food.

There are a few rare occasions where I have used the same method on him, and it has failed dramatically. It has resulted in him shutting the doors, muttering something to me and walking off. If it were solely down to him to feed me, I would more than likely starve!

Now my stomach is full, I wander into the living room and sit down on the rug to have a good scratch. It is just her tonight. I have no idea where he is. He just had his dinner and then seemed to disappear. Probably, went out to mark his scent on a few lamp posts!

I scratch myself a little bit more and stretch my back out on the rug.

She sits in our chair and beckons me next to her. Usually, I lay with my head in her lap but tonight I think I will lay on my own. I climb onto the bigger sofa, using a footstool as my step up and turn to look at her. I rotate a few times before I find the perfect spot, then I lay down fully stretched out.

She looks at me and calls me over,

‘Lillia, are you not sitting with me tonight?’

I look at her not understanding a word she says, it just sounds like ‘blah de blah’.

She says something again and this time she taps the space at the side of her. Her tapping has given me the capability to translate human dialect. I think she wants me to sit with her. It is not going to happen. I am way too comfy here.  

I relax. My eyes start to close, and I begin to drift off. Visions of a chicken rush into my mind. It is a roast chicken, with light brown, golden, crispy skin. Just as I am about to sink my teeth into the leg of the succulent beast, I am disturbed. Something is shuffling at the side of me and starts to stroke my back.

Yep, it is her. She has moved from her chair and joined me on the sofa. Immediately, I stretch out further, giving her a gentle nudge with my back legs. Why will she not take the hint and get off?  I just want her to go back to where she has come from. The chair over there. Instead she ignores my nudges and carries on stroking me.

I really do love cuddles and I know we have this usual routine, which she wants to fulfil but she has stroked me all afternoon. Right now, I just want my own space. Why does she have to be so needy and clingy?

If she will not go away and leave me in peace, I only have one option left. I slide off the sofa. Turn my head to look at her, in a way to say, ‘Don’t dare follow me’, and I make my way to the chair she has just come from.

She says something, ‘Lillia, where are you going?’ I thought you would want a cuddle.’

Completely ignoring her, I climb into the chair and make myself cosy.

Hopefully, now she will take the hint and leave me alone. Thankfully, she does and turns on the television. Trying to recreate my lost dream, I drift off into my own little world.  

Luckily, my dream returns. The chicken looks delicious. This time I am going to get the leg. My tastebuds are ready and waiting. Just as I am about to delve in, I hear the loud rumbling sounds of a car pulling onto the drive. The tyres make a horrible sound on the loose gravel.

I try to ignore the noise and hope it will go away but the car door slams shut and then the front door opens. I can hear stomping through the hall.

He must have finished marking his scent!

I recognise his stomps. He is not the quietest when doing anything. He walks into the living room just as I open my eyes. I see him towering over me.

Then he speaks to her, ‘What is wrong why is Lillia sat here?’

‘I don’t know, she just doesn’t want me tonight.’

‘Oh, okay.’

He makes his way to the sofa to sit next to her. He gives her a kiss and a cuddle.

I can see her lean into him. They start talking whilst looking into each other’s eyes. He says something to her, and she starts to giggle. They are the picture of happiness, affectionate with each other and very much in love.

Reluctantly, I cannot let this continue.

I slide off the chair and turn to look at them. Then I walk up to the sofa and I climb directly in between them. She moves over to let me in. I knew she would. He does not move, and I need more room. There is only one thing I know which will get me the room, I use all my strength to kick my back legs in his direction, twice and not gentle.

‘Lillia, you have just kicked me. Get off.’ He says something in a raised tone.

She clings onto me while still stroking my chest and says something to him,

 ‘You must have been sat on her. Lillia wouldn’t do it purposely. Would you Lils?’

When she finishes talking, I turn to look at him.

She really does love me more!