З життя
A Dog, a Proposal, and a Happy Ending: How a Free Pup Led to Love, Laughter, and a New Family – A Heartwarming English Tale
I stumbled into a reason to propose. A strange, dreamlike tale
Thank you ever so much for your kind supportall your hearts, thoughtful comments, and subscriptions, and a Huge Thank You from me and my five flummoxed felines for the generous tip jars tinkling with pounds! Should you chance upon a story you love, do whisk it away to your social circlesit makes my heart purr.
Wasnt your girl longing for a pedigree dog? asked a neighbour one shimmering, peculiar afternoon.
She was, but theres no spare money. Its just the two of us, no one to lean on, replied the woman. The neighbour only grinned, wide and strange. Ill hand you one for nothing. Lets go.
As luck spun her wheel, the daughter, Lucy, was already back from school, ears pricking at every promise and possibility.
Mum, lets go! Its free, Mum! Ill walk it all the time, and Ill only get top marks, honest!
Oh honestly, George, what sort of man are you? You stir the girls heart, and Im left to tidy the pieces, huffed Maria.
Give it a thought, Maria. Im a decent sort, you knowhardworking, all shipshape, just lonely, thats all!
Oh, do pipe down, George. Why would I waste time looking you over? I know you through and through! Im seven years your seniorI was out the gates before you even left the infants. Come off it! Maria huffed again, now redder than before.
But now, seeno gap at all! You only reach up to my shoulder, and youre not nearly as strong as me, George declared, stepping closer and tossing an arm carelessly round her.
See, Lucy, see how much taller and stronger I am than your old Mum!
But thick as two short plankscuddling me in front of my daughter! Maria wriggled free.
Theres the rubIm missing a woman as clever as you! Thats why I mooch about, see? Georges grin went lopsided and slightly sad.
Oh, pack it in! Are we going to see this dog or not? Lucy sniffed in with her most imploring voice.
There you are, where could you pick a better one for free? Spotty and sweetand quite the tale behind it. Shall I show you? Georges voice twisted mysterious, and Lucy clung to her mums hand.
Muuum, you promised!
George could see doubt in Marias eyes and bustled about.
Should I warm up the car? Its just round the corner. Cross my heart, you wont be sorry!
Maria threw one sideways glance at her neighbour and sighed. All right then. They do say its a tiny dog, but mind you, Lucyif your grades drop, youre for it!
All the drive Lucy asked, Is the dog fun? Whats its name? Uncle George, are we nearly there?
At last, they pulled up next to an old, faded house.
That was my late mothers flat. Rented it out, didnt go well. Sorry for the messdiscovered it only yesterday when I called round for the rent, George muttered half-apologetically.
The flat was quite the chaossqualid and cluttered as something out of a fevered night.
Amongst torn bags of spilt rice, empty biscuit boxes, and twisted tins reeking with some old, greasy stench, hunched shoulder to shoulder, sat a grey-eyed cat and a scruffy little dog.
Dirty, bedraggledbut, as theyd soon discover, not yet bested by the cruel designs of careless tenants.
Would you look at them, said George, odd twinkle in his eye, I hadnt popped by in a monthshowed up for the rent, find this!
The neighbours had said the pair of girls renting had skipped out quietly weeks ago, never paying a penny. And the poor dog and catsimply abandoned, left to whatever fate might crack through the old windowpane.
Locked away with no food or water, the days marched on.
How on earth did they survive? whimpered Lucy, clutching her mums sleeve.
Signs of their desperate struggle were scrawled across every shelf and surface. The dog and cat had devoured anything ediblesweets and biscuits first, then chewing spaghetti and even dry oats. By miracle, theyd mangled open tins of luncheon meat and slurped the evaporated milk packets foolishly left behind. If it could be gnawed, it was gone.
And then there was the matter of water.
Somehow, the catclever or just blessed by fortunehad managed to nudge the bathroom tap just enough to drip, and so their lives trickled on. Lucky it never flooded the downstairs flatthough then, at least, rescue would have come sooner.
George knew who to call. Lucy darted to cradle the dog and cat, feeding them the kibble George had stashed in the car, hands trembling with relief.
Even Marias eyes glistened.
I knew I was right about you, Mariakind to the core, George whispered, while Lucy stroked the pairs now rotund bellies. So, what do you saytake both home? Andwill you marry me, Maria? Never met one like you, waited all this time. Wed be alright, you and me! Ive a car, two flatsLucy will always have a place. Well let the other out, if we find decent tenantsnot like those scoundrels. Say yes, and well have our own, plenty of cheer, and a house already blessed with dog and cat, just like proper folk. Say yes, Maria!
Say yes, Mum! called Lucy, barely following but caught up in excitement.
George laughed, a sound as round as a carnival.
Lookall agreed but you. Come on!
Oh, George! Youre off your rocker! Maria blushed scarlet, unsure whether to scold or smile.
She had to admitthe man was handsome and kind, too. He hadnt thrown the animals out or turned cold. Maria had never really pictured anyone proposing, but here it was, in the dusty swirl of an abandoned flat, and Georges arm around her made her heart batter with a curious joy.
Let me think it through, you rogue! she retorted, flushing.
Think on, then, were not snooty. Ill take the cat and you have the dog as planned. Ill be back tomorrow for your answer, me and Tiddles here. Mind you tidy up, Barkley! he grinned at the pup, who gave a happy little woof.
George had done ithed convinced Maria to be his bride.
A month later, half the street came out for the wedding. Cooking was at Marias, but the tables spilled across Georges flat, his bachelor den finally put to noble use.
Tiddles and Barkley wouldnt leave their new owners sides for a momentanimals can always tell who the gentle souls are.
A year on, Maria and George had twinsa little Sophie and young Harry.
Tiddles and Barkley had noble work now, keeping guard by the cots. In a busy household, everyone finds their duty.
But most of all, in a big, boisterous household, there was just so very much happiness.
Joy for the children, and truly, joy for the animals, too.
Especially so, when the house already thrummed with the purrs and tail-wags of its own cat and dog.
Two Weeks Away from My Garden Retreat: Returning to Find the Neighbours Had Built a Greenhouse on My Land and Planted Cucumbers and Tomatoes
It had been a fortnight since I last visited my garden retreat, and in that time, the neighbours had erected...
A Dog, a Proposal, and a Happy Ending: How a Free Pup Led to Love, Laughter, and a New Family – A Heartwarming English Tale
I stumbled into a reason to propose. A strange, dreamlike tale Thank you ever so much for your kind supportall...
The Pensioner Told Me She Hasn’t Seen Her Son in Over Six Years – “When Was the Last Time Your Son Spoke to You?” I Asked My Neighbour… And In That Moment, My Heart Broke
“How long has it been since your son last spoke to you?” I asked my neighbour, and I felt a...
“We Sold You the House—But We Have the Right to Stay for a Week,” the Owners Claimed. In 1975, We Moved from the Countryside to the Edge of Town, Bought a House, and Got Quite a Shock… Back in the village, neighbours always lent a helping hand—my parents were no different. So, when the previous owners of our new home asked if they could stay a couple more weeks while sorting out paperwork, my parents agreed. But these folks owned an enormous, vicious dog—one they didn’t want to take with them, as he never listened to us. To this day, I remember that dog. A week went by, then two, then three—yet the former owners still lived in OUR house! They slept through to dinnertime, rarely left, and showed no intention of moving. Worst of all was their attitude—they acted as though they still owned the place, especially the mother. Time and again, my parents reminded them of the deal, but their “move-out” date kept shifting. Meanwhile, they let their dog roam, never minding where he did his business—right in our garden. We were afraid to go outside; the dog attacked everyone. Over and over, my parents pleaded: keep the dog on a lead! But as soon as my father left for work and my brother and sister went to school, the dog was immediately back in the garden. In the end, it was the dog who helped my father get rid of these cheeky squatters. One day, my sister came home from school, opening the garden gate unthinkingly. The big black brute knocked her down—miraculously, she wasn’t badly hurt, just her coat ripped. They chained up the dog, then blamed my little sister for coming home too early. And that evening, all hell broke loose! Dad came back from work, and—without even taking off his coat—dragged the old lady right out into the street, still in her house dress, with her daughter and husband running behind. Every belonging of these bold squatters flew over the fence into the mud and puddles. They tried to set their dog on my dad, but the dog, seeing the chaos, tucked his tail and hid in his kennel. He wasn’t about to leave. An hour later, every last thing they owned was on the pavement, the gate was locked, and their dog sat outside with them, shut out for good.
Weve sold you the house. Were entitled to stay for a week, declared the former owners. It was 1975, and...
For about a year, my son had been living with Kate, but we’d never met her parents – it struck me as odd, so I decided to investigate I’ve always tried to raise my son to respect women first and foremost – his grandmother, his mother, his wife, his daughter. In my opinion, that’s the greatest quality a man can have: respect for women. My husband and I gave our son a wonderful upbringing and education and made sure he had everything he needed to get through life with ease. We didn’t want to help him with anything else, but we still bought him a two-bedroom flat. He did work to support himself, but he couldn’t quite afford a place of his own. We didn’t give him the flat right away, in fact, we didn’t even tell him we’d bought it. And why? Because our son was living with his girlfriend – that’s why. For about a year, he’d been living with Kate, but we’d never met her parents and I always found that strange. Later, I discovered that Kate’s mum used to be a neighbour of one of my friends. She told me something that really unsettled me. It turned out, Kate’s mother threw her husband out when he started earning less, but the real madness started after… She began seeing a married – but wealthy – man. Kate’s grandmother, just like her daughter, also had a relationship with a married man. She would even force both her daughter and granddaughter to trek out to his country house to help on his farm. Because of this, my son already found himself tangled up in his future mother-in-law’s affairs. But what concerns me most is that Kate’s mother and grandmother are turning her against her father. It’s clear the girl cares for her dad, but these two women have put her relationship with him in jeopardy. And to top it all off, Kate has decided to drop out of university. She believes it’s a man’s job to look after the family. I agree to some extent, and I raised my son for that, but heaven forbid they face any real life problems. What sort of safety net will there be if something goes wrong? How would she support her husband if that happened? By the way, I’ve put the flat back in my own name, because I know I’ve raised a bit of a soft touch, as we say. Yes, property bought before marriage isn’t divided after a divorce, but Kate is such a clever woman, she could very well send my “gentleman” packing with nothing but his socks.
So, listen, for about a year now my sons been living with this girl, Emily, but wed never met her...
– Needless to Say, This Is All My Fault! – My Boyfriend’s Sister Sobs. – I Never Imagined Something Like This Could Happen! And Now I Have No Idea What to Do Next. I Don’t Even Know How to Handle This Without Losing Face. My Boyfriend’s Sister Got Married a Few Years Ago. After the Wedding, It Was Decided the Newlyweds Would Live with the Husband’s Mother. His Parents Have a Spacious Three-Bedroom Flat and Only One Son. – I’ll Keep One Room, and the Rest Is Yours! – Promised the Mother-in-Law. – We’re All Well-Mannered People, So I’m Sure We’ll Get Along Just Fine. – We Can Always Move Out! – The Husband Assured His Wife. – I Don’t See Anything Wrong in Trying to Live with My Mum. If It Doesn’t Work, We Can Always Get Our Own Place…. That’s Exactly What Happened. As It Turned Out, Living Together Was Quite the Challenge. Both Daughter-in-Law and Mother-in-Law Tried, but Things Got Worse Each Day. Resentments Built Up and Arguments Became More Frequent. – You Said If We Couldn’t Get Along, We’d Move Out! – Cried the Wife. – Well, Haven’t We Managed So Far? – His Mother Smiled Condescendingly. – These Are Little Things, and It’s Not Worth Packing Up and Leaving Over Them. Exactly a Year After the Wedding, His Wife Became Pregnant and Gave Birth to a Healthy Son. The Arrival of the Grandchild Coincided with the Mother-in-Law Quitting Her Old Job and Struggling to Find New Work, as Employers Hesitated to Hire Someone Approaching Retirement. The Daughter-in-Law and Mother-in-Law Had to Spend All Day Together, Neither Having Anywhere Else to Go, and Tensions at Home Only Grew. Her Husband Simply Shrugged and Listened to Their Complaints, as He Was the Sole Breadwinner. – We Can’t Just Leave Mum Right Now—She Has No Income. I Can’t Leave Her on Her Own, and I Can’t Afford to Support Her and Rent a Flat for Us. Once She Finds Something, We’ll Move Out! But the Young Woman’s Patience Wore Thin. She Packed Up Her Things, and Her Son’s, and Moved Back in with Her Own Mum. She Told Her Husband She’d Never Set Foot in His Mother’s House Again, and If He Cared About Family, He’d Have to Sort Something Out. She Was Sure Her Beloved Would Try Everything to Bring Them Back Together. But She’d Judged Wrong. It’s Been Over Three Months Since She Moved Out, and Her Husband Hasn’t Tried to Win Her Back. He Still Lives with His Mum, Talks to His Wife and Child on Video after Work, and Visits Them on Weekends at His Mother-in-Law’s House. He Gets the Care and Attention of Two Women at Once; the Parent Gets Sympathy for Her Son, Left with an Angry Wife, and Doesn’t Have to Deal with the Child at All. The Husband Has It Made! And the Mother-in-Law Hasn’t Really Lost Anything, Either! The Young Woman Is Far from Happy with This Situation. She Loves Her Husband Very Much, Though She Knows He’s Not Doing the Right Thing. – What Did You Expect When You Left? – He Asks. – You Can Always Come Back If You Want. It’s Unlikely the Wife Plans to Leave Her Own Mum or Rent a Flat. The Woman, Now on Maternity Leave, Just Can’t Afford It. Is This Really the End of the Family? Do You Think She Still Has Any Chance of Going Back to Her Mother-in-Law’s House Without Losing Her Dignity?
Needless to say, this is all my fault! my mates sister sobbed. I could never have imagined things would turn...
“Mum, he wants me to do this for him… He says all good wives can do it… Does that mean I’m not good? Please teach me… If everyone else can, surely I should be able to as well…” I’m Still Amazed My Niece Found a Husband—Perhaps Just Because of Her Mum When Alina was a child, my sister refused to send her to nursery school; as a teenager, she wasn’t allowed out, she spent all her time at home—she became a bit of a recluse. When Alina was at university in our town, her mother made sure she always came home before 6pm. At 20, her mum would phone at half seven, shouting if she wasn’t home yet. It was absurd, just nonsense. Alina met her future husband in her second year at university; they studied together in the library, he was two years older, shared his notes with her, helped her out—a friendship that blossomed into love and eventually into dating. That’s when my niece began defiantly breaking her mother’s rules. The niece eventually married and her mother finally allowed her to start a new life of her own. Now let me tell you a recent story. I was at my sister’s house when Alina called, her voice breaking between tears and giggles so much we could barely understand her: “Mum, he wants me to do this for him… He says all good wives can do it… Does that mean I’m not a good wife? Please teach me… If everyone else can, surely I should be able to as well…” At that moment, my sister’s expression changed instantly; she told her daughter to calm down and asked what exactly all good wives are supposed to be able to do. “Make soup, Mum,” she said, and we burst out laughing. “Don’t laugh at me! You never taught me how, I’ve looked up recipes online but they never taste right!” So, my sister and I quickly taught her, step by step, how to make soup, giggling at each other all the while. That evening, my niece called to thank us—her husband had complimented her, saying it was delicious. And, best of all, according to her, she’s now a proper wife!
Honestly, Im still a bit staggered that my niece actually found herself a bloke, especially considering the way her mum...
People Adopt Children from Orphanages, So I Chose to Bring My Grandmother Home from Her Care Facility—Despite All My Friends and Neighbours Disagreeing and Saying Times Are Tough, I Knew in My Heart It Was the Right Thing to Do
There was a time, not so long ago yet distant enough for it to feel like another life, when people...