Nice to Meet You at Last…

And so, they met

Michael, whats the matter? asked Emily after several long moments of silence, as their supper cooled on the table. Youre not yourself at all. You look rather pale Are you all right?

Yeah, Im fine, said Michael, just about managing to gather himself. He set his fork down and reached, with agonising slowness, for his glass of apple juice, stalling the moment when hed have to answer Emily properly.

*****

Michael stood before the entrance to the old block of flats, his hand gripped around the cold handle of the heavy metal door. He hesitated, poised to pull, but was seized by an inexplicable urgeto halt, to stall, to turn away.

He didnt want to go inside.

He knew he was expected; he remembered promising Emily hed visit. But the trepidation was so acute, his legs buzzed unpleasantly, as though he were a schoolboy about to be summoned to the front of the class for the first timeonly his school was a labyrinth, with impossible staircases and endless fluorescent halls, and the teachers always had the heads of clocks.

It seemed so little nowthe simple act of opening a door, climbing to the third floor, finding flat 36

Yet something invisible bound him: a thin string of unease that wrapped tighter with each heartbeat, rendering Michael unable to carry the thing through to its conclusion.

All he wanted was to turn and rush awayhome, or perhaps as far as the distant lights of Manchesteranywhere but here.

Why did I agree to this? he muttered, stepping back, his breath smokey in the frost-bitten air. Theyll find me wanting, wont they?

He took a few shuffling steps backward and squinted up at the lit window on the third floor. It shone like a lighthouse above a sea of council flatsbeacons designed not for sailors, but to keep the likes of Michael from wandering off the course of fate.

He had arrived all rightright up to the moment of breaking in upon the dry warmth beyond. But he couldnt face going up to the flat.

What stopped him, he realised, was the thought of how Emily would react if he disappeared now. She wanted him here. Hed made her a promise.

*****

Michael, darling, theres a bit of a thing, Emily had said only yesterday evening, guilt dancing at the corners of her mouth. Dont panic, butwell, erm, my parents want to meet you.

Emily was his girlfriend.

Theyd been sharing dinner at a cosy café, their plans for the weekend stitched quietly between bites and glances. Suddenly, her parentsformal, shadowy figures in Michaels mindentered their lives, demanding an introduction. It had stunned him so much, he almost forgot to chew, unsure if she was serious or just mocking him with some theatrical rehearsal.

Nothing precisely odd about the occasionon the contrary, it would have been truly odd if Emilys parents hadnt wanted to get a look at their daughters sweetheart, or perhaps future son-in-law. But still

Michael was convinced hed disappoint. More precisely, that hed fail to live up to the demanding criteria of in-laws. And his anxiety was far from baseless.

He had his reasons.

Emilys mother, Victoria Richards, had spent her life at Oxfordrising from humble lecturer to vice-chancellor, and now claiming some distinguished post at the Department for Education.

Her father, Charles Richards, had similarly climbed the ranks, starting as a civil engineer and now running his own construction firm, with regular golf fixtures scheduled with the towns mayor. He was, in every sense, A Serious Man.

Even Emily, at just past thirty, had become head of legal in a grand financial institution.

And what had Michael achieved by age thirty-five?

Not much by comparison. Just a system administrator at a medium-sized firm, no university diploma, a comfortable enough salary but a stubbornly flat career trajectory.

How would he stack up against these titans around a family table? What would he say? Where would he even look?

And you may wonder how hed met Emily at all. That was fateor something stranger.

Michael had decided to wander through Regents Park one afternoon. By some odd synchrony, Emily was there too, drifting with two friends until they peeled off to buy ice cream and left her alone on a bench. She called her mum.

She didnt see the drunken teenager careening toward her on a rented electric scooter.

Michael, ever watchful, managed to grab her arm and pull her aside, moments before the scooterist whirred past, crashed into a bin, and fell.

Emily, at first, was indignant. But when she realised the chain of near-miss and mayhem, her mood shifted, and she gazed at Michael in a different light. Had it not been for this odd event

Thats how it all began.

While her friends queued for honeycomb 99s, Michael chatted with Emily, numbers exchanged, a meet-up promised. Theyd been together six months now.

All of this replayed in Michaels mind while digesting Emilys invitation.

He dreaded the moment her parents might, certainly, forbid her from seeing someone with such modest meansas had happened to him once, years ago. Hed lost someone dear that way.

And now, he was at risk of losing Emily.

Michael, whats wrong? Emily asked after several minutes, her face creased with worry. You look pale. Are you certain youre all right?

Im fine, he said, forcing composure upon himself, pushing his fork away and taking a slow sip of apple juice.

So, youll come then?

Sorry come where?

To ours, Emily smiled. Mums cooking something special, and Dads bringing out one of his collectors bottles of claret. All I want from you is a yeswill you come?

Im not sure Michael stammered. I just think your parents wont approve.

Why ever not?

Because Im justwell, Im ordinary, arent I? I havent got a degree, I only know how to install software and fix crashed hard drives. They probably dreamt of a businessman for you. Or maybe someone in politics. At the very least, some rising civil servant. Not just me.

Oh, dont fret so, Emily took his hand. My parents are ordinary people, too. You just dont know them. Ill see you tomorrow at seven, yes? Dont be late.

Sure, Michael nodded, not knowing at all if hed go.

*****

And so, tomorrow came.

Michael loitered in front of Emilys block, five to seven, enveloped by the black December cold, and utterly lost.

Sooner or later, hed have to meet her parentshis intentions serious enough to whisper about marriagebut tonight he felt ill-prepared. Hed been told (maybe, maybe in half a year) hed move to a new IT department. Then, at last, he could walk through their door with confidence

Now, he only wanted to run.

Just as he steeled himself to flee, his phone buzzed urgently in his pocket.

It was Emily.

Hi Michael! came her cheerful voice. Mum and I are almost ready. Dads running late, but hes about, oh, five minutes. Are you here yet?

Erm, hi Em, I Im just

Youre coming, yes? I can barely hear you, are you nearly here?

Yeah, Im just round the corner. Only

My love, if this is about what we talked about yesterday, I wont have it. For goodness sake, itll be fine. Want me to come out and meet you?

No, no, honestly! Ill be there soon.

Okay, were waiting.

Tucking away his phone, Michael began to rub his temples, searching for any convincing excusenot to go in at all.

Nothing came.

If Charles Richards pulled up now the awkwardness at the doorstep would be infinite. Michael retreated, wandering off to the edge of the building where he ran into a lad and bummed a cigarettea habit he had long quit, but the urge to calm his nerves was overpowering.

He stood there, beneath streetlights that stuttered and blinked, dragging on a cigarette, the smoke curling into oddly-shaped clouds that vanished against the grey.

There was little to look at: a wheelie bin to the right, an overgrown lot to the left. Emily had once said theyd planned to build affordable housing there instead of the battered old garages that once squatted amongst the brambles.

Nothing much save for the sudden presence of a dog, lying in the snow-crusted grass. Michael tensedthe unpredictability of a stray always a riskbut this one paid him no heed.

It just lay there. On the open snow.

Strange choice, to make ones bed on icebut, then, what options does a dog have?

No one would let it inside to warm its bones tonight

*****

Jackthat was the name of the dog, Jack, Michael suddenly knew, as name and animal danced together in that way only dreams allowhadnt eaten for days.

Hed once belonged to another estate, where, for a time, neighbours would toss him the odd crust, even stroke his ears. But

some woman, convinced he was a menace to children, wrote to the council, enlisted allies, and

The estate split into two camps: Let him be and He should go.

This stray comes too close to the playground! What if he bites? Look at those wild, hungry eyes!

Of course, Jacks eyes werent wild; they were mournful.

His first owner was a boy called Williama child with eager hands and a fresh childhood smell. Theyd found Jack as a shivering pup on a country road, scooped up from the verge, and taken him to their cottage for the summer months. William adored him.

But as autumn fell, Williams parents declined to keep Jack.

We cant have a big stray in the flat, love. Wholl take him out morning and night? You?

William shook his head. So Jack was left behind.

For a while, a market woman found him, took him to the city. She tried to sell him as pedigreedno papers, but full of promise. A family bought him, then, realising he was a mongrel, abandoned him on the edge of town.

It was only early April. Nights were chilly but kind enough to survive.

So Jack wandered hollow streets. Eventually, he found this quiet neighbourhoodno gangs of bigger dogs, no shouts, only children at playand he stayed.

He visited the playground, watching the little onesalways searching for William.

He never found him. And when the angry womans campaign forced the issue, Jack left on his own.

Sticks and stones followed him, as did angry shouts. Hed done nothing wrong, yet suspicion clung like burrs. So he went, not wishing to make trouble.

Now, he lay on a patch of frozen waste, too cold and weak to rise.

He saw the man with the cigarettethe one with anxious eyesand thought, He wont help me. Hell finish his smoke and leave.

*****

Michael stubbed out his cigarettealways in the bin, his mothers voice rang: If you want to change the world for the better, start with yourselfand then crossed toward Emilys block.

He noticed a posh black car pull up. Wary it might be Emilys father, he hurried off the other direction, forgetting the dog, but soon found himself passing by again. Only now, the dog was impossible to ignore.

He froze, half-expecting it to bark and blow his fragile cover. But it didnt even raise its head.

You all right, mate? Michael called out, to nobody in particular.

No responsenot a flinch, not a twitch.

He stepped closer. Jack still didnt move.

Michael squatted, switched on his phone torch, shone it gently on the dogs battered coat. He touched himice cold, still breathing (barely). The dog wasnt dead, only frozen, emptied of strength.

If I dont do something, he wont last the night.

Without thinking, Michael lifted Jack in his arms. His only plan: find a hallway radiator, try and warm the dog up, ring a taxi for the nearest 24-hour vet.

But all the foyers were locked, so Michael trudged towards the next building, his phone vibrating unseen as he staggered under the weight of Jack.

Passing Emilys window, he slowed, glanced up at her glowing room. She would helpbut her parents? Hardly welcoming to a stray, half-frozen and trembling.

At the buildings end, another cara gleaming Bentleyswept up, dazzling his eyes with headlights. The window rolled down, revealing a grey-templed man within.

You all right, son? Need a hand?

Eryeah Its this dog, hes collapsed in the snow. Is there a vet nearby?

Not close by, no. But I know onethe best in town, actually. Up you getback seat, quick now. Time wont wait.

Youd let me in? With him? Michael stammeredhed never imagined the well-heeled would let his sort (let alone a stray) into their car.

Of course! Time to save the day, right?

No more persuading needed. Within seconds, they were roaring down night-muddled streets.

The driver phoned someone as they drove:

Sorry, darling. Somethings come upunexpected, yes. Running late. Who? No, havent seen him. Did you try calling? Odd, never saw a soul near the flat. Howd he look? Yes?if I see him, Ill ring you.

Im causing you all sorts of bother, arent I? Michael said, watching Jacks laboured breath fog the glass.

Not at all. But is he breathing? Eyes open?

Barely but hes alive.

Well rush then.

In ten minutes, Michael and Jack were in a bright white room, staff already waiting (the vet had been tipped off in advance). Jack was whisked through swinging doors.

Michael, left in the corridor, checked his phone: three missed calls from Emily and a message: Michael, where are you? Are you okay?

He couldnt bear explainingthey were all strangers, after all, united only by a bewildered dog and a tangled invitation to dinner.

His mind spiralled helplessly around Jack.

He didnt even get to thank the stranger for the ridethe Bentley had vanished by the time he reached the pavement. So Michael returned to the harshly lit corridor, determined not to leave without news.

If things with Emily didnt work out, at least hed have Jacksomeone to confide in when the nights got long.

*****

Forty minutes or so passed, each tick of the clock stretching like chewing gum.

Suddenly, there was a commotion by the receptiona womans rising intonation and then, unmistakably, Emilys voice.

Michael turned, and there she was, flanked by her mother andastoundinglythe very same man whod driven him.

He greeted Emily: Told you, love. Hed be here waiting, worried out his mind. Youve got yourself a brave one, Ill say that.

And then Emily was at Michaels side.

Where have you been? I was worried!

Im sorry, Em. He looked sheepish. I thought your parents might object to a stray dog in the flat.

Silly thing, Emily laughed. Mum rescues animals all the timewe have three ex-strays of our own! Theyll be thrilled.

Really?

Absolutely.

Then Victoria, Emilys mother, stepped forward and offered her hand.

Its good to meet you, Michael. What you didtaking in a helpless animalthats the mark of a proper gentleman. Emilys right, you should have just come to ours. But alls well. Im sure Jack will make it.

He will, dont worry! said the vet emerging from the ward, beaming. Dogs got a strong heart. Hell pull through.

That very evening, Jack was released into Michaels armsrestored, alive, and swaddled in blankets.

Love works miracles, the vet said, his silhouette framed in the surgerys sterile glow. It can pluck a soul even from the shadow of the grave.

Michael thought to go straight home.

But Emily and her parents insisted he join themafter all, the house was full of animal companions, and who better to celebrate a proper rescue? Jack, encircled by three curious cats (brought in, one by one, from the rain), found himself reclining on a plush sofa in a warm living room.

Michael sat in the kitchen, introduced at last, some tension lingering but dissolving in warmth and sherry and laughter.

Hed been afraid for nothing. They were lovely peopledown-to-earth, funny, genuine.

Within a few days, Jack was up and padding about. Michael decided to bring him home.

Arent you going to take me as well? Emily grinned as she emerged with an overnight bag.

You? Seriously?

Very seriously. See, my parents have banned me from sleeping here any longer.

What? Why?!

They want grandchildren! Population must boom, they say.

The house rang with laughterEmilys, Michaels, and even Jacks, in his way, as his tail wagged like a clock in reverse, putting time back, piece by piece.

He didnt know all that had happenedonly that something wonderful was unfolding.

And that is how it happened.