Simon Arrives in the Countryside to Visit His Aunt, His Mother’s Elder Sister, Whom He Promised to Look After as His Mother Asked Before She Passed Away

Simon took the train to a little village in Kent to visit his aunt, his mothers older sister. It was a promise hed made to his mother before she passed away: to keep an eye on Aunt Martha. Aunt Martha was a frail, petite woman, already rather advanced in years. Time and again, Simon had begged her to come live with his family in Brighton, urging her that shed have her own room, be able to stroll in the communal gardens, and make friends with other pensioners in the building. He said shed never feel lonely or bored. But Aunt Martha wouldnt hear of leaving her old cottage, the only home she had ever truly loved.

So, every three months, Simon arranged five days of unpaid leave from his job and made the long journey to see her. Two days disappeared just on travel, while the three remaining were devoted to tending to the house and helping Martha with all her chores. Fortunately, Simon was the head of his department, so he could manage these little breaks without any trouble. It helped that the company boss was an old family friend.

That spring, work got rather hectic, so Simon hadnt managed his usual early-March trip; he finally arrived at the end of April. Martha was noticeably weaker than beforeher neighbour, Mrs. Harris, told him shed twice had to call an ambulance for her over the icy winter.

Why on earth didnt you let me know? Simon asked, troubled. Every time I rang, you both said all was well.

She made me promise not to fret you at work, Mrs. Harris replied. Said: When Im gone, then you can tell him.

During his stay, Aunt Martha sent Simon out for basicssugar and salt, but he ended up buying all the essentials as well: oats, tinned stew, tea, and a few biscuits. Upon his return, Simon noticed a young sheepdog puppy sitting timidly at the front steps, not much more than five months old, all long nose and big head.

Aunt Martha, when did you get a puppy?

Oh, that little thing wandered up about a month ago. I opened the garden gate and there he was, shivering from the cold, not a scrap of meat on him. Ive been feeding him; hes quite the companion.

Simon scratched the pups ears, and the little fellow immediately rested his head faithfully on Simons knee. Simon had adored dogs since he was a boy but was never allowed one at home. Later, his wife Helen had once brought home a cat, but the poor thing had run away after three years. They had no childrenHelen couldnt have any, and theyd made their peace with the quietness of their house, using their free time to travel.

What did you name him? Simon asked, amused.

Milo. Thats what I called my old cat.

Simon laughed. Bit odd, giving a dog a cats name, dont you think?

He answers to it, Martha grinned, thats all that matters.

While Simon stayed, Milo trailed him everywhere. When it was time to go, Simon asked Martha to keep him informed about her health, to ring him if she needed anything, medicines or otherwise, and to never feel she was a burden.

You wear yourself out, all these trips, she replied. But, well, thats life. Wont be bothering you much longer.

Nonsense, Aunt Martha. Live as long as you canI dont mind.

Theres one thing to ask. If Im gone, dont abandon Milo. Hes a living soul.

Ill find him a good home, Simon promised.

No, take him yourself, please. Ive a feeling he came to us for a reason.

Milo nudged Simons knee then, looking up at him with soulful eyes.

Alright, Aunt Martha. If it comes to that, Ill take Milo.

A month later, Martha passed away peacefully. Simon arranged the funeral, saw through the traditional nine days of visits with the neighbours, and afterwards took Milo with him to the churchyard to say a final goodbye.

Soon after, it was time for Simon to return to Brighton. Hed come prepared, bringing both a lead and a muzzle for the journey. At the village station, he got tickets for the carriage that allowed animals. Once on the train, Milo suddenly bristled and growled at a man by the window, who turned round alarmed.

What do you think youre doing bringing a wolf on a train? the man exclaimed.

Its not a wolf, mate; hes my dog, Milo.

Hes no ordinary dog. Im a hunterI know a wolf when I see one!

Milo bared his teeth, hackles raised.

Keep that beast away or Ill have to sort him out myself, the man threatened.

Just sit quietly, unless youd rather not finish the journey in one piece, Simon retorted coolly.

The man harrumphed, muttered about the youth of today, and left to pace the corridor for the rest of his trip. Once alone, Simon looked at Milo with a smile.

Milo, what do you thinkare you really a wolf? he joked. Milo pressed his nose to Simons lap and wagged his tail. Well, youre fantastic either way.

A few minutes later, the train steward poked her head in.

Excuse me, sir, is that a wolf or a sheepdog?

Did that chap put you up to this? Hes a rare breed of working dog, trained for search and rescue, Simon replied, improvising.

Right then, she nodded, Have you the paperwork?

Simon rummaged in his pockets, then feigned alarm: BlastI left the papers at the ticket office, just after I got the ticket. You know they wouldnt have let us on board without documentation.

The steward shrugged. Of course.

In truth, there were no papers, but the girl at the ticket counter was Mrs. Harriss daughtershed let them through without a second thought.

The next morning, back in Brighton, Simon took Milo to the local veterinary clinic. The vet, peering over her reading glasses, asked shrewdly, Excuse meare you with the circus?

No, nothing like that. Why?

Thats no ordinary sheepdog. Youve got a wolf, or at the very least, a mix.

Simon told her the whole story: how Milo had turned up at Aunt Marthas and now he was fulfilling his aunts last wish.

The vet gave Milo a thorough examination. Hes a crossbreed, she declared at last. Part wolf, but with some German Shepherd in him. These wolfdogs can be loyal and gentle, not at all aggressive, if raised well. Lets get him registered and his jabs sorted so no one can make trouble for you.

Helen grew fond of Milo right awayshe washed him, fed him, and delighted in taking him for walks. Ten months passed, and she doted on the dog as if he were her own child.

One evening during the Christmas holiday, feeling cooped up, Helen decided to take Milo for a stroll around the park, just a short walk from their flat. They were sauntering along the shadowy paths when suddenly Milo pricked up his ears and dashed off into the darkness.

Helen called out for him again and again, but there was no sign of him for several minutes. Just as she started to panic and fumble for Simons number, she saw Milo emerging from the gloom, dragging a bundle in his jaws.

Helen rushed to meet him and realised, to her astonishment, that it was a newborn babyalive and crying, bundled in a blanket. Though Helen was a doctor, she dialled for an ambulance and the police at once.

Both services arrived with impressive speed. Because of the dog, Helen couldnt ride in the ambulance, but once shed dropped Milo at home, she and Simon hurried to the hospital. There, the staff told them the baby was a month old, healthy, and, from the note tucked in the blanket, named Emily. Her mother had written that she hoped Emily would find a kind family.

When Helen laid eyes on the little girl, her heart was instantly lost. She turned to Simon, her gaze full of unspoken question, and he nodded in silent agreement. Helen quickly explained to the nurse that she was a doctor, and they wished to adopt Emily straightaway.

Within two months, baby Emily came home to live with Simon, Helen, and Milothe stray who had, as Aunt Martha had said, surely come into their lives for a reason.

If theres anything Ive learnt from all of this, its that some responsibilities you inherit, and some you choose. And sometimes, fate decides that a wayward dog can lead you straight to love and family, if you open your doorand your heart.