After a few minutes, the jingling of the toy was joined by an irritating buzz. Alfie opened one eye. Was it Sam making that noise?Was he supposed to do that? No, Sam was asleep. The buzzing was from a large fly that had landed on the baby’s arm. Alfie bristled as he watched it crawl over Sam. He hated flies, and he knew Evie’s mum did too, if ever a fly buzzed near she always shooed it away. That fly should not be crawling over Sam.
Alfie watched, waiting for his moment to pounce. He was so intent on the fly, that he had no idea Evie and her mum had come into the living room to check on Sam. They watched in horror as Alfie pounced, his sharp white teeth snapping on the fly – just millimetres away from Sam’s arm.
“Alfie, no!” Evie screamed, as her mum threw herself forward to grab Sam away.
Alfie had never heard Evie sound like that before – terrified and angry at the same time. He shot under the sofa and lay there cowering.
Sam hadn’t noticed the fly, but he certainly noticed when his mum snatched him out of his nice sleep. He roared angrily, and waved his arms about.
“Mum, is he OK? I can’t believe Alfie tried to bite him!” Tears were rolling down Evie’s cheeks.
Evie’s mum was breathing fast – from where she and Evie had been standing, it really had looked as though Alfie had meant to bite Sam’s arm, and she’d been terrified. She was pushing up the sleeve of his sleepsuit, searching for marks, but he seemed fine – just cross at being woken.
“What happened? Are you all right?” Evie’s dad rushed into the room, dressing gown flapping. “Is something the matter with Sam?” he asked, taking in the scene.
“No. No, we’re all OK,” Evie’s mum said slowly.
“Dad, Alfie nearly bit Sam!” Evie sobbed, throwing her arms around him. She couldn’t believe that her lovely puppy would do such a horrible thing – but then she’d seen it with her own eyes and watched him jump at her baby brother, teeth bared.
“I don’t think he did, Evie.” Mum sounded as though she was trying to work it all out. “Look.”
Lying on the floor next to the bouncy chair was a huge bluebottle, legs in the air, still buzzing faintly.
“You know how Alfie hates flies, he’s always snapping at them. I think he just tried to catch a fly that had landed on Sam’s arm.”
Evie lifted her head from where it was buried in her dad’s dressing gown. “Really?”
Evie’s dad was looking serious. “Are you sure?”
“Well, no, I suppose not. But Alfie’s never done anything like that before, has he?”
Evie shook her head, smiling in relief. “Never! Oh, Mum, thank goodness you saw that fly – we’d never have known otherwise.”
“Where is Alfie?” Dad asked, looking round.
“I shouted at him and he disappeared under the sofa!” Evie went pale. “Oh, he must think we’re so angry! Poor Alfie.” Evie crouched down to look, but Alfie flinched away from her, and retreated right to the back. Evie sat up, looking hurt. “He won’t come,” she said miserably.
“You probably need to give him a bit of time.” Dad put an arm round her, and the other round Mum and Sam. “Come on into the kitchen.”
Alfie huddled under the sofa, trembling. No one had ever shouted at him like that before. Evie had behaved as though he’d done something terrible. But he’d been helping Sam! Evie’s mum was always saying that flies were horrible, dirty things. She waved them away if they got anywhere near the baby. Did Evie and Mum think I was trying to bite Sam? Alfie wondered. I’d never do that! Don’t they know I’d never do that? Alfie lay there, feeling confused. No one seemed to understand him very much here any more. He was always in trouble, and even Evie, who used to love him so much, didn’t seem to have any time for him. Maybe they really did think he was the sort of dog who would bite.
“Alfie! Alfie!” Evie was calling him. She was lying down, peering under the sofa. “Come out, Alfie, please? I didn’t mean it. Please come out, I’m so sorry for shouting at you.” Her eyes met his hopefully, and Alfie couldn’t hold back any longer.
He crept forward, tail slowly starting to wag. As he wriggled out from under the sofa, she hugged him tight, burying her face in his thick white fur. “Oh, Alfie.” Alfie put his paws on her shoulders and licked her face, tasting salt from her tears. Why was she crying? Everything was all right now. He wagged his tail, and licked her again lovingly.
“Uuurgh, Alfie…” Evie giggled and sniffed. “I’m covered in lick. Oh, I do love you.” She sighed. “I’m so sorry. I haven’t been showing it much, have I?”
Alfie wuffed encouragingly. He adored Evie, and he trusted her. Hearing the love in Evie’s voice as he snuggled against her was all he needed to feel better.
Chapter Six
The rest of the day was almost perfect for Alfie. Evie seemed to be back to her old self. She cuddled him loads, and she kept saying she was sorry for thinking he’d hurt Sam, and telling him what a clever dog he was for catching the fly. Just every so often, Alfie would remember how upset and angry everyone had been, and shudder, and then Evie would hug him all over again.
Only one thing spoilt it. Alfie kept catching worried looks between Evie’s mum and dad – worried looks directed at him. Maybe they thought he might still be frightened, he wondered. He tried to be extra bouncy and friendly, with lots of jumping up to lick them, but it didn’t seem to work. If anything, they looked more worried, although they always patted him and smiled.
Evie gave him a huge tea and Alfie was so full afterwards that he went to sleep on her lap while she was trying to finish off her homework at the kitchen table. He didn’t notice Evie’s parents come to sit with her, or see the anxious looks on their faces.
“Evie.” Mum sounded strangely nervous. “Evie, we have to talk to you, sweetheart.”
Evie looked up. “I’m doing it! Look, I’m doing it now. It’s only Saturday, Mum, I’ll get it done, easily!”
“Not about your homework.” Dad’s voice was really flat, and Evie looked at him, suddenly scared. This was far more serious than just them complaining that she was rushing through her homework at the last minute.
“It’s about Alfie,” Dad went on.
Her heart suddenly thumping, Evie put her hand down to stroke Alfie, curled on her lap. He gave a little whine of pleasure, and stretched out luxuriously in his sleep before curling himself up again even tighter. “What’s the matter?” Evie asked quietly.
Her mum and dad exchanged a look, then her dad sighed. “We’re not sure we can keep him, Evie.”
Evie gulped, her hand tightening on Alfie’s neck so that he wriggled uncomfortably. “Why?” she whispered. Then her voice strengthened. “He wasn’t biting, Dad, really,” she assured him. “He wouldn’t do that.” She smiled desperately at her dad, knowing she had to convince him.
“Evie, you thought he would,” Dad said gently. “And so did your mum. You were so upset this morning.”
“But he didn’t! It was all a mistake.” Evie’s eyes were filling with tears. Her dad sounded so decided. She turned to her mum for help, and saw that she was crying too.
“It’s not Alfie’s fault at all. It’s just that we haven’t been able to look after Alfie properly, Evie,” her mum said shakily. “We all love him, but he needs proper walks, and lots of attention. He hasn’t been getting that. Dogs can get very grumpy if they’re cooped up in the house all day.”