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It was not Alexander who posed a problem when Louise told him about Tess. It was Frank.
First, Louise had to tell Alexander.
“Alexander, Tess is very sick,” she said, holding his hand to comfort him. “She has eaten some poison.”
“Will she die?” asked Alexander in the direct manner of seven year olds.
“I think so. Would you like to see her to say goodbye?” asked Louise.
Alexander nodded with his face muscles fixed in a mask so that he did not cry like a baby. His stomach churned and he felt unwell. He went with Louise to the car and they drove to the vet clinic without speaking. Louise was upset; she was upset because Tess was dying, she was upset because she had to deal with Alexander’s grief, she was upset that somehow the dog biscuits had been contaminated. She dreaded the inquisition that would come from Frank.
Andrina was in the clinic, finishing stitching a wound on a dog, a small Corgi, which lay on its side, panting. Louise and Alexander sat down and watched through the open door. The owner of the Corgi sat across from them, not watching what was happening on the operating table. She smiled at Alexander, who smiled back.
“My dog’s dying,” he said in the matter of fact voice boys use when facing the end of their world.
“Are you sure?” asked the lady. “The people here can save most animals.”
“She has been poisoned,” said Louise. “Pindone was mixed in with her biscuits.”
“Oh, poor thing,” said the lady. “I am so sorry for you.”
Andrina came from the surgery and spoke to the lady.
“Mrs Beatson, Cam is fine. I’ve stitched him up and he should be as good as new. Shall I keep him in overnight? Or will you come back in about an hour?”
“I’ll come back,” said Mrs Beatson. “Thank you, Andrina. It wasn’t so much the bite I was worried about, although it bled quite a lot. It was the risk of infection.”
“You should notify the police,” said Andrina. “I am sure the owner of the wandering dog will be made to pay for the damage to Cam the Corgi.”
“Shall I pay now?” asked Mrs Beatson.
“When you pick him up,” said Andrina. “Louise, would you like to come through?”
Andrina looked at Alexander. “What’s your name, young man?” she asked.
”Alexander,” he replied. “Is Tess dead yet?”
“No. But she is very sick. Do you think you could talk to her? Say some nice things about how much fun you had?” asked Andrina.
Tess lay in a cage, on her side, struggling to breathe.
“She’s not responding,” said Andrina. “She’s suffering badly. Would you like me to euthanize her?”
“What’s you-then-eyes?” asked Alexander.
“Put her to sleep,” said Andrina.
Alexander did not understand that put her to sleep meant end her life.
Louise said quietly, “I’ll talk to you in a minute, privately.” Then louder she said, “Alexander, would you like to tell Tess about the fun you’ve had and that it’s now time to say goodbye?”
The two women moved back into the waiting room. Mrs Beatson had been the last customer and nobody else had come in since with a pet for treatment. They listened to Alexander talking to Tess.
“You’re a good dog Tess. I liked it when you chased rabbits at the beach and the time when you chased one round a big bush and it ran into me. I didn’t like it when you ran away and hid from us and stayed out all night.”
“Please put Tess down after we leave,” said Louise. “I don’t want Alexander to know. Just say she died in her sleep.”
Although brave on the outside, Louise was suffering and as a result her breath kept catching and her eyes kept filling with tears. She had to work hard to control her feelings for Alexander’s sake.
“Say good bye now,” she said to Alexander. “I think Tess wants to go to sleep.”
Alexander kissed the dog on the forehead. “Goodbye Tess. I’ll come and play with you in heaven one day,” he said.