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I stood and listened to cars and movement and picked up the harness.
“We’ve got a busy shopping street to get through,” Sophie said. “There’s a lot of street furniture, a lot of people, and a lot of distractions for Wizard.”
“Right.”
“If you feel his head going down, he might be trying to scavenge something. If you feel that happen, take your leash in your right hand and tell him ‘no’ in a firm voice.”
“Right.”
“I heard Helena pulled you away from the brink of quitting.”
I shook my head and let out a laugh. “She spoke to me, sure. But it wasn’t because of her.”
“Oh well, she’s congratulating herself anyway.”
“She can have it. I’m not bothered. It wasn’t her that made me see sense.”
What was it then?”
“I don’t know. I guess you just have to see these things through. Change is hard. But how can I expect to improve if I keep quitting things?”
“That’s a very mature way of looking at it.”
I smiled.
“Whenever you’re ready. Just take it nice and easy.”
I shifted my right foot back and swung my arm. “Forward.”
Wizard weaved through the people, following the path along the high street. It was strange not to know quite where we were. Apart from Wizard’s slight adjustments, I wasn’t aware of any obstacles, but I knew they were there.
“There’s a half-eaten sausage roll on the ground ahead. If you feel him go down, correct him.”
Wizard skipped and we carried on walking.
“He jumped over that. Amazing. That’s not like Labradors. You’ve got him really focused on his work.”
We carried on along the street until Wizard slowed down.
“You’re approaching the kerb.”
“Straight to the kerb.” I came to a stop and Wizard sat. Cars went past in both directions. I gave him a big fuss.
“That was really good. No issues. How did it feel?”
“It was weird. When you use the stick, you’re aware of the obstacles. This is just like hovering through the world. You don’t have to make as many adjustments.”
“Your confidence with him is building. You’re trusting his judgement. That’s really good.”
“I’m glad I didn’t quit.”
“So am I. Shall we head back?”
I nodded. “Let’s do this.”
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That evening, I fed and groomed Wizard. When he settled at my feet, I picked up my phone and called Rebecca.
“Hey,” she said. “What’s happening?”
“Not too much. You?”
“I’m going to be taking on a new student.”
“Oh, cool. Anyone I know?”
“I doubt it.”
“Who is it?”
“He’s called Chad. He’s at university.”
“I thought Mandela House had banned you from doing stuff?”
She sniffed. “There, maybe. They can’t tell me what I can and can’t do.”
“Where did you meet him?”
“I haven’t yet. He found me online. He seems like a really nice guy.”
“Right.”
“When are you coming home?”
“End of next week.”
“I thought you were quitting?”
“I decided to keep with it.”
She said nothing for a long time.
“You still there?”
She let out a sigh. “You need to make a decision.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s me or the dog.” She hung up.
––––––––
I paced around for more than an hour, trying to work out why she had made an ultimatum.
I flopped onto the bed and called Mum. It rang eight times before she picked up.
“Brian?”
“Hey.”
“Is everything okay?”
“I...yeah.”
“How’s the training going?”
“Fine. Good. I think I’m starting to get over the issues. We worked really well together today. We did a route along the high street. It was good.”
“I’m glad to hear it.” She paused. “Look, I’m just in the middle of the property programme. Is it okay to call you back once it’s finished?”
I swallowed. “I need to talk to you...please.”
“Of course. What’s wrong?”
“Rebecca gave me an ultimatum.” My eyes welled up with tears.
“What kind of ultimatum?”
“She said, it’s me or the dog.”
“You can’t be serious.” She laughed to herself.
“What?”
“Brian, if she cared about you, she wouldn’t put something like that on you. It’s not fair.”
“She said she is allergic to dogs.”
“Then it’s up to her to get some antihistamines or something. She must be around dogs all the time at Mandela House”
“Yeah. You’re right.”
“Did she complain about it then?”
“Not to me. No.”
“It’s sounds to me like she’s trying to control you. Do you really want to be with someone who gives you ultimatums?”
“But I like her.”
“If she’s trying to manipulate you like that, it is not a good sign for the future. People like that push and push, always wanting more control. Don’t play her games.”
“What should I do?”
“Never respond to ultimatums. Make your own choices.”
I let out a sigh. “Fine.”
“Hopefully, she’ll realise she can’t control people like that.”
“I think you’re right.”
“I know it’s hard, but you need to do what’s best for you in the long-term.”
“Speaking of which, have I had anything from college yet?”
She didn’t respond for several seconds.
“What is it?”
“I wasn’t going to say, until you are done with the training.”
“Just tell me. I’m a big boy.”
“They rejected your application. They said you don’t have the qualifications to do law.”
“Oh. Right.”
“Don’t worry. We’ll figure something out when you get back. Just focus on the training for now.”
I took a deep breath. “Fine.”
“Are you going to be okay?”
I swallowed. “Yeah.”
“Love you.”
“You too.”
“Do you want me to call you back later?”
“No. It’s fine. Speak soon.”
“Bye.”
I tossed the phone aside and slumped into the chair, staring at nothing.
Wizard pressed his head in my lap. “Hey.” He sat with his back to me and shuffled close, his tail wagging, his head arched back.
I cuddled him as tears ran down my cheeks.
After a while, he turned and dropped his rubber ball into my hand, slick with drool.
I tossed it towards the door. Wizard dived after it and dropped it at my feet.
We repeated this for almost an hour before he settled on his bed.
“Screw this.” I picked up the phone and called Rebecca.
“Hey,” she said. “It’s pretty late.”
“Yeah. I’ve been thinking about what you said.”
“That’s good.”
“I’m going to keep the dog.”
“Wait, what?”
“I don’t appreciate you giving me ultimatums.”
“I only gave you that because it’s best for you.”
“You don’t get to decide what’s best for me.”
“I just needed to give you a push, that’s all. It’s what’s best—”
“If you cared about me, you wouldn’t try to emotionally blackmail me like that.”
“It’s because I care about you that I—”
“And you lied. I know you’re not allergic to dogs.”
“I only said that because—”
I took in a breath. “I don’t want to be with you anymore.” The words left my mouth before I realised what I’d said.
“Fine.” She hung up.
“Wait.” I went to call her back, but stopped myself. It was for the best...probably.
––––––––
I tried to block out Helena and Eric’s incessant chatting over breakfast.
“You okay?” Nidra asked.
“Yeah.”
“You don’t sound right. What’s wrong?”
“I...I finished with my girlfriend last night.”
“Oh, that’s too bad. What happened?”
I let out a bitter laugh. “She gave me an ultimatum. She said it was her or the dog.”
“She actually did that?”
“Yep.”
“That’s so not cool.”
“I know.” I leaned back and squeezed my eyes shut. “It sucks.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I was thinking I might call her back tonight, see if I can patch things up.”
“Why would you do that? She sounds like a right manipulative bitch.”
“She’s not. She’s...she’s smart. She’s funny.”
“And she gives you ultimatums.”
“I know.”
“That’s bad.”
“She said she just wants what’s best for me.”
“She wants what’s best for her. Run away, Simba. Run away, and never return.”
“Are you Scar? I don’t know if The Lion King really applies in this situation.”
“You’re best steering clear of her, that’s all I’m saying.”
I folded my arms. “Maybe.”
“Put it like this, would you get her to choose between something that’s important to her and you?”
“No, but—”
“No buts. That’s it settled.”
“You’re making decisions for me, instead?”
“No. Only you can make that decision. But the decision needs to be yours and it needs to be true.”
I shook my head and sighed. “You’re right. There’s no going back. It’s over.”