Hayley+Short+Stories

Russell yawned and stretched. His back ached from another uncomfortable night’s sleep on the park bench. He rubbed his eyes and sighed as he realised what loomed in the day ahead of him. Scrounging and begging. All around him, the rest of the world was already awake and thriving, with joggers and people walking their dogs around the park. Russell was trying to motivate himself to climb out his sleeping bag, when suddenly he heard a strange noise. It sounded like a squeak, or maybe... a chirp? He listened hard. It seemed to be coming from beneath him. Through sleepy eyes, Russell peered below the bench he was lying on. - Dana was giving up hope. Chelsea could be anywhere in this huge park. She had run off while Dana was taking her for a walk, and so far the people Dana had asked were no help. She trudged through the grass, feebly looking around for any of a black dog. She saw a homeless man sitting on a bench and gave him a filthy look as she walked past. That dog had been with her family for years, and Dana began to get nervous as she realised what life would be like without her. ‘Chelsea?’ she called into a small clump of trees. Nothing. Dana kept walking. - Russell stared in astonishment at his discovery. The dog whimpered and tried to stand up. Russell pulled her out from under the seat with calloused hands, a gentle giant to the small creature. It reminded him of a dog he had as a child... but he quickly snapped himself back to reality as the dog squirmed in his hands. Russell placed her in the folds of his sleeping bag, and then set off to find food for his new companion. - Dana’s eyes scanned the park. All she could see was the same homeless man, now scavenging in a rubbish bin. Dana ignored him, and kept calling her dog’s name. She stopped and asked a few joggers as they came by, but no one had any idea about a small black dog. Suddenly, Dana had an idea. Maybe Chelsea was at the playground? She swivelled around and headed in the opposite direction. - Russell’s head was full of ideas while he walked back to the park bench- this dog would be his new pet. He would look after her and guard her with his life. But when he arrived back at his sleeping bag with scraps from the rubbish bin in his hands, he was greeted with a surprise. There was now not only one dog, but three! Two puppies now also were on his park bench. The dog had given birth? Russell hadn’t even realised she was pregnant. Suddenly, the mother dog got up. She ran towards the young lady who was calling out ‘Chelsea?’ and jumped into her arms. The young woman walked over. ‘//You// had Chelsea this whole time?’ she asked angrily. Russell looked down, ashamed. ‘I didn’t know she was yours... I was going to look after her.’ Dana seemed surprised. Then she saw the puppies. ‘Oh! She must have been looking for a place to give birth. I wasn’t expecting the puppies to come so soon!’ Russell nodded sadly. ‘Well, you must be heading on your way. Sorry to disturb you.’ He turned back to his sleeping bag, hopes crushed. Dana thought for a moment. ‘Well, why don’t you keep one of the puppies? I can come and check on him once in a while, but you can be her... main caregiver?’ Russell’s heart lifted. ’Of course! That would be amazing! Thank you!’ he picked up one of the puppies and stroked it. Dana was amazed by the tenderness Russell used. She picked up the remaining puppy along with Chelsea and thanked Russell. Feeling like a weight had been lifted off her back; she walked off back down the park. Russell watched her go, but was again distracted by the small creature in his hands. He smiled as he felt his future rearranging itself from gloomy to hopeful, as his new friend snuggled into his arms.
 * Task 4- 500 Word Short Story **