Walking the dog

 

When I was a moody teenager I would often drag my dog, Laddie, on long walks with me to the 'posher' areas of Wolverhampton. We would walk along the Dudley Road to Fighting Cocks and then down Goldthorn Hill towards Penn where there were a lot of detached houses that seemed worlds away from my little terraced house. In this photo we have just returned and I am wearing a blue shiny coat which I thought was the height of fashion! Laddie is worn out!

Marion and Bonzo walk the same route in this extract:

“Come on Bonzo!” Marion looks round. She is a long way from home. The houses are big. There are shiny cars in the drives. She’s hot. Bonzo stares with sorrowful eyes. His tongue is out and he’s panting.

“Are you tired? Okay we can have a rest for a few minutes. Maybe someone will drive past and rescue me. My real father will recognise me. He’ll take me into one of these houses. My real mother will cry when she sees me. They’ll have loads of money. A lovely little old lady with silver hair will tell me to call her nanny. She’ll love me.”

Maz wraps her arms around her and tells her to go home.

As she enters the back yard she can hear Doris shouting, “I’m not having that man in the house! I don’t want him near Marion.”

“You’re being ridiculous. He’s my brother! He wouldn’t hurt Marion!”

“I mean it Joe! I won’t have him in my house!”

“You can’t speak to me like that! Mammy was right! Fecking English witch!”

“Dad!” Marion rushes in. “Why are you being so horrible to mom?”

“Keep out of this Marion. Your mammy has some funny ideas. Isn’t Uncle James grand? He’s coming over on an aeroplane and taking Immy home with him. He just wants to do the right thing. Give him credit Doris! Not like Dorothy who said she’d not be a part of it. Stuck-up bitch is on the boat home now!” He turns to Marion. “Sure, he’s desperate to see his clever niece.”

Maz warns Marion to stay quiet. Joe stares at her. “What’s the matter now? Lost your voice? Don’t be listening to your mammy. She’s not right in the head! Don’t be going funny on us now Doris like your Pauline!” He pushes past and goes out, slamming the back door.

Michael crawls out from under the table. 

Doris cuddles him on the settee and Marion snuggles next to them.


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