Plan

Beginning

Drop off by Dad to Watford to see cousins and new puppy

 

 

 

Middle

Take puppy for a walk

Nikhil covered in mud after Ace gives chase to another dog

 

End

Dad collects me – saved by the bell

FIRST VISIT TO ACE

I have always enjoyed visiting my three cousins in Watford, but this time I was looking forward to it more than ever, not because I had not seen them for a long time due to my eleven plus exams, but because they had telephoned me about their four-legged Christmas present, called Ace.

“See you at six” dad bellowed from the driver’s seat.

“Bye” I replied.

I glanced at my watch, it was one in the afternoon in the afternoon, I recall thinking ‘Yes, five whole hours’.

To be honest there is not much that I am envious of. After all I have two parents, two step-parents, two homes, toys at both homes and so on. I think I have just about everything a young boy of eleven could ever need, except of course Ace. I had always wanted a pet but dividing my time between two families, one week with dad, one week with mum, made that practically impossible.

I walked up to the door and pressed the door bell. I could hear the chimes but oddly no dog barking. My chirpy aunt opened the door and waved me in. I could hear the boys in the lounge and raced straight through eyes peeled for the puppy.

The boys were transfixed on the Playstation2 game, but managed to say “Hi” without actually seeing who had actually entered the room. I was beginning to think that they were winding me up about their four legged gift.

Suddenly from behind the sofa pounced Ace. Six month old Ace was a two foot tall, attentive, playful Labrador retriever. He has a golden yellow silky coat, black paws, a wagging tail, transparent light brown eyes and a slobbery mouth, which he is all to keen to push into your face.

“Chill Bill” I exclaimed. Don’t ask me why I said that, or why indeed I expected a puppy to understand that command, but it had the desired effect. Ace calmed down and parked himself at my feet as I peeled my coat off settled down on the sofa.

My aunt strode in and remarked “I see you have met the newest member of my family”. She produced a lead from her pocket and declared it was time for Ace’s walk.

The boys shut the game down and prepared for the walk. My aunt explained that Ace’s day is consists of breakfast, a run around the house, a run around the park, lunch, a run around the yard, a walk in the park, and a run around with the children when they return from school partaking in whatever activity the boys are doing such as cricket and football. Ace’s dinner has two courses, dog food meal and whatever he can beg from the main table. After dinner activities usually consists of a run around the front room with the boys, and hiding remote controls under the dinning table.

I think Ace considers himself as one of the children. He listens only to the boys’ mother and appears to be bi-lingual, taking instructions in Gujarati and English. In fact Ace doesn’t bark at all. He loves people, kids and other dogs, and my aunt quipped that Ace is more likely to lick an intruder to death than attack them.

I have three cousin brothers, Shaan, Shammi and Nikhil. It transpires that Ace relates best with the youngest Nikhil, who is approximately the same size as himself and strangely licks Ace back and likes to share his basket.

For our walk we took turns on holding the lead. As guest of honour I was giving the reins first as we marched to the park. Then Shaan the eldest lead us towards the swings, passed the lead to Shammi who seemed more interested in the swings and thus promptly passed the lead to Nikhil.

As luck would have it at that very moment Ace spied a poodle and decided to give chase. With Nikhil at the end of the lead, Ace towed him on his front through muddy puddles and grassy slopes until we all caught up with him. Nikhil was covered from head to toe in all manner of things.

My aunt met us at the door and her steely silence told us that she was less than amused by the incident. Nonetheless dinner was ready on the table. We ate our food quiet as door mice, only sniggering when my aunt left the room.

The door bell chimed. I checked my watch, it was six, saved by the bell.

Essay Preparation - First Visit to Ace (Click here for corrected version)