Page 53 of You Only Live Once
Part way around the hike, we came to the high spot of Box Hill. People were sitting on the side of the hill, some lying down, eyes closed as they bathed in the gentle spring sunshine. Children ran up and down the top part of the hill with an energy most of us could only dream of regaining, laughing as they did so. Looking across, fields sectioned into squares caught the sunshine, some cultivated, some green with grass, all divided by hedgerows. Beyond them, the odd space of green peeped through dense forest, the deep green of the trees contrasting with the pastel blue sky. A few more clouds had drifted in now, dotting across it as though in a child’s painting.
‘Isn’t it wonderful to think that Jane Austen might have stood here centuries ago and looked upon a similar view?’ I said, hearing the dreamy quality to my voice.
‘And then used those memories to create a scene that you’ve read over and over all these years later.’
‘Exactly. I think I’ll have to start it again when we get back.’ I grinned up at him and he returned it. I was glad the tension of before had dissipated, at least for now.
‘Can I pat your dog, please?’
We both turned at the voice. A small boy was standing behind us, looking between us and Clive, who was having a breather from haring about the place, discovering new sniffs, and was currently sprawled out on the ground between Jack’s feet and mine.
‘I told him he needed to ask first,’ his mother said. ‘And that some doggies are a bit shy of new people.’
‘Thank you,’ Jack said, taking the lead, after sensing from a quick glance at me that I had no idea how to proceed. ‘That’s a good plan.’ He crouched down so that he was level with the small boy. ‘I’m Jack and this is Clive.’
‘I’m Tom.’
‘Well, Tom, I think Clive will be very pleased to meet you, especially as you have such lovely manners.’
Tom grinned, showing a missing front tooth, then looked back at his mum who smiled back at him and then at me. Jack began to stroke Clive who looked around, saw a new face and wagged his tail.
‘He likes you,’ Jack said, making the little boy smile wider as he encouraged him to stroke Clive too, which he then did. In response, Clive let out a groan of happiness and rolled onto his back to silently request his tummy rubbed.
‘He likes his tummy tickled!’ Tom giggled as Clive’s tail swished to and fro on the ground in delight.
‘He does indeed.’
After a few minutes of fussing, Tom’s mum told him they really ought to leave us to get on with our day. The little boy’s face and manner showed reluctance, but he did as he was told. Clive sat up as he moved to see what was going on. Tom leant down a little and gave the dog a big cuddle. Clive rested his head on the boy’s shoulder and sighed happily. Once he let go, he took his mum’s hand and they both thanked us and Clive before walking off. Jack took a treat from his pocket and gave it to the dog.
‘You’re such a good lad,’ he said, snuggling his face.
‘Can I ask you something?’
‘Yes.’
‘Is it me, or when Clive was getting a hug, did it… no, it doesn’t matter. It’s daft.’
‘What? You’ve started now.’
‘OK, it’s just that when the little boy gave Clive a hug, it really looked like he was smiling. The dog, I mean. But obviously that’s ridiculous. Dogs don’t smile.’
‘Who says they don’t?’
‘Well, they just don’t. Do they?’
‘I think they do,’ said Jack. ‘Like you said, it definitely looks like Clive smiles.’ He glanced down at the dog, who was now engaged in chasing a butterfly. ‘And with Clive, he’s such a happy dog, that’s quite a lot of the time.’
‘He does seem a happy dog, and he was so good with that little boy.’
‘Yes, he is. If I’d had any doubts whatsoever, I wouldn’t have said yes to little Tom.’
‘You made his day. Or Clive did.’
‘I think Clive had a lot more to do with it than me. Fancy something to eat now?’
‘Absolutely! I’m starving after all that exercise.’
‘Me too. Let’s go and get the picnic out of the car and find a good spot.’
