The car rolled to a stop at the car porch. No, there was no English country house and no Caucasian driver. The viewing of the video tape was some weeks ago, and it had already passed out of his canine memory and had not been mentioned since. Dick popped his head through the car window and barked at the adults to remind them to open his car door. It was their weekday routine.

In the morning, the four of them would troupe to the grandmother’s place. Serene’s mother would be there waiting eagerly for them. The old lady would collect the sleepy bundle of joy into her arms and pack the two adults off to work. Come evening time, the two would return to pick up Dick and the baby.

But this time, they had a few bags full of groceries. With one arm full of groceries and the other cradling the baby, Serene just managed to ease open the back door for Dick before trotting off into the house.

Danny’s briefcase was lying on the back seat. The briefcase, that Danny carried with him on all his business trips, was always locked. Dick was not allowed to touch it. But it had this distinctive smell of leather mixed with a potpourri of other aroma – a mixture of tobacco, cologne, beer and a myriad other scents accumulated over the years. Dick could not leave it behind.

He sniffed at the briefcase, poked his nose at its leathery texture and tried to carry it along with its handle between his teeth. But as he jumped from the seat to the ground, the handle slipped and the briefcase came tumbling down, and its bright golden lock snapped open. The briefcase unfolded itself unceremoniously and a bundle of papers flew onto the car porch.

Dick jumped away with fright. Danny was bound to be angry. His precious briefcase on the ground! Dick tried to close the briefcase, but all he succeeded in doing was to scratch the black leather against the uneven ground. Within a moment, Serene appeared at the doorway.

‘Look what you have done, you naughty boy! A good whack on the head is what you need.’

Dick bounded to the back of the car with a repentant whine.

‘If you can’t behave yourself, you’ll be locked out of the house. No more bed. No more sofa or sleeping rug, you hear?’

Dick laid his head on the ground mournfully.

‘And the flies and toads… will… will…’ Serene’s voice drifted off into silence.

Dick lifted his head two inches off the ground to peer into the silence. Serene was frowning at a stack of hotel and restaurant bills. Her lips were parted in surprise and Dick watched as they curled slowly and savagely into grim, angry lines. She pushed away a few folders of documents and glanced through the pockets in the brief case. From the depths of its leathery hide, her fingers lifted a photograph.

She was motionless for a moment.

Dick cocked his head to one side in puzzlement. He could not understand why she was so grim over an overturned briefcase. He was apprehensive about the thoughts flitting through her mind. Was he to be locked out of the house? Was he to be left to the mercy of the toads and flies and all the creepy-crawly things that preyed in the night?

Suddenly, as if a valve had been release, the animation came to life. Serene dumped the files and papers back into the briefcase and made several attempts to close the lock. She glared furiously at the lock that would not close. In a fit of exasperation, she threw the briefcase back onto the ground. The files and papers came flying out in a mess just as before. But she did not seem to care. She simply stiffened and marched back into the house.

Dick trod after her anxiously. But at the thought of his misdeeds splayed on the ground, he scampered back to the briefcase in a state of confusion. He nudged and pushed the briefcase with his nose, then realizing its futility, he bounded into the house to look for Serene.

She emerged from the bedroom, swept the startled baby from the baby walker into her bosom and paced agitatedly about the living room. A quick check and Dick confirmed that Danny was in the bathroom. What should he do? He had done something terribly wrong. But what was it? Why wouldn’t Serene talk to him? Stop pacing; he wanted to yell as he pranced to and fro in step with the anxious lady. What demons are battling in the heart and mind of the woman? Stop and talk to me! He whimpered as he rubbed his head against her ankle.

Finally Serene stopped pacing. Her eyes looked hard and uncompromising. She had made a great decision and Dick feared the worst. She marched into the baby’s room and gathered some baby items into a bag and lifted the car keys from the dining table. Where was she going? Dick was in a panic now. Was she taking him along?

As Serene manoeuvred the baby into the baby sitter, Dick could contain himself no longer. He stood at the driveway and whined and barked. Yes he was sorry now. He wouldn’t do it again. He would not touch the bloody briefcase any more. He swore on the grave of his canine ancestors. Promise!

Serene paused to look down at Dick. She bent a little to stroke his face and Dick could see the slight trace of tears in her eyes.

‘It’s not your fault,’ she whispered grimly. ‘I’m going to Grandma’s place now for a little while. Okay?’

‘Woof! Woof!’

That was not okay. Dick was worried now. This was not part of the weekday routine. Dick wanted an explanation. But his cries fell on deaf ears.

‘Good boy, now.’ Serene patted his head, led him back into the house and drove off with the baby to Grandma’s home.

H