Quandary

 

I visited Jack’s owner yesterday in Hospital.  She is Maori, from Hastings and has no whanau here. She opened up.   Her story was tragic and made me realise that hard though things have been for me, comparatively I am an icon of normality and have had an idyllic life.   The one thing stable in her life is her relationship with her beloved Jack.

That he is such a good and well behaved dog tells me a lot about her too.

Now I’m in the poop. I came home from work yesterday evening to find my gate open and Jack gone. I spent every spare moment and every daylight hour hunting for him.  He has been sighted round the town but every time I go there he has moved on.

I am sure he will find his way back eventually.

Dilemma.  I have just had a text from his owner. Her transfer to Albany hospital has been postponed until Monday so she would really like for Jack and I to go for a walk with her tomorrow. I am torn between telling the truth, and perhaps setting back her treatment, and making some excuse such as Jack and I are already on our way to Exmouth for the weekend.

What to do?