Not too long after that the sky went grey and the thunderdog started howling. I skedaddled into my box. Mom looked at me sadly. Sorry Fudges, she said.
Poked my head out and looked back at her – sorry for what? What have you done?
She walked out of her office. But instead of going to the kitchen to start making dinner, she went into the bedroom and started foofling with her clothes.
Gave her the nose. Oi! Not now. It’s dinner time.
But you’ve had your dinner Fudge. That’s why I fed you ages ago. You know you get all scaredy pants when there’s thunder. You slobber and snort and can’t eat a thing.
Oh! Yes – that’s right – I forgot.
Mom continued foofling in her cupboard. She hauled out a dress and got changed. Gave her another nose. Oi! What’s this? You can’t go out and abandon your precious doglet to the thunderdog?
Mom looked sad some more. Sorry Fudgie, she said. Alpha’s got an important function and I have to go with him. You are going to have to don your big girl furry brookies and deal with that thunderdog all on your own for a couple of hours.
She closed the windows and curtains to make it more soundproof.
Started to hyperventilate. Gave a pathetic little squeal. Slobbered on her nice shoes a bit.
Noooooo… don’t leave me.
Then there was a funny clack clacking sound on the window.
Just then her phone rang. It was Alpha asking her to open the garage door for his little car.
We opened the garage and looked outside. Large white stones were bouncing around on the driveway. Alpha drove in.
It started to hail even more. Bigger white stones.
We stood on the stoep and watched. Mom looked at Alpha. We can’t go to Joburg in this weather. Alpha looked a bit uncertain. But then the hail stones got even bigger. Almost as big as my tennis balls.
Mom made a face. Now I’m going to have to make dinner instead of eating those snacks after the talk.
So they stayed home with me. Mom’s poor little car got lots of dents in it from all the huge hail stones.
*As told to Ginny Stone
