I still recall the day Arthur first spied the stray dog curled on the stone bench and rushed over. In his haste he slipped the thin leather strap that Eleanor had carelessly tossed aside, and the animal glanced up at its owner with a mournful, pleading stare.
For almost two years the brother and sister had barely spoken. Eleanor never understood how a trifle could have blossomed into such a bitter quarrel.
Eleanor and Edward Ramsay were born a year apart. From childhood they were inseparable, always watching each other’s backs. No matter what mischief they got into, they shared the blame equally and never left the other to take the fall.
Their home village, Bramley, grew steadily year after year, flourishing under the guidance of its longtime steward, George Whitaker, a native son who proved himself a shrewd agricultural adviser.
After finishing his studies in agronomy, George returned to Bramley and threw himself into village work. His diligence was soon recognised, and a decade later he was appointed head of the parish council.
Private life favoured him as well. When Eleanor completed her training at the local nursing school, she took a post as a junior nurse in the village clinic. George could not ignore such a bright young woman, and Eleanor returned his interest. They married, and the whole village celebrated the wedding. Edward was genuinely happy for his sister, though his own marriage to Nora was anything but a smooth sail.
While Eleanor was still a teenager, Nora would mutter snide remarks at her, calling her useless or pretentious. After their marriage, envy replaced the sniping. Nora began demanding more a larger house, a flashier car, finer furnishings.
Edward often complained, Everyone else seems to have everything, while we have nothing at all! He did his utmost, yet Noras wishes could not be satisfied by money nor by effort.
Nora too was unhappy: she had never known the blessing of motherhood. Meanwhile Eleanors life unfolded happily she married, bore a son and then a daughter, built a roomy cottage, and her husband earned a respectable rank.
Family gatherings grew fraught with argument. Whenever Edward visited Eleanors home, Nora would immediately start hounding him with sharp words.
The final scandal broke on Edwards birthday. Eleanor presented him with a Labrador puppy she had brought from towna longdesired companion. George, in turn, gifted him a sleek new motorbike.
All seemed well until an intoxicated Nora erupted in fury and poured all her pentup venom on Eleanor:
Come on, Ellie! The dogwhats that about? If there are no children, why not just get a dog instead, eh?
Ellie tried to soothe her: Nora, calm down. Later youll see the folly of this
But her words fell on deaf ears. A huge argument erupted, the guests split into two camps, and George whispered to his wife that they should leave. After the guests departed, the pair slipped away from the celebration.
Two years passed. That evening Edward began to keep his distance from his sister; their contact was reduced to a few brief, rare meetings. Tension also rose between him and Nora.
At night Edward more often walked down to the river with Rover. The two seemed content: Edward would toss a stick, Rover would sprint after it, then lie at his feet and listen to his quiet stories.
The neighbours knew of this, but Eleanor did nothing Edward remained stubbornly set in his ways.
After that illfated quarrel Noras hatred for Eleanor, and for the dog she had given, grew deeper. When Edward was away she would drive Rover out of the house, hurl at him, and sometimes even strike him.
The nosy neighbours added fuel to the fire:
Did you hear, Nora? Your husbands been strolling by the river with the dog again
Just yesterday he ran into Ellie, the kids, and they were all laughing together!
Jealousy consumed Nora completely. One day Edward asked, Nora, arent you hurting Rover?
Do I need your dog? she snapped, then stormed out of the room.
Rover began to avoid Nora, trembling whenever she entered.
Everything came to a head one morning when Edward, fed up, shouted:
Ive had enough of this endless envy!
Seething with anger, Nora dragged Rover into the yard, tied him to a bench, and slit his collar. The poor animal whimpered in pain. After venting her rage, she flung the rope aside, packed a bag and left the house for good.
That evening Edward returned home to find the yard in disarray. By the bench he discovered Rover, his leg trapped in a snarl of rope. He freed the dog quickly, cradled him, and hurried to the clinic.
Eleanor was just about to leave for home when she saw her brother holding the bleeding animal:
Ellie, help me Edward pleaded hoarsely.
They carried Rover into the treatment room. Eleanor examined him carefully:
Who did this?
Nora Edward lowered his gaze.
Eleanor nodded silently, stitched the wounds, cleaned his eyes, and gave him water.
Later, in the hallway, Edward whispered apologetically,
Forgive me, Ellie
Enough now, she smiled wearily. And Nora?
Nonever again, he promised.
Eleanor called George:
George, could you come over, please?
As soon as he heard his wifes exhausted voice, George was on his way.
Half an hour later he stood in the corridor. Seeing the siblings huddled together, with Rover whimpering softly, he said:
Come on, my heroes.
They took Edward home and gave him advice on caring for the dog.
When Eleanor recounted the whole affair to their mother, the old woman sighed:
They should have gone their separate ways long ago.
She turned and walked to her son to help tidy the house.
In the evening, Edward sat on the sofa, stroking Rover. Their mother entered, patted both of them:
You both alive?
Alive, Edward replied.
From the kitchen drifted the comforting aroma of roast beef and fresh vegetables. Rover nudged Edwards hand with his nose, wagged his tail, and Edward smiled, rising to his feet.
Life went on, as it always does.
