I have a new collection of poetry and short stories coming out later in the year, and as Life’s Rich Tapestry is now one year old, I thought I would share some stories from the collection over the next few weeks.

An Ugly Mutt.

Desmond Smith’s neighbours were rather curious as to the sudden appearance of a scruffy looking dog in the overgrown garden of his small cottage. The old man kept to himself and rarely instigated a conversation, barely muttering a good morning or afternoon when met in the lane. Following the sight of the new canine inhabitant of No. 6, they had to admit the old boy seemed to be less surly and more talkative after his arrival. On enquiring about the new addition to his household, whilst in the queue at the post office on pension day, Desmond offered up the explanation that the dog had been…