“He’s just getting used to it. They said that will get better after the first few days. As good as a regular dog.”

I scratch him under the chin. He wobbles a bit and I help him down onto his side. He lies down with a soft huff and is asleep almost immediately.

“Everything okay?” Lucy pops her head round the door. She takes in the spilled tea and Splinter sleeping on the floor and smiles. “I see you’ve met Splinter.”

Old-you gives a tight smile. “Yes.”

I scratch his side gently with my toes. “He’s sleeping a lot at the moment. It’s the pain medication.” His side where his leg used to be twitches in his sleep. “And maybe the shock.”

“Well, losing a limb would be an adjustment for any creature, I suppose.” Old-you peers at Splints sleeping on the floor.

“He’s still a bit wobbly with sitting.” I think about him crashing into the door. “And standing.” I consider the last day he’s been back. “And lying down and getting up.”

“Sounds like a lot of work—”

“He’s a bit clumsy at the moment,” Lucy agrees. “But the vets tell us he’ll be as good as new when the pain settles down, a few days, apparently. They’re remarkably resilient, dogs.”

“He gets his stitches out in a week.”

“Well, it’s good of you to take such good care of him. You’ve been remarkable. Two children, work and a handicapped dog.” Old-you puts out a hand to touch Lucy’s arm.

“He’s not handicapped.”

“Pardon?”

“He’s not handicapped. He’s a tri-pawed.”

Old-you laughs at that. “Tri-pawed. That’s great.” She smiles at sleeping Splinter. “A tri-pawed dog.”

Lucy gives me a wink and leaves us to it. Old-you gets out of her chair and crouches beside Splints. She pats his head gently. He opens an eye and gives her a half lick, before going back to sleep again.

“I’m not really a dog person. I’ve never had one of my own.” She watches him sleeping, strokes his ear. “He’s very soft, isn’t he? He doesn’t look like he’d be soft.” I watch her patting him. “So, I assume he’s named after Master Splinter from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles?”

I look at her in surprise. “Yes.”

“Hmm.” She runs her hand gently over Splinter’s neck. “They’re still around, are they?”

I shrug. “I think so.”

She peers up at me. “Well, that’s a strange answer. Either they are or they aren’t. Don’t you watch them?”

“Not really. I didn’t name him. Mum did.”

She smiles. “Your mum loved those turtles growing up.”

I don’t know what to say to that. I just nod.