I sighed. I loved our dog, but maybe I’d just have to live with the fact that he preferred my brother’s company. All the reading I’d done on cats and dogs had told me it was common for pets to prefer one owner over another. And I didn’t want him to become a … a … I smiled. A bone that Aiden and I would fight over. That was the phrase.

‘What else can he do?’ I asked.

Aiden stood and clicked his fingers. Z jumped to his feet and sat at Aiden’s, tail wagging, looking up in adoration. At another hand command he went around Aiden’s legs and sat to his left, facing me.

‘Impressive,’ I said.

Aiden smiled. ‘Oh, there’s more. Ready, sis?’

‘Sure.’

My brother pointed at me. ‘Go,’ he said.

Zorro didn’t hesitate. He darted at me and sank his teeth into the calf of my right leg. It was so unexpected, I didn’t even feel the pain for a second or two. Then I yelled.

‘Leave,’ shouted Aiden and the dog let go, sat down, tail wagging and looking up at me as if expecting praise.

‘What the hell, Aiden?’ I shouted. I bent over and examined my leg. A small dribble of blood oozed from a couple of puncture marks.

‘God, sorry, Ash,’ said Aiden. He came over and knelt before me. ‘I didn’t mean for him to do that. He’s supposed to grab, but not with enough force to break the skin. I’m so sorry. Here, come on. Let’s get some antiseptic on that.’

It took me a few minutes to calm down. The wound wasn’t bad at all, little more than a scratch really, but it was the surprise more than anything that got to me. Aiden bathed the punctures and stuck on a band-aid.

‘Guess I need to rethink that bit of training,’ he said.

‘Guard dog’s good,’ I replied. ‘But not if he’s going to bite all of us. That’s not really the idea.’

‘Let’s keep this to ourselves, hey, Ash? I don’t want any more confrontation with Mum.’

I agreed, but couldn’t help but think confrontation was exactly what my brother seemed to be aiming for.

‘Aiden. You’ll be going into the clinic again tomorrow,’ said Dad over our vegetable curry. Mum was right. It was delicious and creamy and tasted of … well, I didn’t know vegetables could taste that good. I hoped she hadn’t used up all those spices in the one dish.

Aiden sat at the table with us. I felt sorry for him. That green stuff for every meal. Not even a chance of trying a curry. That was bad enough, but watching us eat it must be torture.

‘I thought I was done,’ said Aiden.