But in the car park at the old people’s home, Rosie was determined to go with him. She leaped onto his lap, crashing the cone against his face and scrabbling at his thighs with her claws. Leon tried to calm her, but she yelped wildly and he couldn’t shove her away. When he opened the door, she barrelled out too, and it was all he could do to hold on to her. The cone was clearly bothering her, so he took it off, keeping the cord coiled round his wrist so she couldn’t escape. He tried to coax her back into the car, but she ducked and weaved and shrank onto the ground. Leon was afraid to force her in case he damaged her wound. Now he was faced with the problem of where to put her while he went inside. He contemplated tying her up but was frightened she would slip her collar. It would be a disaster if she ended up being hit by a car. He wondered if the receptionist might come out and hold her for a few moments, but there was no one at the front desk.

Exasperated, he stood by the sliding doors, waiting for somebody to emerge. Five minutes passed. The dog sat, panting up at him happily—she was a different person now the cone was off. In the end, Leon took her in with him. The foyer and front office were deserted—it was probably dinnertime—and maybe he would get away with a quick walk down the corridor to Grandpa’s room to collect whatever the old man so desperately needed to give him. He might just pull it off.

Everything went well until he found Grandpa’s room empty. Either Leon had to search for the old man, or give up. But having come this far, he was bold enough to go on. With Rosie trotting alongside, he slunk towards the lounge room where several old people sat slumped and half-asleep in massive armchairs. It only took one of them to notice Rosie, and suddenly the whole room was awake. ‘Would you look at that?’ a creaky voice announced. ‘It’s a dog.’

Leon was planning his escape, but all around craggy faces lit up and thin lips split into gaping smiles. Departure was not an option. Rosie was on display.

‘Can you bring her over here, sonny?’ a crinkled old woman called.