Martha

Martha stepped out of the front door, coat buttoned up against the elements ready to face what ever the day ahead threw at her.

Dan was also leaving to go to work and he closed the door after them. The air was fresh and the sky was blue and as she walked her breath formed small moist clouds in front of her.

As she made her way down the leafy lane that ran parallel to her house, she was greeted as always by the small groups of children that passed her this time of day on their way to school. Their endless chatter, punctuated by shrieks and giggles always made her happy and buoyed her up for the day.

Martha got on the bus. It was on time and as usual she had to stand, however she didn’t mind today as she had made eye contact with a little boy sitting on his mother’s lap. They pulled funny faces to each other and the little boy chuckled and gurgled with delight while the bus pushed its way through the morning rush hour.

Arriving at work there was the usual crowd in the kitchen. Kettles were being boiled, toast was being buttered and papers were being read. The morning passed quickly and, as Martha didn’t have to go out today, she ate her lunch in the kitchen in the company of her friends and colleagues.

All too soon she was on the bus home. This time there was no little boy to smile at but no matter. She was tired and all she really wanted to do was have some supper and sleep.

Arriving home with Dan, Martha relaxed in front of the fire that Sally had lit earlier then ate her tea with both her friends listening as they chatted about the day’s events.

Sitting down beside Martha, Dan ruffled her hair.

‘You alright girl?’ it was more of a statement than a question.

Martha looked at Dan, her eyes smiling.

“Be bedtime soon, old thing. Early start tomorrow I’m afraid as the centre are having the annual fund raising day and we need to be there bright and early to set it up.”

Dan stood up and, after putting the guard around the dying embers of the fire and making sure it was safe, he hugged Martha tightly and kissed the top of her head. Taking Sally’s hand they went upstairs.

Martha stretched out on the rug and closed her eyes. She heard Dan and Sally moving around above her getting ready for bed and her tail gently thumped on the floor in recognition. Annual fund raising days were always great fun as lots of her friends from other blind centres came and she loved getting together with them and their owners but for now tomorrow was another day and she just wanted to sleep.