Gabriel's Tale - Chapter 9: On to Hawkshead

Chapter 9 – On to Hawkshead

It was late in the day when Gabriel finally arrived in Hawkshead.  He’d stayed off the road and instead followed a footpath.  He hadn’t wanted to be caught as a stray dog and jailed.  That did not prove to be a wise choice, however.  He’d been distracted by a movement in the grass, and forgetting his mission, gave chase only to end up in a weedy pond!  It turned out to be a frog he’d followed into what he thought merely a patch of high grass.



Much to his dismay he scrambled out to the sounds of much croaking that sounded like laughter to his wounded pride.  Looking like a drowned rat Gabriel quickly shook himself dry.


As weary as he was he was determined to press on until he found a way to hitch a ride to Scotland.  Sally had told him there were lorries there.  He just had to find one returning to Scotland that evening.  Without looking back he decided to risk the main road.

Once in town, t o his relief,  he noticed several other dogs roaming about.  One, a large hound, was snapping up a scrap of meat fallen from a diner’s sandwich at the outdoor café.  Gabriel trotted up confidently, looking his most beseeching.  Just when he thought a kind-looking lady was about to give him something the hound bared his teeth and gave a low growl—“Grrrrrr.”  Gabriel bowed his head and backed away slowly—into a tree, looking foolish once again—where he lay down to wait.  Hopefully, the hound would get his fill and eventually leave. 

It was dark when Gabriel awoke.  The village green was deserted.  His stomach was rumbling, and no lorries were in sight.  At least now, he thought, he might be able to find some scraps of food in the alley behind the café.  So, he pulled himself up on his still-tired legs and headed for the alley.  Finding Poetry was proving to be much more difficult than he’d ever imagined. Once he found something to eat maybe he wouldn’t feel so hopeless.

He let his nose guide him until he found a garbage can already turned over onto its side.  He approached it with caution.  Slowly and lightly he crept closer.  Yummm…He could tell it was beef scraps.  Suddenly, without warning, Gabriel found himself tackled by a—cat!  A very large tomcat who was hissing in his ear and clutching him around his neck!

They rolled down the alley together---Gabriel struggling to free himself from the cat’s clutches.  Finally, they came to rest at the bottom of the lane against a high stone wall.  “What do you think you’re doin’ dog?” the cat screeched.  “This is my turf!”  Gabriel looked sufficiently frightened that the cat—Theodore he would soon learn—took pity on him and released him.  Gabriel stammered, “I…I didn’t know.  I….I’m sorry.  I….It’s just I haven’t eaten all day.” And then he began to cry.  

“Oh, geesh,” the cat mumbled.  “You make me feel like a cad.  Where are you from?”  So Gabriel blurted out the whole story while Theodore invited him back to the scraps of beef left behind in the alley.  Soon Gabriel ate his fill and thanked Theodore who further amazed him when he offered Gabriel a place to sleep for the night just around the corner.  Gabriel fell asleep with a promise from his new friend that he’d find a ride to Scotland.

©CathyGilleylenSchultz

Chapter 10:  Edinburgh?