Clog: A Narrative Fiction

Doctor Pax bent and stroked the dog. ‘Here, put this collar around him. I removed it from the other dog.’
Clemmie fixed the collar in place but froze when she straightened the tag. She rubbed her thumb against the brass. Her dry skin caught on the engraved letters which stood proud of the smooth surface. A choked noise came from her throat as she felt her mind drift to somewhere just out of reach.
‘Can you remember something?’ Doctor Pax’s voice interrupted her thoughts and she shook her head to clear the mist.
‘There was something...something bad. It was like...no...no...it’s gone.’
'Do you remember anything about Clog? He was shot in the chest.'
‘I see these flashes. I remember Granfer kicked Clog. I’m in a dark tunnel…then my mind goes blank.’
'It’s okay. It’s completely natural to get flashbacks until your memory returns. Take Clog upstairs. He’ll want to sleep so take it easy with him.'
'Thank you, Doctor Pax.'
She loved her pet pug, and once you've been pugged, there's no going back. Clemmie looked down and smiled as the dog waddled by her side. His tongue hung out as his short legs tried to match her longer pace.
They reached the main hall where they found Mrs P with a duster in her hand.
‘And who is this little fella?’ she asked.
‘This is my dog, Clog. He will shake your hand if you ask him nicely.’
Mrs P laughed when Clog shook her hand. She stoked his head and tickled his tummy when he rolled over.
Clog yawned then blinked his eyes. She carried him the rest of the way upstairs and into the games room. At the doorway, she stood and gawped because the other children had made a makeshift tent out of old sheets.
‘Look! It’s a dog!’ Kipp shouted when she walked into the room.
‘This is my dog Clog. He’s just come through Heartsease.’
Clemmie huddled under the tent with Clog asleep on her knees.
‘We’re glad you’re back,’ Fox said. ‘We’re making plans to create a gang. A secret gang that...’
‘Once Clemmie designs the treehouse, we can use it as our headquarters,’ butted in Fish.
Kipp added, ‘We can have our own password so nobody else can go inside.’
'What will we call our gang?' asked Pam.
'I don’t know,' mumbled Fox as he munched on an apple.
They all tried to think of a name for their gang.
'Why don't we call ourselves Clog’s Club?' volunteered Boffin. Clog twitched his nose at the sound of his name.
'Oh, yes! Awesome name!' said Floyd.
'Hand’s up who agrees on Clog’s Club?' asked Boffin.
It was at that exact moment when Clog raised his head.
'Woof!'
'That's settled then,' said Pam as she laughed with the others. 'Clog has taken the vote out of our hands. Clog's Club it is.'
Clemmie’s heart felt fit to burst. She was so happy.
At that moment, Gentine walked inside the door with a large box of old clothes.
‘Pebbles, you’re needed downstairs straight away. Go and meet Harmonie in the dining room.’
Clemmie waved her friend goodbye and then joined the others around the box of clothes.
‘It’s time for an impromptu play, so go and choose your costumes’ Gilt said from the door. She wore the floppiest hat Clemmie had ever seen. Magpie popped his head around the door. The children laughed because he wore a black eye patch and pirates hat.
‘Ahoy, me hearties! Who’s going to walk the plank
first?’