It was a Thursday evening and Martin and Sandy were both sitting at the kitchen table eating a rapidly put together meal. The brief contact with Martin and Maria had been three days ago. The twins were in bed and hopefully sound asleep .There was a knock on the door and they both went outside to answer it , both of them were on tenterhooks not really knowing what to expect.
They were quite disappointed that there was no one there ;only a parcel which lay in the porch. Neither Martin or Sandy were expecting any delivery, so they took the parcel into the kitchen and Sandy looked on as Martin opened it. Inside the cardboard box was a very old, mobile phone with a charger, some sims and a business card.
P.Neel and Family , Organic Greengrocers
Superfood Delivery Specialists ( We deliver to suit You)
The business card had a weekly delivery slot time of Friday 7.00pm written in blue ink on the reverse.
Martin examined the mobile phone and remembered an article that he had read about Criminals using offline mobile networks and the Government attempts to stop their use being largely ineffective. Martin’s specific area of interest had been stolen archaeological artefacts so he was very aware of this out of date technology and how effective it was at keeping protagonists under the radar of anyone trying to find out their activity and location. The sims were changed frequently and were nigh impossible to trace. Martin told Sandy that it was probably only going to be for emergency use, but it was from the people who had Alex. Sandy immediately put the phone on charge. The business card said they should expect a delivery tomorrow.
Sandy sensed Martin’s trepidation and acknowledged that his reactions and feelings towards Alex were complex. There was something that neither of them had addressed or talked about. Where had this gene defect of Alex’s come from? Both Sandy and Martin as A2’s had been screened and although the Doctor had given them the get out card about the environment, Martin had had every right to ask Sandy about being unfaithful to him, but he never had. She was keeping something back from him and he knew it. Sandy thought that if they were about to be embroiled in a fight to get Alex back, would Martin feel as strongly about it as she did?
Martin had never pursued Alex’s paternity with her. He was surprised that the Authorities had not dug deeper and questioned Sandy. Martin had wondered why at the meeting about Alex’s future, the origin of the gene defect had been brushed over, and though he sensed Sandy’s embarrassment, no one had addressed it. It crossed his mind that the father could be an A1 and that the whole thing was a charade , a big cover up. He loved Sandy and whatever the truth he had chosen his life with her and that was what he wanted.
The truth, which Sandy would have shared if Martin had asked was seedy and she regretted every moment. It had been a one night stand on a business trip. Out of the blue she’d been given a short piece on a Travel Programme about Northern Spain to do and she was on location with the crew. The main presenter was Gerry Reid. Gerry was one of the old Grandees of the presenting World. An older man who apart from his fame and the fact that he’d never married, she knew little about. Sandy had drunk a lot and was flattered by his attention and had perhaps hoped that he might help her with her career. The opposite had been true. He hardly spoke to her after that night, and her piece was never used. Sandy decided to put it down to experience and move on . She loved Martin. They were trying for a baby even if it was by artificial insemination. She hated herself for making Martin do that , but she felt so confused and degraded.
Martin had suspected that he wasn’t Alex’s father. He was certain Sandy had been unfaithful to him at a time when perhaps they had grown distant from each other , but he did not know with who or where. He only sensed that whatever had happened had not been a good experience for Sandy. They both lived such busy lives and both were away from home or on training courses. Hotels, Business Meetings and Conferences. Everyone was at it, he just hadn’t been tempted. Life was like the Discovery Channel and we were all basically just mammals had been his conclusion.
Sandy’s subsequent behaviour and the trauma of losing Alex made him think that she regretted what had come between them. She had changed, she was more attentive and less critical and that was all Martin had wanted. The twins arrived and everything was good between them. Sandy and him were fine. We all make mistakes and Alex had not been a mistake, but his subsequent fate had been out of Sandy’s and Martin’s control.
The situation that had unfolded in recent days though had changed circumstances seismically. Martin figured that the people who were going to look after Alex would want maintenance money. Once he knew for sure what they wanted he and Sandy would have to have one of the toughest conversations he could ever imagine. He would need to know who Alex’s father was. He hoped that their relationship would survive.
It was a cold day in January, Martin had just parked his car and was heading into the house. Just as he placed the key in the door a young woman approached him and touched him gently on the shoulder.
“Martin Smith, are you Martin Smith?” She said with an urgency like rapid gun fire.
“Yes, that’s me , what can I do for you?” He turned to look at the person who had approached him, Martin was relieved when she took a step backwards.
“My name is Maria Turner, I know your wife Sandy, I just wanted to let you know that Alex is safe, he is with us.”
This was news Martin did not really want to hear. He turned and faced Maria.
What do you mean? Alex is dead, our son is dead. Who are you? I don’t want you upsetting my wife. We’ve been through enough. We’re OK as we are.” Martin turned and put his hand on the key and turned it , the front door opened.
Maria said sharply.” We’ve got your little boy, we rescued him from them and now we need your help.”
” Alex was taken away from us, he was cared for by the authorities, we couldn’t look after him ourselves. He was a very sick little boy”. He pushed the door open to go into the house.
” Alex is alive” Maria again touched Martin’s elbow, Martin turned around.
Maria continued ” We know you lost the signal, but there is a window of opportunity just before the children go to the final processing stage where we can rescue them from certain death. We were able to do this for Alex. His original chip was removed, he is at one of our secure research and development facilities, being well cared for. It his best chance. The authorities are killing children : “healthy” children. We have to stop them.
Martin had the opportunity to enter the house and close the door on Maria’s face, he chose not to.
“Alex was not a healthy boy, we couldn’t have cared for him. We have two other children now.” He looked at Maria, and reached for the door with his hand to close it.
Maria opened the bag she was carrying and handed him a photo. It was Alex. He looked about four years old now, pale and skinny but smiling and being held comfortably by a stranger. Alex held on tightly to his favourite toy elephant, the one Sandy had insisted on putting in his little suitcase when she was packing for him to go away.
“That’s him, he’s a very happy little boy, we saved him Martin. I know it’s a lot to take in, so keep the picture. I’ll let you think it over. We will get back in touch , you must let Sandy know. Be aware though, that if the authorities find out he’s alive, they will kill him, or denature him as they like to call it. We have pictures also of that and the facilities the Government use, they are not pretty. Goodbye for now.” Maria turned and walked away quickly.
Martin closed the door behind him and walked into the hallway clutching the photograph of Alex. Sandy wasn’t home, she would be late back from work and the twins were staying with Sandy’s mother for a few days. Martin had time to think. He sat down on the kitchen chair and put his head in his hands and burst into tears . He held Alex’s photograph and looked at it as he sobbed. Eventually when the tears had stopped he felt exhausted. He put the picture on the table and got up and boiled the kettle to make himself coffee.
Many thoughts and different scenarios went through Martin’s mind as he sipped his coffee. Alex was alive and looked well but according to what he and Sandy had been told he should be dead. Sandy will want him home with his family no doubt. The Authorities obviously would not want that or indeed permit it.
Whoever had Alex , would have to keep him and look after him. Perhaps there could be visiting rights. What help could him and Sandy be, probably financial, but they had no money, everything was accounted for . It was all monitored everything was online, the Government knew where every penny went, there was no way they could use any of their earnings for this , it would be discovered very quickly, and what would the Authorities do? Was Maria telling the truth? It was difficult to know. Martin thought it all through but could not see an answer or indeed what they could do next. He closed his eyes and let his mind wonder.
He woke up from a deep sleep and raised his head from the kitchen table . Sandy was standing over him.
” Alex, it’s Alex” She cried out, her hand reached out for the photograph. Martin straightened himself up in the chair and handed the photograph to Sandy, she held it up to her face and kissed it.
” My beautiful little boy, when was this taken? He’s grown, he’s grown so big and what a big smile!”
Martin stood up and turned to Sandy.
” Sand, this is going to get very complicated, Alex is alive, a lady called Maria said that she knew you….”
” Yes , there was a Maria who I spoke to initially about the chip, but I never heard anymore from her, it was all very hush, hush.”
” Well , whoever has Alex, Maria didn’t or wouldn’t give me any details other than to say he was safe and well, will be back in touch with us, until then we don’t need to make any decisions….”
” Decisions? I want my baby back. What the hell is going on?”
” Sandy, we have to be careful, whatever has happened to Alex, well he is still in danger, we have to know all our options. “
Sandy calmed down and Martin brushed some loose hair that had fallen on Sandy’s forehead, onto her temple. They held each other and Sandy began to sob…there was nothing to say, he knew they that they were faced with an uncertain future and had to wait, but she looked at the photograph again.
” My Alex, my gorgeous little boy, he looks well. ” Sandy sobbed and put her head on Martin’s shoulder. She began to sob uncontrollably
Cross fiddled with the pen on his desk as he looked out from the Palace Office’s window, he could see Tedi ,Tizzie, Duke, Trinnie, Blaze and Marmie charging around the Quadrangle like the young dogs they were. They were about two and a half years old ;all of them .They had been born on the same day. They all played happily together and the Palace staff had fed watered and cleaned up after them. No one minded as they were such a friendly bunch of dogs although there was always a lot of rough and tumble and things very often looked chaotic.
Cross had realized that Security was an issue now for all the dogs at the House. There had been so much Publicity about the Inheritance and the subsequent events that had meant Tedi was the Head of the Household and the “Crazy Gang” as Cross liked to call him were his pack. Paparazzi had broken into the grounds a number of times trying to take pictures, but Cross knew there were worse thing such as dognapping that could happen and he was determined to keep all the dogs safe.
Cross returned to perusing his diary and papers. It was time to set in motion the old Duke’s plan of having an animal sanctuary and also to reinstate the annual “Pet and Livestock Show” which the Duke and Duchess had held for many years, until it was harshly cancelled during the Australians brief tenure at the Estate supposedly because of the costs associated with running it. The new date had to be decided , it was going to be some time next year. Suddenly a thought flashed through his mind.
” We should have a village meeting , that would be a good start, they’ll know the best time and we’ll need volunteers to help. “
Cross leapt up from his chair and looked at his calendar. He would send an e-mail to each of the villagers asking for them to meet and go from there. He quickly composed an e-mail and just as he pressed the send button a little head appeared around the open door to his office.
Cross looked around .”Tedi! how are you? Did you have a good play?”
Tedi wandered into the office nonchalantly, he was tired and thirsty after running around and immediately went to his water bowl.” Loud slurping sounds of the water being lapped up echoed around the office and once he had finished he shook his whiskers to get the excess water off. He then went over to his bed in the corner and plonked himself down and stared at Cross.
” Well , good Sir, would you like an update” Cross looked back at Tedi.
Tedi moved one of his paws forward which meant he was ready to listen.
” OK, well as you can imagine, we have had quite a lot of letters from all sorts of people, but I’ve chosen a few which I think might be of interest. “
” Firstly we’ve had a lot of requests for the ” Pet and Livestock Show ” to become an Annual Event at the Palace again. You will of course be it’s Patron and I’ve started gathering together some information. My idea is that we should have a meeting with the villagers at the White Lion next Sunday evening at 7.30pm. You’ll have to come . I’ve sent out invitations to the villagers.”
Tedi moved his paw forward.
” Great , well we can sort out the arrangements later on , but I’m sure the whole village will turn out .”
“Also , I’ve had a letter from James our ex livestock and land manager. You never knew James but he used to run our Kennels and Cattery Rescue and Fostering Centre. He was wondering if there were any plans to reintroduce the “Show” and if so ,could he have his old job back. He used to be my right hand when it came to looking after all the animals we had in the old days. “
Tedi was getting tired, but had no doubt that James was the right person for the job if Cross thought so. He gave a little yelp of approval and at the same moment Cross glanced over at him, Tedi was sprawled on his bed fast asleep.
” I’ll take that as a yes then, young Sir!” Cross smiled. He knew Tedi could cope with no more than two or three questions in a session and he could tell when Tedi was giving his “approval” and when he was having one of his “dreams”.
Cross had been given the approval yelp. Now though Tedi needed his nap and Cross continued at his desk working on the endless paperwork that needed to be completed to enable the Estate to run smoothly.
Alex’s assessment day went according to plan and exactly as Moira had described it. The building where Martin, Sandy and Alex were dropped off by the taxi was exactly like a Government building, although once inside it seemed suitably child friendly with pictures on the wall , child size furniture and a good selection of toys in reception. Alex was in good form and by now being nearly two was crawling and quite enjoying himself. After about a fifteen minute wait, two obviously separate groups of people came into reception. There were two men in suits following a very smartly dressed young lady. The lady introduced herself and the gentlemen as part of the assesssment team and explained that the two young women who followed slightly behind them and were dressed in casual clothing would take Alex to the play room.
The smart young lady turned to Alex and said
” You prepared the Suitcase as requested, just in case your little boy needs to stay overnight for tests.”
Sandy nodded and handed the case to one of the casually dressed girls. The other girl had knelt down and was asking Alex about the tractor and the bricks he was playing with.
” We’ve got a bigger tractor next door, would you like to see it?” She smiled. Alex was smitten.
He looked up at Sandy as if to say was it alright, but Sandy didn’t get a chance to say anything . One of the men said
” My that’s a great idea! You seem a clever little chap, definately, you’ll like the tractor next door. Yes!”
Alex still looked at his mum, but it was too late, the young girl lifted Alex up and whisked him off. All Sandy and Martin saw was him disappearing behind two swing doors. Alex turned and looked at them both, he seemed unsure.
“I put his medication in the suitcase, he’ll be due some in 3 hours.” Sandy said to the smartly dressed woman.
” Oh that’ ll be fine, don’t worry. We have his full medical records on file, the girls will make sure he get’s it. Or perhaps you can give it to him yourself . Hopefully we’ll have sorted something out by then.
As things turned out they never saw Alex again that day. They had been interrogated like criminals, and the facade that they would be taking Alex home with them was kept up right until they were shown into a lift which took them back down to reception. They sat in reception an hour while their case notes were discussed. Finally the smartly dressed lady came down to reception and explained that Alex was going to be kept in for “tests”, there was nothing to worry about and someone would be in touch.
No one ever did get in touch with Sandy and Martin. After three weeks , they received a formal Government letter saying that Alex was to be placed in permanent residential care and that it would be better, it was felt, as he was so young that there would be no further contact with his natural parents, he would be well looked after and would get the best of care for his limited life. Meanwhile they recommended a course of fertility treatment and that as Alex could no longer qualify for the incentive payments, the sooner this was started the better.
Sandy was prepared for the harshness of the letter, Martin despaired but what could he do?
On Moira’s advice Sandy had arranged for Alex to be microchipped by an underground agency who were known for gathering information and protesting about missing children. Sandy had found them online with Moira’s help. There had been an Cable programme made about such organisations and Moira was able to access the archives .The chip was not traceable , the Authorities always scanned for them. The only reason the chip would stop transmitting was because it was destroyed in a fire, a crematorium fire. The child would have passed then. This was explained bluntly to Sandy over an automated encrypted phone call , Sandy felt drained at not being able to ask questions or respond, she just sat silently and listened to the computer generated voice, it was Alex’s only lifeline, so she persisted , it broke her heart.
Sandy and Martin, with their finances again affected by not officially having any offspring continued with their lives and with the fertility treatment. Sandy became pregnant with the Twins and a year after the assessment meeting on a dark , cold , winter’s night Sandy told Martin that Alex’s tracker signal had stopped. They both felt helpless that they had been unable to save their son. The pain would never go away. Their priority now though was the twins and now that they had fulfilled their Statutory Procreational Obligations life must go on.
The next morning Cross headed out to see the ” family lawyer” and Tedi headed off back home to Mr and Mrs Graham as he did not want them to worry about him. Cross let Tedi out for what he thought was just a toilet break , but Tedi ran off across the grounds. Every now and then he looked back at Cross calling him , but he kept going. Cross knew that Tedi lived close buy from the Post Code on his collar tag, but he didn’t know exactly where. For now the priority was to speak to the Lawyer, which he was happy to do so , he had a feeling the little dog would be back. The Palace was his inheritance.
Tedi bounded through the small garden of Mr and Mrs Graham’s cottage.
Mr Graham spotted him before he got in the house and stopped him in his tracks.
” Where have you been, we’ve been worried sick, little one”
Tedi sat down and gave his paw to Mr Graham and looked up with his big eyes.
Mr Graham’s heart melted. ” Oh , you, I don’t know what you’ve been up to all night, but I for one am glad that you’re back safe and sound. Now don’t do it again, you hear! Come on let’s tell your mum you’re back she’ll be over the moon. You and I might get sausages for breakfast eh? ” The man and his dog headed into the kitchen.
Later that afternoon the Graham’s got a phone call; it was Cross , by making a few enquiries in the village Cross had established where the little puppy lived and arranged to visit Mr and Mrs Graham at their cottage and explained over a cup of tea the momentous news.
Tedi was the rightful owner of the Palace , and all the Estate relating to it. Everything was in Trust for him. There could be no legal challenge against the Estate as the paperwork quite clearly stated that it was a Trust for the Benefit of Marmaduke and his heirs. Tedi was Marmaduke’s heir there was no doubt about it. It would take a couple of months to remove the incumbent Australians, but their skullduggery had been discovered and they would be moving out and Tedi would take up his rightful place. Tedi’s adventures were just beginning.
That morning over a cup of tea, toast and sausages, the Graham’s couldn’t believe what they were hearing , but with the sad realization that their puppy most likely would be a visitor to their house , rather than “their little dog”. Tedi would have a much bigger role to play in the village and possibly further afield. They both agreed that Cross was the man to help him fulfil his destiny, and The Graham’s were grateful for that and the fact that as Cross explained, the threat of losing their home had gone forever.
It took a few months to remove the Australians , the Law was quite clear, however , and once the Media heard about the story then Cross and Tedi’s life became hectic and the villagers looked at the Papers excitedly when they saw pictures of those wicked Australians being evicted.
Before the Media Onset, Cross had researched through the Dogs Trust what had happened to Tedi’s brothers and sisters, as Marmaduke was known to have had a litter with his beloved Maisie. He was able to trace all the litter and once the owners heard the story, they were more than happy for their dogs to live in the “Big House ” as long as they were allowed to visit their dogs ocassionally. So , soon Tedi was reunited with Tizzie, Duke, Trinnie, Blaze and Marmie. Cross told their owners not only could they visit , but the House had a lot of rooms and they were more than welcome to stay for a Holiday with their dogs should they so wish.
And so began life at the big House for all the dogs and the people who knew them.
The Cuckoo in the Nest is a thriller set in the future where the precedent has been set to eradicate inherited diseases and create what is seen as the “perfect society”. There are strong Global forces to achieve this but also a strong resistance whose aim is to stop the “cleaning up ” of Global Society and to protect those innocents whose lives are threatened by the sanitisation of the human genome.
Unwittingly a Couple in their thirties from London become embroiled in the fight, when trying to protect one of their own offspring from being denatured. Sandy, the mother of the boy, realises the danger her son is in and already being in a media career , becomes an investigative journalist and with her husband, Martin they become involved in a secretive off-grid world, blackmail and unmasking the American Doctor, who on the face of it, appears to be saving the World, by being the Head of a Major Institution making headway by whatever means into ensuring these rogue genes are cleaned up. The realisation is that he is in fact seriously devoid of humanity and may actually be a very dangerous monster of a man.
Tedi gazed out of the large bay window at the top of the House. It was Tedi’s bedroom and was on the top floor at the back of the Palace Residential wing. He gazed out of the window , his head resting on a silk pillow embroidered with the letters TFM , delicately intertwined in fine gold, green and red thread. The motif was also on the fluffy fleece blanket which lay discarded on the floor and had fallen or being kicked off sometime during the night. It had been a warm night. The bed had been especially designed and fitted into the extensive windowsill by a local Carpenter , the view was superb .
Tedi surveyed, the panoramic landscape that he had spent many happy hours exploring . He knew by heart every tree and blade of grass , the types of wild animals and insects and the caves and hidden nooks . His eyes followed the stream that lead to the large lake and it brought back memories of paddling paw deep in the water and the excitement of being chased by the bad tempered swans and geese. Happy memories of warm sunny days.
Cross the butler would be up shortly to take him for his walk.
“Funny name Cross” he pondered, for the man who had looked after him and his interests for nigh on seventeen years and had never once said a cross word to him. Cross had came with the Palace, the arrangement had worked well over the years. Cross was a loyal and stalwart Butler. Tedi, shifted in his bed and thought , might as well have a snooze before Cross comes and as he dozed off he thought back to his younger days and the story of how he inherited this wonderful palace.
Tedi’s first visit to the Palace had been with his adopted mum and dad when he was just a Puppy. He had been newly adopted from the local Dog’s Trust and his mum and dad were taken aback when Tedi pulled relentlessly on his lead wanting to go into the Palace. It was early days with his training and they felt perhaps that he needed more time to learn his basic commands. So he was kept on lead despite his pulling in the direction of the big gate. They decided that a walk around the grounds would be a good idea to tire the little puppy out and then they would have coffee and a cake in the quadrangle restaurant.
At least that was the plan, little did they know that visiting the Palace had ignited a rush of memories in the little puppy’s head. Familiar smells, visions of men and women on horseback, kitchens, bedrooms, children in period dress. Were they ghosts or were they memories of what had been? Tedi did not know or care, he just knew that he had been there before and he felt an overwhelming draw to the place , he did not know it was a Palace. He sensed though, it was in his blood.
Mr and Mrs Graham finished their coffees more quickly then they had anticipated, as Tedi had been unsettled the whole of the time in the quadrangle café and had frankly spoiled their visit, they were relieved to wander back to their little cottage which was just on the edge of the Palace’s estate. When they got home and settled onto the sofa with their little dog, all was peaceful as Tedi was tired and he fell asleep on Mr Graham’s lap.
“He’s a funny little thing , isn’t he?” Mrs Graham said as she got up from the sofa.
” Yes, he is , we’ll have to persist with his training, I thought he was making progress, but today , well he wasn’t paying any attention to us. He nearly manoeuvred himself backwards out of his harness, I’m sure he would have been off into the kitchen if he could have.” Mr Graham replied.
“The kitchen! My that would have caused chaos. He really wanted to get into the Palace didn’t he? Shame they won’t let dogs in.” Mrs Graham said.
” Don’t think the Duke and Duchess would approve of their precious antique furniture having a leg cocked on it.”
” Honorary Duke and Duchess, they ain’t the real thing , not like in our day. Australian ain’t they? They don’t have Royalty , monied royalty , not proper royalty.”
This subject was a bone of contention between the couple, they had worked in the “big house ” for the old Duke and Duchess , twenty years before. They had been allowed to keep their tithed cottage as part of their retirement at a peppercorn rent. Mrs Graham had been Head Housekeeper and Mr Graham and been Head Gardener respectively . The real Duke and Duchess as Mrs Graham always referred to them had no issue , so there was no one to pass the Palace onto , well at least no one that was traceable.
” Issue” Mrs Graham thought as she walked into her small but tidy kitchen.” What a strange upper class word that was.”
Mrs Graham had worked for the Duchess and was with her through all the traumas of losing the babies that would have brought a succession to the family. It was never to be , eventually they had to accept that it would endanger the Duchess’s health to try any further.
The Duke, had been a wonderful husband, he threw himself into all sorts of causes to help unfortunate children and animals and he made sure that his wife was involved too. The Duke gave his Lady time to mourn but rightly so , he asked her to be involved with his projects, and it helped her greatly. The good work they had done together had been amazing. Both for animal and human welfare.
On the wall of the Graham’s kitchen there was a picture of The Duke and Duchess with their dogs Maisie and Marmaduke at one of the Great fundraising days that had been held on the Estate. The Fundraiser had turned into a very big event and the House was open to everyone, and their animals, there were horses and all sorts of domestic animals. Even an exotic animal show, where pet owners could show their pet spiders, lizards and snakes. It became an international event with all sorts of people far and wide attending. The Children and Pet Charities benefited greatly. The picture was of great comfort to Mrs Graham and she had chosen Tedi from the rescue centre as she thought he was the double of Marmaduke. He certainly had Marmaduke’s attitude as she later found out.
Mrs Graham turned on the radio to listen to some classical music as she prepared Sunday dinner. She enjoyed the peacefulness and hoped that Monday would not bring any more “letters” from the Big House and those troublesome Australians. Meanwhile, Tedi had moved himself to his own bed near the fireplace and Mr Graham had got up to water the plants in their garden.
“It had been a good day and they should count their blessings .” She thought , though in reality she was very concerned about the future.
It was two or three weeks later that Tedi realised he had to do something. The “letters” had arrived from the big House and they seemed to be very threatening. Lawyers were involved and it appeared that Mr and Mrs Graham were being asked to leave their home with nowhere else to go. Apparently they had no legal right to live their and unless they agreed to a significant increase in their monthly rent , which they simply could not afford , they would have to leave.Tedi knew something wasn’t right but he only knew this by instinct. Mrs Graham was crying a lot.
Fortunately Tedi had made a few dog friends in the village and there was much talk about how much he resembled old “Marmaduke”. Unbeknown to the Graham’s, Tedi regularly slipped out of the Graham’s little cottage and met up with the “village dogs” at night. He learned about Marmaduke from them and Marmaduke had always said that the Duke and Duchess were passing the Palace on to Marmaduke in Trust and that everyone in the village would always be looked after. Marmaduke would make sure of that.
However, all the villagers were getting letters to say they had to move out. It wouldn’t have happened in Marmaduke’s day, they said. They didn’t understand how they could do it. What had happened to the “Trust”?. There must be some sort of record , the Duke had said that it was all in writing and that everyone would be looked after.
That night in a flash of inspiration, or dog instinct. Tedi realised that he had to get into the Palace. There was a box he needed to find , he knew exactly where it was and it would have details of the Trust. He didn’t understand everything about it , but he just knew he had to find it. He told his “crew” that he needed to get into the Palace. He discussed with his “gang” , how they would break into the Palace and find what he needed to prove who the rightful owners of the Palace were.
The following night, they followed their plan and several village dogs were able to show Tedi how to get into the Palace grounds and also some underground passage ways that lead directly into the house. Other dogs would act as guards.
When they reached the iron grate that led into the Library of the Palace, there were two dogs left Tedi and Freddie as the others had stayed on guard to warn if anything untoward had happened. Tedi had a feeling that he had been here before. They were both small Jack Russells and they were extremely adept at breaking in. Tedi was thinner then Freddie who couldn’t fit through the bars, but Tedi slipped through by scrunching up his shoulders . A few seconds and he was in.
Freddie looked concerned and quizzically at Tedi. Tedi sniffed to say it was alright he’d continue alone. Tedi knew where to go. Which indeed he did, he could smell the house, Marmaduke’s scent was still there, they were like signposts to him. He came out through the kitchen and decided not to cock his leg as he didn’t really need to, but it would be natural as that would be the way to find his way back. However, he knew that wouldn’t be a problem, once he found what he was looking for, he would not need to go back. This was going to be his home.
He ran along the corridor, there were a lot of pictures hanging on the walls , big and small and statues, some of white marble ones were quite scary as they looked like real people .At this moment Tedi did not want to see any people. At the end of the corridor , he came to a massive room with a large dining table and loads of chairs. Again there were a lot of pictures on the walls with people in them and they were staring down at him. Tedi began to feel very nervous. So he ran along under the long table and when he got to the end of the room he went through the doorway which was ajar and into the hallway which he knew led to the stairway.
“So far so good ” Tedi thought. He could smell Marmaduke’s scent even stronger now.
He came to the large stairway and jumped up the stairs two at a time, he turned to the left and ran quickly down another corridor. There were rooms on either side and he knew he was looking for the “Old Duke’s Office” which was right at the end . When he reached the door , he was dismayed , it was closed and probably locked, how could he get in? He sniffed and pawed at the door, frustrated, what could he do?
It was then that Cross appeared. Cross was aware that there was an intruder in the house. The alarm from the CCTV had woken him and despite having been given his notice that morning by the new Duke and Duchess, he felt it was his duty to investigate. He had seen the little white dog running through the house as if he knew exactly where he was going. Cross thought he was seeing a ghost , he had worked for the Palace since he was sixteen and he had known Marmaduke.
Cross arrived just as Tedi was scratching helplessly at the door.
“Marmaduke, is that you?” Cross said in disbelief.
Tedi’s heart leapt into his throat and he looked up in horror at the tall man dressed in his pyjamas and dressing gown.
Tedi gave a little yelp and sat bolt upright , just like Marmaduke used to do.
” Good grief, it is you Marmie, come on let me pick you up” Cross reached out for the little dog.
Tedi let Cross pick him up in his big arms, but made it quite clear that he needed to get into the “Office”. He struggled to get down again and when his feet touched the ground again he clawed at the door with his front paws.
” Marmie, for a ghost you are very solid, but it’s great to see you , I can’t believe it. Do you want to get into the office, why?”
Tedi thought , I don’t know who Marmie is but , yes I do want to get into the “Office” so he sat looking up at Cross with his big eyes, which were just like Marmaduke’s.
Cross said . ” Well , it just so happens that I’ve got the keys, and if you want to get in that’s OK with me.” Cross unlocked the office door and Tedi rushed in and Cross followed him slowly , closing the door behind him.
Tedi looked around the room and saw the desk which he knew had a secret compartment. Only Marmaduke and the Duke knew about it. Tedi crawled underneath the desk and found the little drawer which was underneath the bottom of one of the main drawers. Instinct kicked in and he tapped with his paw three times and the drawer opened. It was dark and when Cross knelt down on his hands and knees and used a small torch to see what the little dog was doing , he watched as the drawer popped open and revealed a small gold box.
Tedi was stumped, what did the gold box mean. He couldn’t open it. He would need the man to help him. He sat up again and looked up pleading for help.
” Alright , Marmie, so this is what you were looking for? What is it, I’ll have to see if I can open it”.
Cross took the box out of the drawer and to his relief , it did not need a key and he lifted the lid. Inside there were some papers. Cross began to read them as Tedi looked up gratefully.
” Good Grief, this changes everything!”
Tedi realised his job was done, the ” Trust Papers ” had been found, there was proof that the Duke had indeed passed the Palace onto Marmaduke .Tedi was Marmadukes son and therefore Tedi was the rightful owner of the Palace. The Australians had “bought” the Palace under false pretences. They had used scurrilous means and legions of Lawyers to buy the Palace and though the Duke’s and Duchesses wishes had been known to everyone, there had been nothing found in writing , even though everyone had been sure the Lawyers had all the details. The the Law Courts had been used to prove that the Duke was not of sound mind in leaving his Estate to a dog and it’s progeny. So it and the village and been bought by them at a bargain price.
The papers though proved otherwise, Cross looked in disbelief, this dog wasn’t Marmaduke , this was his son!
” Good Boy, Good Boy! ” We wondered what had happened to you and the others. You disappeared overnight. Let me have a look , I see you’ve got a collar on.
” You live just down the road! Well my boy , this is going to be your home now! “
Cross picked up Tedi and he put the papers back in the gold box and they went back to Cross’s living quarters where , Cross gave Tedi a drink of water and some ham from his fridge. They both sat on the sofa and Cross read through the papers again and found the number for the old Duke’s Lawyer with the intention of ringing him in the morning.
Meanwhile Freddie who had waited for Tedi at the other side of the grate decided that he best go home, he hadn’t heard anything and decided he would catch up with Tedi in the morning. That the Palace must have very big fridge and that Tedi was probably eating his way through it.
This is a story based on my little Parsons Jack Russell Dog called Tedi and his love of Blenheim Palace, Dogs are not allowed in the Palace or in some of the gardens and it is always a struggle to keep him from trying to get insided. So I imagined him actually breaking in and where it might lead and it turned into an exciting adventure for me and I hope for you too.
This story imagines he actually inherits a fictional palace ; based on Blenheim; and all the adventures connected with his new found status of Lord of the Manor , being in effect the arbiter of the Old Duke and Duchess’s wishes with the help of his ever faithful butler Cross.
Yes, the story is for children, but I think adults and all dog lovers would enjoy it too.
I’ve currently only written 5 chapters and am in the process of editing and writing more, so the first post is Chapter 1 and 2 and then I plan to post one chapter a week. It is a story I want to complete and the real inspiration is my dog Tedi, who I actually do think is a bit of a “Lord of the Manor”, he certainly rules the roost in our house.
Martin lay in bed , he was so tired, he felt like he was going through the motions of living. Would it ever stop? Did he want it just to stop? His mind went over again and again the events of the last few years. It didn’t solve anything.
Sandy, his wife, was in their en-suite bathroom putting the finishing touches to the make-up that she so expertly put on each day. Perfecting her brow shape and applying concealer, which she felt she needed more and more of as the month’s went by. Sandy felt increasingly overwhelmed trying to keep up her Media Career as well as trying to run a household and looking after the twins. She complained to Martin about being tired all the time and of having permanent black rings around her beautiful almond shape eyes.
“Just like a fucking Panda!” she’d say to him.
Martin could not see what she meant and thought she looked much better without make-up. Sandy was driven by her ambition and only half listened to him anymore. Their two World’s were so different, Martin worked in Archeological Research and Sandy was part of the ruthless cut throat World of the Media.
When, after a few glasses of wine her tongue loosened and she told him about her work , he was uneasy. It sounded petty and brutal and totally alien to the the sweet woman he used to know. He had come to realise that the work had taken it’s toll on the beautiful fun loving girl he had met and married after graduating from the University of Bathlea. One of the top Provincial Universities specialising in Sports and Residential Training for Top Athletes, fortuitously also it had a well respected Archeology Department.
As A2’s accepted for tertiary education they had been selected for fast track and expansive leisure time rewards, with plenty of time to discover themselves in preparation for the role they were being prepared for in Society.
Sandy’s sports scholarship had been a wonderful opportunity to travel the World while she competed at the highest level in her sport , athletics, indeed she held the UK record in the 100m and 200m sprint at Junior level. Together Martin and Sandy had experienced truly uplifting and life enhancing experiences as indeed the life plan for dynamic adults in their early twenties deigned. It had been a rite of passage for two intelligent and talented people.
Now Sandy and Martin were in their early thirties, with a healthy pair of twins, a still born baby and Alex whom no one now mentioned and officially did not now exist.
They had a very large mortgage which loomed each month like an impossibly high mountain to climb, but somehow each month they managed to pay. Increasingly, the strain between them was showing and although they rarely spoke about it, losing Alex and the feeling that he had been taken away from them made them question what exactly their New Society was about. Martin felt that they were heading for disaster, a marriage split, he felt out of control. Sandy avoided the subject , it was too deep for her and Martin gave up trying to speak to her. They were just going through the motions of living.
Her A2 Procreational Contractual obligations had to be fulfilled, she was running out of prime fertility time. Sandy , at heart felt it was a priority both financially ( having children was incentivised) and emotionally to start a family. In reality her longing to have a child superseded not achieving a primetime presenting job. Martin knew Sandy wanted to be a mother. State interference had worked in both their favours on this count. It was just that it hadn’t been straightforward , nothing like what they had both imagined.
As A2’s , Martin and Sandy had been assessed thoroughly , mentally and physically. Their first child being still born , was a shock to them both. The emotional trauma along with the feeling that they had “failed the system” had been hard to bear. The labour had gone on a long time, when they finally held the limp lifeless child coddled in a soft white blanket , they both cried together for their loss.
Strangers appeared from nowhere, Government people. There were a lot of questions, a moratorium almost. Sandy discussed her whole pregnancy with them, had she missed any appointments, had she fallen at any time? Sandy had to describe in every detail her pregnancy. Martin could not believe what was happening , Sandy was in tears as she said that there had been blood pressure issues, but that she had been assured that everything was fine. The labour had perhaps gone on too long, in the end they had determined that the baby had been starved of oxygen. It was no ones fault.
Martin felt the bereavement process had been badly handled. A few hours after the birth and their interrogation, they had a discussion about the arrangements for disposal of what was described as the foetal remains. They were told that trying again was the best way to overcome their grief.
They both started the process of trying for another baby a few weeks later. The Doctor’s firmly suggested that Sandy cut back on her athletic training and she complained to Martin that she felt frumpy and frustrated. Martin had tried everything to make the process of conceiving fun and not a chore , but in the end he cottoned on to the fact that Sandy was being made to feel like a brood mare.
Sandy told him that she had even asked the Counsellor for advice on inseminating herself with Martin’s sperm. Martin felt that he was being excluded , that all Sandy wanted to do was tick a box and have a child . He dutifully filled the tube in the bathroom and then Sandy used the device to inseminate herself.
“Night” Sandy had often said without so much as a cuddle or a kiss on the cheek. Martin did not know what he had done to deserve such treatment and he felt very alone. The next morning it was back to the routine of getting up , doing her make up and going to work. It was soulless. Martin knew that Sandy had not been ready emotionally to try for another child and when Sandy announced one morning at breakfast that she was pregnant, he felt guilty that he had mixed feelings, indeed , the strain of the last three months had made him feel more like a sperm donor , than a lover or a husband.
The safe arrival of Alex was a great relief to Martin and Sandy. It had been another tough labour . The new baby brought back the joy into his and Sandy’s relationship. The initial optimism was tempered by Alex’s gradually deteriorating health . Sandy tried everything to comfort the child but nothing worked. Martin was away a lot in the first few months of Alex’s life, so each time he returned he saw a healthy growing baby, who slept a lot , but when awake could scream the house down.
Martin noticed Sandy’s trepidation as she picked up Alex to breast feed him. She had gone from a confident mother to one who simply dreaded the piercing screams Alex made . He remembered one incident , when they were all at home , and Alex was due his feed.
Sandy turned to him before picking Alex up and said. ” I’m so afraid , I’m hurting him.”
As she picked him up , the screaming started, she moved her nipple towards his mouth and he suckled for a short while and then pulled away again and started screaming again. One pediatrician had told her that Alex might be allergic to her Breast Milk, so she immediately stopped Breast Feeding and started Bottle Feeding . Things did not improve and as time went on Sandy began to feel more desperate. This was not how things should be. It was Martin who suggested a Counselling session, Post-Natal Depression was a treatable condition and the Counsellor was very helpful. It was through Counselling that Sandy voiced her concerns about Alex’s health, it was only much later that she realised it was the worse thing she could have done.
When Alex reached six months, he begin to fit regularly, and his health began to deteriorate quickly. There were numerous hospital visits and tests and the diagnosis of a rare genetic disorder came back.
Alex had inherited a defective gene, it was life limiting and he would need special care for the rest of his life. Sandy and Martin were devastated, they were A2’s , they had been screened , how could this have happened? The doctors said that there was an outside chance that the damaged genes were the result of external influences, such as environment, but that was a long shot. It was something that they hadn’t seen for some time, they would have to report it to The Authorities. The State Machine intervened and within a few days they were both asked to attend Alex’s Assessment Meeting.
Until the fateful meeting about Alex’s future , Sandy and Martin as A2‘s had never came across A1‘s. People wondered did they really exist. No one was sure and certainly Sandy and Martin had never met one. There was no identifiable career path or progression to becoming an A1. To most it was unachievable and the ambition to be one did not resonate with many, but Sandy and Martin were about to find out that they did exist and they were very powerful people.
The letter with the A1‘s names and titles inviting them to the “Assessment Centre” had come a few weeks after their last hospital appointment. Martin’s Company had already been advised about his time off work to attend and as Sandy read the details of the letter out to him while Alex was asleep upstairs, Martin saw that she was worried.
The appointment would be in the next two days, they should bring Alex along with them , as well as his medications and an overnight bag for him. He would be allocated a place in their Day Nursery, so Martin and Sandy could be free to participate in the discussion about his future care. The letter stated the attendees , which included the Counsellor who had been working with Sandy on her Post-Natal Depression.
There were three other attendees whose names Sandy nor Martin did not recognise. It was made quite clear that there was no option of declining the appointment as all the arrangements were in place. Martin , Sandy and Alex would be collected by Taxi and taken to the assessment centre. There would be no cancellations or need to rearrange.
Instinctively Sandy and Martin acknowledged together that this was indeed a crisis point and they began to talk to each other like they had not been able to do for some time. Neither had dulled their senses or loosened their tongues with a bottle of wine. Martin was getting ready to go to bed and Sandy wandered in to their ensuite bathroom as Martin was brushing his teeth: she held the letter in her hand, she stood behind him and looked over his shoulder at him in the mirror. Martin looked at Sandy’s reflection , she was pale and drawn and he knew she was very frightened.
” Something awful is going to happen, I just know it.” She stared directly at Martin’s reflection in the mirror
Martin couldn’t reply straight away as his mouth was full of electric toothbrush and toothpaste. He listened to her intently and began to rinse his mouth . When he’d dried his hands and face he turned to her , put his arm around her and gently moved her into the bedroom.
Sandy explained that a colleague of hers in the Newsroom where she worked had said that a Government Policy to remove children deemed not genetically perfect existed and over the last 30 Years or so and they had expanded the process. The Letter Sandy and Martin had received was the start, because of Alex’s condition , he would be taken away from them.
Sandy had tears in her eyes. Martin turned to her and gave her a big warm hug.
” Sandy , it’s only a meeting , nothing is finalised. Alex will be fine, he’s not going anywhere.”
Sandy whimpered as she rested her head on Martin’s shoulder, the terry-towelling of his dressing gown absorbed her tears.
“They’re going to take him away.” Sandy lifted her head and looked Martin in the eye.”
“Shhh,Shhh, don’t say that Sandy, it’s early days. We need some help with Alex’s health that’s all.” He put his hand on the nape of her neck and gently massaged her trying to soothe her.
” We just need to find out more information that’s all. It’s a meeting to discuss what’s best. They can’t do anything if we say no, Alex is our child.”
Sandy looked up again at Martin.
” Martin, they can and do. We just never hear about it. Children are taken away as a matter of course now and no one knows what happens to them. Moira at the Newsdesk said it didn’t sound good, having the letter and the meeting.” Sandy started to cry.
” Martin no one ever sees those children again.”
They both sat on the bed ,their shoulder’s touching.
“Surely that’s not possible, we have rights”. Martin was not trying to reassure Sandy anymore, he was beginning to think what she was saying was right. Alex was going to be taken away from them.”
“What exactly did this Moira in the Newsroom say?” Martin put his hand on Sandy’s hand.
” She said that I should be prepared, that it was unlikely that they’d let me keep Alex and that we would not be given any choice during the discussion’s about his welfare. It would be residential care and no contact. Basically just telling us what they were going to do and to say goodbye. We cannot refuse. All the arrangements will have been made.”
” Don’t we have any say?” Martin looked at Sandy and bowed his head, it was Sandy’s time to put her arm around Martin.
” Moira said, some parents do kick up a fuss. They run off and tell their stories, none of them reach the Mainstream Media. It might go out on an obscure satellite channel . The Parent’s win a big Court Case, and the child is amazingly cured. It’s rare, and frequently linked to some Medical Breakthrough story. Curing the incurable. An opiate, that gives the general population hope and in reality neglects the decline in real health care. Easier to destroy then try to treat.
Sandy continued ” Real investigative journalism no longer exists, but journalists still have access to information that other’s don’t . The Powers that be, see it as an effective means of dissemination of information when needed. Journalists are motivated by the “Scoop”, they call it “Taming the Tiger”, let them have their scoop. I’m really shocked how much we are controlled”. Sandy had stopped crying, she sniffed and reached for a tissue from the bedside table.
Martin was exhausted and so was Sandy . They could say little to comfort each other , but they both understood that they would face whatever happened next with a united front. They both got under the cover of the duvet and curled up beside each other and fell asleep.
thenotsomightyom 