A Tale of Three 'Muses'

Sonia felt so privileged... so happy... so....

Words couldn't really describe exactly how she felt, but she was definitely elated. She was married to a most wonderful (if not anal, but that's a whole different kettle of fish story) man called Andrew who bought her whatever she wanted... within reason (and depending on their budget of course).

He was her first 'Muse'.



Buddy, a great doofus of a St Bernard, was her second.

Her third Muse was about to come crashing into her life pretty soon. Whether she liked it or not.

It was a fairly bright sunny day, but the clouds were gathering. So, to keep herself occupied, she decided to sequester herself in her study to paint.


Andrew was at work, and her only other companion was Buddy, a big, St Bernard dog whose task it was, was to destroy furniture. Especially when he was bored or wanted to go for a walk.

Like today.

Barely even putting acrylic to the canvas, Sonia heard the distinctive sound of fabric ripping and dashed into the front room, just in time to see Buddy, his head buried deep in the stuffing of an old, saggy, but very comfortable settee.



Gasping out loud, Sonia's eyes filled with tears as she could watch with mounting horror at the scale of his destruction.



Money was tight at present and they couldn't really afford to replace any of the furniture. The restoration of the cottage took a huge chunk out of their savings as it is.

"Oh, good Lord... Buddy!" she wailed, grabbing him by the scruff of the neck and hauling him bodily away.

Not used to having any pets, she was having difficulty maintaining boundaries with this head strong animal. Besides, this old settee was a favourite of Buddy's. He'd targeted it, the very minute he arrived home from the dog shelter. Rolling all over it, ragging the edges to bits....

Sonia recalled that very moment with sheer clarity. A huge beast, bounding through the door and heading straight for the settee. Her husband trailing afterwards holding the broken leash in his hand and looking harassed and sheepish.


"I'm sorry hunny," he said, guilt written all over his face, "he's just too darned strong."

She could only shake her head and roll her eyes.

"I swear, they told me he was fully house trained and everything."


They hadn't been in the cottage that long and had spent a good portion of the time renovating and restoring it to it's original quirkiness. And now, Buddy threatened to undo everything.

"I swear," Sonia muttered, "I swear... you just don't think.... at times."

But that didn't stop Buddy from worming himself into their home and their hearts. When he wanted to, he could behave himself. Only if he wanted to... that is.

"Want to go walkies?" Sonia asked, snapping back to the present.

Buddy bounced around, barking excitedly and wagging his tail so hard, she could have sworn it was going to fall off soon. Grabbing the leash, she patted her thigh.

"Here boy!"

His eyes danced with joy as he trotted up to her......
.... and promptly rolled over onto his back showing his belly.

Sonia chuckled softly.

"You silly bugger you."




Maxmillian was deeply disappointed. He'd had hoped that the shelter could have kept Buddy on for that little bit longer until he could find a decent place, rather than that poky apartment with the NO PETS rule. But no. They were bursting at the seams as it was. At least he went to a great home.

He hoped.

It was time for his monthly assessments, checking on new owners and their adopted pets. Just to see if they'd settled in okay, had their boosters kept up to date.. you know... the whole shebang.
Buddy's visit was the last on the list and Maxmillian was eager to see him once more. See if this huge loping beast still remembered him.




He pulled up outside and got out, just in time to see Buddy and his new owner playing fetch. That was a good sign. At least he was settling in well.



Suddenly, without warning, Buddy whipped around and growled fiercely.



The female, whose back was turned, stood up and turned. Max's eyes popped open. This was Buddy's new owner?

From what he'd gathered, the new owner was a guy. Stiff and formal, a no nonsense type of guy who (in Max's eyes) would have you standing on newspaper at the front door. So that you wouldn't trail dirt into the house.

But this woman was so completely the opposite of that guy. She had smudges of paint on her fingertips and her scarf was tied haphazardly around her neck.



And she had the greenest of eyes he'd ever seen.

"Buddy!"

Oh god, even her voice was beautiful.

"Stop that... right ... now!"

"That's okay," Max replied, stepping forward.

Sonia regarded him shrewdly.


Nobody hardly passed by here, unless it was by car, driving at full tilt, it's destination... Downtown. She eyed him carefully. Spiky blond hair, intense blue eyes and a well muscled figure that could only come from working out at a gym. He was the polar opposite of her hubby Andrew.

"I'm sorry, I didn't introduce myself.... I'm Maxmillian.... Max for short."

He held out his hand and waited for her to shake it, his heart palpitating at the prospects of her touch. Albeit briefly. Which.... in this case... it was. She gripped his fingers then let go, stepping back.

"I'm from the shelter. Here to see how Buddy's settling in."

Instantly, this cautious woman relaxed a little.

"I'm sorry," she breathed, "I'm just not used to people calling in unexpectedly. You hear some really terrible stories about burglaries, murders etc ... I didn't mean to be so cautious."

"That's okay, I understand."

He looked at Buddy, who'd dropped his 'macho' image and was rolling about in the soil, covering himself in dust and leaves. Sonia just chuckled.

"He does that a lot," she explained, "he's such a character really."

Stooping down, she reached over and rubbed his belly again. He responded with a heavy thumping tail and his big pink tongue lolling out of the side of his mouth.



"You silly bugger."

There was a sudden breeze that whipped up from the lake and with it, the first spots of fine rain.

"Um, perhaps we should get inside," Sonia suggested, "I'll go put the kettle on."

"Sounds like a good idea to me," Max replied, smiling to himself, "a nice cup of hot coffee would go down a treat... thanks."

Buddy bounced in first, the door almost coming off it's hinges as it crashed into the wall and rebounded back.

Max couldn't help noticing little things around the cottage. How 'homely' and comfortable it looked. But the sound of fabric tearing, soon pulled him out of his musings.

"I'm sorry," Sonia said sheepishly, "he keeps doing that all the time. We can't seem to stop him."

"BUDDY!" Max yelled, wagging a stern finger at the St Bernard.



Buddy instantly cowered, his ear back, tail drooping and huge huge eyes looking all folorn.

"You've got to be firm with him. That's all. Show him who the boss is in the house, otherwise he'll completely take over and become unruly."

"Oh, thanks for the tip."

He watched as she filled the coffee machine up.



"How about I suggest obedience classes?"

"Umm.... well.... I'm not so sure."

"It'll be fun."

"I won't know anybody there."

"Yes you will..... me.... I'm the one running it. It's fun.... really."

"I'll think about it."

They both glanced across at Buddy, who'd forgotten about his lecture from Max and was happily gnawing at a rubber bone.




"One or two?"

"Huh?"

"Do you take sugar in your coffee?"

"Um, no thanks... sweet enough."

She handed him a mug of coffee and he sipped it thoughtfully.

Wondering if he would ever settle down somewhere like this. His apartment was nowhere near as nice as this.....

Dang, it sucked being single. Truly, it did. She had one VERY lucky fella.



"About your visit?" she prompted, pulling him from his reverie, "what do you need to know?"

"Oh... umm...well.... it's.."

Dammit, he was flustered and couldn't articulate properly. he took another sip of his coffee to gather his thoughts.



"Well..... it's just a routine check to see if Buddy is settling in well, being fed properly etc. Nothing much really. A few standard questions, then I'll go back to the shelter and file my report."

"Oh, okay."

"But from the looks of things, I can see that, apart from the boundaries issue, Buddy's settled into his new home really well."

He finished his coffee and strolled up to Buddy, stroking the dog's huge head.




"Isn't that right old fella?"

Buddy woofed and wagged his tail, drool dripping down from his jowls as he panted happily at Max.

"Anyway, I'd better get going. Put my reports in at the shelter before the office closes up for the night. Thanks for the coffee and the hospitality."

"You are most welcome. It's a shame my hubby wasn't around to talk to you."

Max just smiled quietly.

No, not really.

It gave him the chance to see a wonderful, youthful woman with a big heart to chat to. He gave Buddy one last pat on the head.



"See you around Buddy," he said grinning, "maybe your mistress will take you to obedience classes huh?"

He climbed into his jeep, Sonia had to hang onto Buddy's collar to stop him from joining Max, and waved with her free hand as Max backed out of the drive and out onto the road.

It was really nice seeing Buddy's new owner. And he was really looking forward to seeing her again. Even if it was a 'chance' encounter.

In the meantime, Sonia looked down at Max and grinned. The drizzle was still thick in the air, but that wasn't about to stop Buddy's never ending enthusiasm.

"Well, Buddy," she said, patting his damp head, "still want to go for that walk?"

He barked happily and tugged his head forward.

"Guess that means.... yes."