Davy and Max, Citizen Kings
In the tiny town of Frascati, two dogs reside. No one owns them, yet everyone cherishes them. They don’t possess a singular home, but they have the welcome of many. At the doorstep of every residence in town lies at least a cardboard box for them, if not a specially crafted, cosy wooden abode. They lack a dog bowl, but it's unnecessary. Every evening, they feast at the finest restaurant in town, one overlooking the town wall and boasting a breathtaking view of the valley below. From its terrace, one can even spot St. Peter's dome shimmering in the setting sun.
Occasionally, enticed by the aroma of delicious cuisine, the dogs arrive at the restaurant a tad early when all the tables are occupied. That's where Mum first encountered them, dining there with friends. The owner, with kindness, escorted them to the exit, suggesting a later return. "Come on, my sons," he said as he does every evening, offering a tender pat, "Return in an hour, and I'll reserve the choicest dishes for you."
Such is the privileged existence of the two Frascati dogs, adored and treasured by every townsperson. Oh, and I should note that there are instances of considerable traffic congestion in the town, particularly on sunny mornings when the central plaza is awash with light. And it's not due to an influx of vehicles, no. It's merely because the duo bask in the sun at the square's centre. Naturally, no one dares disturb their peace; no one would wish to.
But what brought them to Frascati, and what makes them so beloved? Mum didn't know, so I sent an invitation to this distant town, inviting them to come to my garden and narrate their story. Mum said it was useless; they couldn't come – it was too far away. I waited and waited for their reply and eventually forgot about it. Then, one day, our postman brought a letter for me. I felt excited; my business flourished, and I got my first letter! The envelope had an Italian stamp and was addressed to Freddy at Freddy's Office, Magic Garden, Somewhere on Earth.
Hopefully, they specified "on Earth"; otherwise, our postman would need a ladder to climb to the moon, as he is relatively short.
In my impatience, I tore open the envelope in a bit of a mess - eager to learn the date of their visit! Mum would have to prepare an excellent Italian dish to welcome them.
But I was disappointed as soon as I started reading.
"Dear Freddy! Thank you for your kind invitation, but we won't be able to make it. After consulting the map, we found that you live far away. You understand the journey will mean missing at least one dinner at our favourite restaurant. Can you imagine there would be a spaghetti bolognese that same day? No one should ever miss out on this dish in their entire life!"
I was about to put the letter in the bin, a little offended. Who wouldn't be, anyway? Preferring a dish of spaghetti to my magic garden! A slap, I thought, but Mum told me it was because they didn't know me and couldn’t imagine how wonderful it was here around.
"Keep reading - there are several pages!" she suggested.
And indeed, things began to get more engaging:
"Since we can't come," the letter continued, "here's our story. Read it and put it in your book if you find it interesting. We would love it!
But first, you probably have yet to learn our names; I'm Max, the oldest. My brother Davy will tell you he was born only two minutes after me, but two minutes is quite a time. I'm the most senior, so I'm the leader.
We lived with our Mum in the backyard of a restaurant in the city centre. We were happy; we had shelter and food; a man brought us leftovers daily. But one afternoon, shortly before Christmas, two strangers entered our yard. We stood up and wagged our tails – we thought they were bringing a feast. Our Mum had told us we would be having one. To our greatest astonishment, they pulled empty bags out of their pockets; one of them caught hold of our Mum and stuck her into one of the bags. Poor Mum! She screamed, she cried. She shouted to us: "Bambini, run for your lives!"
Find this story in my book “Paws, Tails and Tales”, available on all Amazon marketplaces.