Marion and Henry
Category C: Highly Commended (2025) Monash Short Story Writing Competition
Author: Jenny Sargent
Marion bit into the corner of her toast while stirring her cup of tea. The spoon chimed gently against the China cup. She finished getting ready and walked to the bus stop to catch the 733 bus to the train station and then the 6:49 train to Flinders Street. After a short walk to the office, she stowed her bag in the desk drawer, logged on to her computer and started work. The office slowly filled with staff, none of them stopped to say good morning to Marion.
At 9.30am, Marion went to get her first cup of tea and fill her water bottle.
Passing her boss's office, she heard, ‘Morning Marion, reports at ten as usual?’
‘Morning John,’ Marion rolled her eyes, as a sigh escaped her lips. ‘Yes, the reports will be early as usual!’
Marion had been at Burton and Burton for over thirty years. She began her career in accounts and, after holding several roles, advanced to her current position as Contracts Administrator. She had always preferred working with numbers rather than people. Marion had witnessed many changes, including the introduction of personal computers. Numerous staff had come and gone, but Marion remained, dedicated to work.
At home later that night, after her usual dinner of soup and toast, Marion was surprised by a knock at the door. She was greeted by her neighbour, Flo, standing on her porch in the dark.
Marion flicked on the light. ‘Flo, everything okay? Come in.’
‘Thanks, Marion. I won't stay. I have been called in for urgent surgery tomorrow morning, and I have no one to look after Henry.’
Henry? Thought Marion, that scruffy little thing that barks at me through the gate.
‘He won't be any trouble,’ Flo continued, sensing Marion's reluctance. ‘He can stay at mine. You just need to feed him, put him inside at night, and let him out during the day. I should only be away for a week with rehab. I know you work, but I have no one else to ask. My daughter Elsbeth is away on a work conference.’
Marion spluttered, but Flo pressed the key into her hand before she could decline. ‘Thank you so much, I have left his food and instructions on the bench. His lead is at the back door, but you don't need to take him for a walk.’ Flo yelled over her shoulder as she walked back down the path. ‘I will give him breakfast and leave him outside tomorrow morning. Thank you so much. Knowing you are looking after him is a load off my mind.’ Marion looked down at the key in her hand. She was not happy with this, but there was naught she could do.
The next evening, Marion was greeted by a little growl as she unlocked the back door of Flo’s to let Henry in. He looked at her with his head on the side. ‘It is alright, Henry. We have met. You usually just bark at me. I am here to feed you and let you inside while your mum is in the hospital.’ Henry turned his head the other way but trotted after Marion into the kitchen. Marion put a cup of dry food into the bowl on the bench and set it down for Henry, who quickly started eating. ‘Now, I need to check your water, and the note says to make sure you have done your business before I leave you in for the night.’ Henry finished eating and ran to the back door. Marion opened the door, but Henry stood there and looked at her. ‘Okay, I will come with you!’ as Marion walked out the door, Henry scampered past and up the backyard. Several minutes later, he was back by her side.
The next morning, Marion missed her bus and the 6.49 train. She had not expected to spend twenty minutes playing with Henry. That night, she took her book to Flo's and sat in a big armchair by the window reading as Henry dozed in his bed at her feet. ‘I am no pet person,’ Marion said, ‘but I am sure you need more than a half-hour human visit twice a day.’
The next night, a shocking storm struck. Marion lay in her bed, watched the flash of light and counted until the clap of thunder. I know Henry is safe inside, she thought, but this storm is frightening. Marion slid out of bed, put on her gum boots, pulled on her raincoat and hat, and braved the elements to walk down to Flo's. She let herself in the front door, but there was no sign of Henry. She called out several times before he came out from behind the couch. She bundled him up in her arms and carried him back home. Once there, she realised she only had Henry, no lead, bed, food, or toys. A big clap of thunder made them both jump, and Marion decided that the best place for them was bed. She laid an old blanket on the foot of her bed and placed Henry on it. He watched as she slipped under the covers. Several hours later, she woke to the sound of heavy breathing and opened her eyes to see a little brown nose facing her. Henry was in a deep sleep with his head on her pillow!
At work, John greeted her with the usual question about the reports, but this time, Marion responded, ‘Sorry, John. They will be closer to 10.30. I am dog-sitting and didn't get much sleep with the storm last night.’
‘I know. Wasn't the storm terrible?’ said Rose, the office manager, who never spoke to Marion. ‘And how did your charge go with the storm?’
‘Charge? Oh, Henry, his owner had said to leave him at her place, but I couldn't leave him alone in that storm. I walked down in the rain and got him. He ended up sleeping on my bed. He is outside at his place today, but I will pick him up on my way home, and he can spend the night with me. ‘
‘That's a good idea. Henry is probably happy in his own yard during the day, but will really appreciate the company of a night.’
‘You think?’
‘Oh yes, my Murray loves his own yard, but when I am away, he just wants to be inside with whoever at night.’
I did not even know Rose had a dog, thought Marion, but then we only talk for work.
That night, Marion took Henry out for a walk. He trotted beside her but then started sniffing and pulling Marion to where he wanted to smell. A few of the neighbours stopped and chatted, and except for the pulling, Marion quite enjoyed being out.
‘I heard you were looking after a dog. How is it going?’ Juliet, from purchasing, asked as she stopped at Marion’s office.
‘I took him for a walk last night, but he pulls a bit,’ Marion answered, surprised that Juliet was talking to her.
‘Rose said he was a small dog. What is he on, a harness, choker chain, or just clipped to the collar?’
‘Ah, yes, I did just clip the lead to his collar. I didn't see anything else at his house. I will have a look tonight.’
‘I can bring a spare choker chain in for you, or better yet, we can meet at a park on the weekend, and I can show you how to use it.’
Before Marion could politely decline, Juliet continued, ‘I will see if Rose is free. She can bring Murray. We can have a picnic!’
That Sunday, Marion had the loveliest afternoon at a park not too far down the road from her. The park had a lake and an off-lead dog area. Marion was not game to let Henry off. Juliet bought several dog chains and, after finding the best fit, showed Marion how to step ahead of Henry and jerk the lead so he would learn to walk beside her. After a couple of goes, they both had it mastered. Marion was besotted with Murray. He was a beautiful chocolate labrador with the sweetest eyes, and Juliet had a retired greyhound named Miss Boston. They all laughed as Miss Boston took off for zoomies, running circles around them all, she then laid on her blanket for the rest of her afternoon, exhausted.
‘Greyhounds really are couch potatoes,’ Juliet laughed.
Marion learnt that Juliet had always owned a dog. Over the years, there had been various breads and sizes, hence her array of leads and wealth of dog knowledge.
Marion did not want the day to end, but it did, and when they got home, she saw a note on her door. ‘Hi Marion, thank you so much for looking after Henry for Mum. The doctor wants Mum to do another two weeks in rehab, and I am travelling for work. I hope it is okay for you to keep looking after him. I have left another bag of dog food on the bench at Mum's for you. Thanks so much, Elsbeth.’
‘Well, Henry, you will be stuck with me for another couple of weeks.’ Marion smiled.
The next day at work, Juliet and Rose were both excited to hear they had an excuse for more weekend picnics. Marion had become accustomed to having Henry around. Constantly talking to him, giving him the crust off her toast of a morning, and even cooking a piece of meat or fish for dinner so she could feed him a bit. She also felt a lot fitter and happier. She was now walking with Henry every morning and night, and meeting so many interesting people when she was with him. Juliet suggested that Marion get a dog when Henry returns home. Still, Marion felt she did not want the permanent responsibility.
Two weeks had passed, and there was no sign of Flo or an update from Elsbeth. On Wednesday night, Marion noticed a car in the driveway at Flo's when she took Henry out for a walk. Henry must have sensed something as he took her to the door. Marion rang the bell, and the door was answered by a young lady in her mid-to-late forties.
‘Hi, Henry, sorry, Mum is not here. Hello Marion, I’m Elsbeth. The doctor does not want Mum to return home, and she is being moved into care. I am just here to collect a few things. I don’t know what I will do with Henry. He can’t go with Mum, and I can’t take him. I suppose we will just have to surrender him to the RSPCA.
‘She can't do that!’ Rose exclaimed when Marion told them about it at work the next day.
‘Surely you will take him, Marion?’ Juliet pleaded. ‘It is hard enough for him to lose his mum, and he has bonded with you as you have with him. Think of everything we could all do. We could take them to cafes.’
‘Oh, you young ladies do not want to hang around with me!’
‘But Marion, we really enjoy our outings together. Walking the dogs, not to mention our conversations.’ Juliet smiled. ‘We love hearing about your past. You are a wealth of knowledge and a good sounding board when we have a problem. I know I speak for both Rose and myself when I say we are most happy to spend time with you. We only wish we had gotten to know you sooner.’
With that reassurance, and after conceding that Henry has changed her life for the better, Henry came to live with Marion. He continues to enrich her life and introduce her to new experiences. Henry even gets to see Flo as Marion, and the girls take all three dogs into the Aged Care Home for afternoon tea and resident afternoons.