Hundred and Twenty Seven

'I think it's art'.
Don't you start Freddie, DON'T YOU START!
'I like it'.
But they're houses for birds and squirrels!
'George? Elliot and Ruthie Fields are here. Come over and say hi'.
Right that's it Freddie it really is. If there is anything more annoying in life than being called over to say 'hi' I don't know what it is. I don't need people to tell me who to say hi to. I will say hi to who I want. Let's ignore them.
'Is that Ruthie Fields?'
Yes that's Ms Fields but/
'GEORGE! Ruthie's here!'
'I think we should join them George. After all it is always nice when a new girl moves into the neighbourhood'.
Not if she's difficult Freddie.
'GEORGE! RUTHIE'S HERE. COME HERE!'
DON'T 'COME HERE' ME PIPS, DON'T 'COME HERE' ME!
'I'm going to introduce myself George, otherwise it's rude'.
Oh OK Freddie, if you insist. But can you pretend that you don't like the Spontaneous City?
'What?'
Can you forget the whole 'It's art' thing? Because I don't like to be outnumbered. It makes me feel insecure it really does. Freddie?


'So this is Freddie?'
'Yes this is Freds'.
'Hello Freddie. I'm Elliot and this is Ruthie Fields'.
'Nice to meet you Ruthie'.
'You too Freddie'.
'And here comes George too...'
'Were you showing Freddie the Spontaneous City George?'
'Yes. He was/'
Freddie doesn't like it do you Freddie? No he doesn't. He agrees with me Ms Fields'.
'Just call me Ruthie'.
'I didn't say I didn't/'
'He doesn't think it's art at all. In fact he finds it offensive/
'I didn't say that Geo/'
Pips can we play fetch now? I want to play fetch. LET'S PLAY FETCH! THROW ME MY BALL PIPS!
'Hey George what do you want huh?'
I want to play fetch Elliot because I want to show Ms Fields how fast I can run and jump and/
'Just call me Ruthie'.
THROW MY BALL PIPS! THROW MY BALL!
'I think he wants his ball. Do you want your ball George? OK then'.
WATCH THIS MS FIELDS!
'George she wants you to call her Ruthie'.
'Here you go George'.
I can't hear you Freddie. WHA-HEY! I'M GOING I'M GOING.... WATCH ME GO! ARE YOU WATCHING ME GO?
'Oh my, he's an excitable little guy'.
'He's got a few issues'.
'Terry! Don't say that about him!'
'Sorry Philippa but I mean he has and you know it'.
'But he's got spirit. I can see that. We can see that can't we Ruthie?'
'I wish he would stop calling me Ms Fields when I've told him to just call me Ruthie. Why does he do that Freddie?'
'I don't know. That's George'.
ARE YOU ALL WATCHING ME? AND NOW I WILL CATCH THE BALL IN MY MOUTH...
'GEORGE CAREFUL.. GEO/ George?'
'Oh my Lord. Did he just hit the bench?'
'GEORGE!'

Hundred and Twenty Six

'Ruthie was my dear wife Grace's dog. They went everywhere together. When she passed away Ruthie didn't eat for a month. She grew very thin. We both moped. We loved her and missed her so terribly. Grace and I were married for 51 years'.
'Oh my gosh. That's amazing'.
'It passed just like that Philippa. One day we were young and carefree and the next we were in bed together with wrinkles. Can you believe it?'
'When did she pass away?'
'It will be four years ago this coming December. Already. And yet it seems long... And you always think that death will be dramatic, but no. It was cancer, nothing spectacular. It was quiet - a gradual fading really. She refused all treatment. She said 'I'm not having operations and chemotherapy at my age' - she was 75 - and she was stubborn so there was no arguing with her. She... accepted it. I didn't. I didn't accept it at all'.
'I'm really sorry'.
'Oh no. Don't be. We had a wonderful life together. More happy years than anyone has the right to expect'.
'Do you have children?'
'No, we couldn't. But we had dogs. And I still have Ruthie'.
'I really can't imagine being with someone for 51 years'.
'You know how we met? It was on the corner of 7th Avenue and 37th Street in Manhattan. It was a wet, windy spring day. The skies opened and we found ourselves sheltering together in a doorway. And we got talking and...'
'That was it'.
'And that was it. So I always say thank God for the rain! Now where are the dogs?'
'I can see them. They're under the Tree of Heaven'.


'It's art George'.
Art my arse!
'It is. It's art for the community'.
They're houses for squirrels and birds Ms Fields.
'Don't call me that. Just call me Ruthie'.
It shouldn't be allowed. No it shouldn't. No it should not. No/
'Why not?'
Because squirrels in particular - and I should know - have been allowed to do whatever they like in these gardens and now they think they own the place and walk all over the paths and benches.
'Well when I arrived you were climbing up onto that bench over there even though you were being told not to and now we're both standing in the middle of the path. We all have to learn to live together peacefully George'.
'With squirrels?! I AM NOT GOING TO LIVE PEACEFULLY WITH SQUIRRELS! NO NO NO NO NO NO NO!
'I'm not saying it's easy. That's why we have to learn it/'
And another thing. Just because you have a surname Ms Fields doesn't mean you understand things more than me.
'I never said it did. And please just call me Ruthie'.
In fact you may be interested to know that I probably have a surname too.
'It's really not an important thing'.
No but just so you know.
'OK then'.
I just don't know what it is because when I went to Battersea they lost it.
'Are you a Battersea dog?'
I am, yes, and there's nothing wrong with it.
'No I know. What was Battersea like?'
I don't feel like talking about it right now. In fact I think I want Pips. Pips?
'George don't go'.
PIPS! PIPS!
'I didn't mean to upset you'.

Hundred and Twenty Five

Pips? Why haven't I got a surname? How come she is Ruthie Fields when I am simply George?
'You know something George? I think Elliot and Ruthie Fields could become our new Sunday morning companions in the gardens'.
Do you think it is because I am a Battersea dog?
'We must introduce them to Terry and Freddie'.
If so, that's not fair because it isn't my fault I ended up in Battersea twice.
'Elliot is a real character'.
Although thinking about it I was always just George even before I went to Battersea.
'And perhaps you could become friends with Ruthie Fields'.
I don't think so Pips. She contradicted me. I don't think I'm going to get on with her I really don't.
'She's very sweet'.
She's not sweet Pips. She disagreed with me. She likes the Spontaneous City even though she knows I don't. I think she could be difficult I really do. I'm going to speak to Freddie about her.
'I was going to ask about Ruthie Fields when that loud woman interrupted us and we all had to get involved with her parking situation. I thought she was so rude. If she's got a problem with parking her car in the street she should be taking it up with Islington Council instead of banging on to us about it'.
Islington Council don't care Pips. They're more worried about birds and squirrels than they are about anyone else. I wonder what they are thinking when they decide to put up accommodation for them on that scale I really do. It is irresponsible to be encouraging more of them to settle in the gardens when there are already too many of them. Hey Pips! Do you think I may have a surname that I don't know about? That would be terrific. To find out that I am George somebody. Hey PIPS! PIPS?
'Sssh George. What?'
Perhaps I should go on that programme 'Who do you think you are?' because I think everyone will agree that I have had a very interesting life and I have a feeling we may make some surprising and wonderful discoveries about my ancestry. In fact I think we may well find that I have a surname. Yes I do. Which would be helpful because I don't want yours. I don't think Jenkins would suit me.