"MY STORY" BY RUFUS
You've read about me, of course, Rufus, the St Bernard, the special friend of Joey Bettany, as she was then, now Joey Maynard. You know how she rescued me when I was just a puppy - she has been the centre of my world ever since. Of course, she couldn't have me with her when she was in school, so her sister Madge helped to look after me, Dr Jem, and sometimes Dr Jack Maynard took me for walks and I'm very grateful to them, but Joey - I just adored her!
When I was growing up, something happened that left me devastated. One
day, some of the girls, including Joey, Cornelia, Evadne and Maria, and
one of the mistresses, Miss Wilson, went down to Spartz to do some shopping,
and they never came back. It was explained to me that they were in trouble
and were trying to escape. None of us dreamed just how long it would be
before I saw them again.
Then it all began to happen - soldiers came to the house. Drs Jack and
Gottfried took little Robin and went off later that night. Madge and Dr
Jem started to pack up their belongings. And I was so unhappy. Where were
they going? Was I going with them? How could they leave the School and
the San? Why all the upheaval?
Dr Jem managed to send his sister Margot and young secretary Rosalie
off with all the children, and Dr Gottfried's wife and family went too.
Then Madge set off for Guernsey, and soon there was only Dr Jem and me.
Dr Jem stayed to talk with some German doctors who were going to take
over the San, but no one seemed to give any thought to me. I tried to
go with Margot, then with Madge - but the soldiers refused it. Then Dr
Jem went off under escort. I hid in one of the outbuildings, and yes,
I cried, big doggy tears. And it was then that young Jockel, who worked
about the grounds, found me - was I glad to see him?!
First he found me some food and water, then he got a piece of stout
cord and tied it to my collar, and off we went. First we went to a house
down in the valley, where they knew us, and where we were fed. Then Jockel
was given a bag of food, and we began to walk. Just where we went during those long months, I've no idea. Sometimes
we found people who fed us and let us shelter in barns or sheds, but life
was difficult.
Sometimes, when we were crossing a field, I would manage
to catch a rabbit, which we shared. Sometimes we found a stream, where
we drank deeply and bathed our feet. And once or twice, we caught some
fish.
Where did we sleep? Under hedges, in barns, sheds, haystacks, anywhere
we could. Jockel had no sense of direction, and we relied on friendly
folk who put us on the right road, or rather paths, through fields and
woods. We didn't dare use the main roads for fear of detection. Rain or
shine, month after month, summer or winter, on we went - mile after weary
mile, often hungry and thirsty, and sometimes very cold.
Jockel's clothes were threadbare and ragged, and my coat was dirty and
matted. We looked an awful pair, dejected and forlorn!
After many months we found ourselves in Bordeaux, in Unoccupied France,
and there things were much easier. There were some American businessmen
working there. As Jockel led me down the street, one of them stopped and
looked us up and down. Then he spoke - "Jockel?" He hesitated, "Not old
Rufus, surely?" We looked at him, and then recognized an old friend -
Cornelia Flower's father! I jumped up at him and barked with joy. He was
so astonished to see us, and he asked Jockel many questions, which the
lad was unable to answer.
Eventually, he said, "Come along, let's get you somewhere warm and feed
you both." He was so kind. I'll never forget it. We were fed and housed
and cared for. Then, one night, I was taken by dark ways down to the coast
and smuggled aboard an open fishing ship. We were rowed across the Channel,
and eventually I was taken ashore - England, at last!
I will gloss over the many lonely months I spent in quarantine (Jockel
had stayed in France with Mr Flower). Lonely, even though everyone was
very kind. My coat was clipped to get rid of the filthy matted fur, I
was clean and well fed, brushed regularly, and soon I began to look more
like my old self.
Then, one joyful day, my old friends Frieda and Bruno von Ahlen came
and collected me, and with them I flew over to Guernsey, then by car to
the School. And yes, you've guessed it, a door opened and there was my
Joey! I just threw myself at her, barking madly and joyfully, and we almost
rolled over in ecstasy. She hugged me. I licked her face. And yes, we
were both crying, it was such a wonderful moment!
We were never parted again. I stayed with Joey and her husband Dr Jack
and their children - whom I helped bring up - and now I'm a very old dog,
and spend much of my time lying on the hearthrug by the fire. People talk
about its being "a dog's life". Well, I've certainly had a full one, but
the bad times are over now, except sometimes in my dreams. I have everything
I want, especially my beloved mistress, my Joey.
Told to Nina Farthing, England
Note: This article is reproduced with permission from the author and the Editor of the New Chalet Club Journals and originally appeared in Journal 12