This piece was extracted from a longer story of mine to appear in the weekly Unicorn photo prompt Challenge.
Nicholas watched the dark blue BMW pull slowly into his driveway and saw a young man emerge, wearing sunglasses, tailored jeans, and a smart jacket over a white T-shirt.
Nicholas called to his grand-daughter, India, ‘Are you expecting someone?’ India emerged quickly from her room, saying as she rushed past ‘It’s Justin, he’s come to pick me up’.
When they entered, Nicholas’s dog, Arfer, curled his upper lip and a low rumble began in his belly. Nicholas hushed him with ‘Arfer, that’s no way to treat a guest.’ Arfer retreated to a corner, never once taking his eyes off Justin.
India nervously introduced the young man. Justin kept his sunglasses on and offered a handshake, which proved to be limp and sweaty.
Seated at the kitchen table, Nicholas broke the silence.
‘So, Justin, how do you make your way in the world?’
‘I’m in sales. Software.’
‘Ah, a master of the dark arts that India has been labouring to teach me. I fear I have been less than a perfect pupil.’
Justin stood and said to India ‘I’ll wait in the car’. India grabbed her backpack, rubbed Arfer’s head and said to Nicholas, ‘If I didn’t know better, I’d think you might actually give a shit about what happens to me in the future.’
‘I do, sweetheart, and Arfer and I sincerely hope it’s not that.’
Later, Nicholas sat on the dock, watching the sunset and said quietly, ‘Next time, Arfer. Next time you can rip his throat out.’
Six Crooked Highways 
Hey, Doug, just because he’s in software doesn’t make him a bad person!
Some of us have former lives, y’know.
But I like Arfer more than Justin, and trust him much more!
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I worked for many years in a charity focused on bringing software to charities and now, with the advent of AI and data mining, I question whether I did them a favour. 😉 But you’re right. Never doubt your dog’s instincts.
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My grandfather probably would have blown his knees out with a shotgun.
It’s a Sicilian thing.
Just saying.
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A man after my own heart. 🙂
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Yep, dogs know.
Love the relationship you suggest between Nicholas and India.
Teenagers won’t be told.
Unless by Afer, I hope.
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dogs are perfect lifeforms*
Tell me, who wouldn’t trust a dog sooner than a person who leaves their sunglasses on when being introduced?
*me, every time I have an opportunity to comment on the qualities of the canine
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Exactly.
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Excellent, the tension in the room was palpable. They left just in time!
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Thanks, Keith. That was the intention.
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Always trust the dog’s instincts. And the grandfather’s, in this case. Justin is definitely a worm and I have my fingers crossed that India comes to her senses very soon. Great characters.
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Indeed, Margaret, but increasingly I’m finding that no-one listens to Grandpa. 🙂 Thank you for your kind words.
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Oh how I can relate to that. No-one listens.
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