Oh, youve got to hear this storyits one of those that sticks with you.
So, theres this bloke, James, driving home to his wife, Emily, after three months working away on an oil rig. Hes got his favourite tune blastingsome old-school ballad about love and crowns and kissesand hes proper chuffed, pockets heavy with his hard-earned pounds. Springs just starting to peek through, and the breeze is soft against his face as he hums along.
Then, out of nowhere, he spots something from the corner of his eyea dog, a proper big Labrador, stuck in the icy river, barely keeping its head above water. The poor things exhausted, barely paddling. James hesitates for a secondEmilys waiting, the songs still playingbut he swears under his breath, turns the car around, and heads back.
He pulls over, strips down to his boxers, and wades in, breaking the ice with his bare hands. Its freezing, and the jagged edges cut him up, but he gets to the dog, pushes it toward the bank, and hauls it out. The poor things massiveway too heavy for the thin icebut James bundles it into his car, bleeding and shivering. The dog just stares at him, trembling, like it knows its safe now.
Alright, mate, youre coming home, James says, and the dogArchie, as it turns outflops onto the back seat like hes always belonged there.
But heres the twiston the way home, James hits traffic. A nasty crash, two cars and a lorry, ambulances everywhere. His stomach drops. He glances back at Archie, now snoozing peacefully, all warm and dry. If it werent for him, he thinks, Id be in that mess.
When he finally gets home, he sweeps Emily off her feet, spinning her on the doorstep, kissing her silly. And theres Archie, sitting quietly, tail thumping, like hes grinning. Emily finally notices him. Whos this? she asks.
Our angel, James says. Archie. Hes family now.
And just like that, Archie licks her hand, then her face, and thats that. Hes theirs. Their big, daft, slobbery angelwho also happens to nick Jamess slippers, terrorise the cat, and generally be a menace. But hes *their* menace.
Life settles. James still works awayjobs in their little town pay peanutsbut Emilys not alone anymore. And soon, theres another surprise on the way, though James doesnt know it yet.
Then one evening, Emily takes Archie for a walk. Its muggy, the kind of heat that makes you lazy. But then two drunk lads corner her, laughing, getting too close. Archies got his muzzle onhes never bitten a soul, but Emilys the type to follow rules. Stupid, she thinks, as one of them grabs her arm.
She lets go of the leash.
Archie goes for them. Theyve got a knife.
By the time James gets the call, Archies at the vet, barely breathing. James races there, heart in his throat. The dog looks so small on the table, hooked up to drips, the vet working fast. James leans in, whispers, Dont you dare leave us, and kisses his nose.
Andmiracle of miraclesArchie opens his eyes. Just a flicker, but its enough.
He pulls through. Lives another five years, loves their little boy, Jack, with every ounce of his big, daft heart. When he finally goes, its with all of them around him. And little Jack, dead serious, says, We need another Archie. I cant live without one.
Loves funny like that. It saves you in ways you never see coming. So be kind. Help the strays. You never knowmight just be an angel in a fur coat.
