Chapter Twenty (Uncle Arnold)

Jonathan and Captain are playing in the attic, when Carolyn's uncle comes to visit us. He is an odd man. She says his name is Arnold. He tells bad jokes and cannot do the tricks he says he can. My playmates think he is funny. Captain does not. He says Arnold's jokes are older than him that must be very old indeed. But he seems like a nice man and Carolyn is fond of him.

I watch as Arnold keeps saying and doing the same thing, the kids and I like it less and less. They don't want him at Candy's party anymore. I feel kind of bad for the older man when I see how sad he looks.

When I listen to Captain and Carolyn I can tell that she is worried about Arnold's feelings, the Captain seems sympathetic and so I go in search of him. I do need to know what is happening with my family after all!

I find him on the balcony staring at the water.

Captain.

He does something unusual, he ignores me. I will have none of that, so I bark.

"Oh, Scruffy, it's you."

Who else do you think it would be?

He mumbles something that I can't hear.

What? I glare at him.

"I said that I must find a way to help."

What's the problem this time?

He studied me for a moment before he decided to confide in me.

"It's Uncle Arnold."

I thought she liked him.

"Oh, she does, but the children have hurt his feelings, inadvertent though it may have been, and now Carolyn feels bad because of it."

But what can you do? I sat down and scratched my ear, still staring at him. Maybe he should go to the party anyway.

"That's what I am trying to figure out." He paced back and forth and then suddenly snapped his fingers. "That's it. Scruffy, my lad, you're a genius."

Of course I am but what does that have to do with anything?

"I think I need to talk to Jonathan, I shall teach him the value of human feelings.

You still remember them? I laughed my dog laugh at his annoyed face, and eventually he smiled

"Good one, you curly, fur matted excuse for a dog." He reached down and gave me a pet.

Thank you. It seems you have solved your problem, so I will be on my way. I paused at the door and looked back at him. Will you help him?

Captain didn't say anything but I saw the slow smile that spread across his face.

Good! He may be nice but he needs all the help he can get! Captain laughed as I left the room.

Captain unpacks Arnold's things when he isn't looking; he is trying to get him to stay. Then he encourages Jonathan to keep Arnold here. His talk with Jonathan must have gone well because Jonathan and Candy convince Arnold to stay and do the magic show. He is proud of that the boy listened to him, and Jonathan is proud to make the Captain happy.

Arnold does a magic show for Candy's birthday. I know it will be terrible. I am only there because I am waiting for cake. Arnold has a rabbit, it must be for me! Terriers hunt rabbits! Just let the rabbit drop to the floor! I encourage that by barking, but there is no rabbit! Suddenly everything works right. Captain is helping, I know it, I see him! I am still surprised when the eggs don't run down Arnold's face. And why do I have to wear this stupid birthday hat? I am a dog! Give me that rabbit! And where is my cake?

I can see that Carolyn is happy that Captain helped Uncle Arnold. I am happy too because none of us are now embarrassed. Dogs can be embarrassed too.

When it is time for him to go Uncle Arnold says goodbye to me. I offer my paw despite his bad dog joke. After all, a terrier must be polite. He says goodbye and although he is nice I think we are all happy to see him go.