"Ya' want anythin' to drink? Ale or the like?"

"Eh...wouldn't mind a bit o' that, thanks."

There's a new man in our house. I trot up to him and smell him. He smells like petrol and oil. His fur is dark and messy and it's covered by a hat. He sees me sniffing his leg and he smiles. 

"Aw, there's me wee prince!" He kneels on the floor and pets me! I like him! I wag my tail and spin around! He's a good man, he's a friend! "Handsome boy, ain't he?"

"His name's Charlie."

I'm Charlie!

"Thanks, mate." Ooh, what's that? A new drink? One I've never smelled before? Come on, give old Charlie a taste. "How old is he?"

"He's two now. Have the others spoken to ya' about the next album at all?"

"Jus' some pinches here an' there..."

The men are talking and drinking. Now is my chance to sniff his glass. It's cold and wet around the sides. I pull my nose away. I lick my nose and blink. It's disgusting! It's old and deep and much too heavy. He can have it, I want nothing to do with it. 

The man with the hat stands up from the floor and I leave them to talk. My owner has his guitar with him. Maybe he'll play some music for us. I find a couple of my toys under the couch. I growl at them and grab them with my strong teeth. They still squeak and honk and I want to rip them to shreds. I must chew and dig and tear. 

"Your old band okay with ya' joinin' us?"

"Ah...the lads don't mind...I think they understand this is an opportunity."

"Bon liked ya'."

"Did he? I saw him on the telly once an' I was jus' blown away, ya' know? Had the honor of meetin' him once...."

There's a hole in my toy. Yes! I've done it! I've broken through! I work my teeth through the hole and tear with all my strength! There's string and fluff everywhere! I must shake this toy! Fluff flies in every direction! Little pillows falling from the sky! Oh, this is so much fun! I want to show the man and his friend! I wag my tail and present my work to them. "Aw, Charlie, not another one..."

"Eh, he's a right ol' powerhouse."

"That's the third toy he's chewed up."

I scurry off and decorate the room some more with the fluff. I'm so proud of myself! The men must be too! What a good dog I am! 

**********

"That's hot playin', lad."

"Should see Ang if ya' haven't already. I always knew playin' lead was right for him."

I lie on the couch and listen to my owner play guitar. The other man seems to be enjoying it too. I wonder if he plays at all. My owner has such musical friends. I love them! I wish they would visit more often. Maybe if they visit more, my owner will stop leaving so much. 

"Ya' takin' ol' Charlie here to the Bahamas?"

"Linda said she'd watch him. The move to London was hard enough on him."

"Poor lad."

I feel pets and scratches but I don't open my eyes. I want to lie here and sleep after my long day of tearing and decorating. It's raining outside and the sound soothes me. No booming thunder, no flashing lightning. Just a nice peaceful rain...

I jump at the sound of the crash. Oh no, no thunder, please! I look at my owner who pets behind my ears. "It's okay, Charlie, you're safe in here."

"Right storm out there..."

The man starts plucking at the guitar. He's playing a tune I've heard him play several times before. It's a sad sounding piece. But it always puts me to sleep. Until now while the thunder keeps me wide awake. I tremble. 

"Ya' come up with that jus' now?"

"It's jus' somethin' I play once in a while. Warm ups, ya' know."

"It's good, lad."

Why must thunder be so loud? It scares me! Mum isn't here to lick me! I need my owner to lick me! But he's busy! I'll have to lick myself. I lift my leg and start licking. "Oi, Charlie, not in front of the guests!"

I hear them laughing. Well, it's nice that they're so happy and comfortable but I'm not clowning around! This is serious thunder business! I start licking my front paws and chew them. If I distract myself I won't see or hear anything scary. I'll just focus on the man's playing. I'll listen to their talking. 

**********

"You'll be right, Brian?"

"Yeah, I've gotta fast car, it won't even get wet." 

"Alright. I'll call once it's time to record. Ang an' I have been messin' around in the studio a bit an' we want ya' to hear some of it."

The man is leaving. His scent is still strong around the house. The horrible thunder stops and now it's just a heavy rain. I eat and drink and sniff around. The house reeks of petrol. I wonder if the man drinks it. Maybe that was in his glass today. No, it didn't smell like petrol, it smelled like bread. But it sure didn't taste anything like it. I'm still trying to get the taste out of my mouth. I hope my human cooks meat tonight, I'm starving. 

"So what do ya' think of Brian, Charlie?"

I hear my name and look up at him. I see him open the cold box and pull out a package of meat! Yes! I wag my tail and sniff hungrily! It's all for me! As an apology for the thunder he's cooking all that meat for me tonight! I slobber everywhere, I can taste it already! Oh, I'm so happy!! Oh, thank you thank you thank you!!!

"Easy, boy, it ain't all for you!"

It's all for me!! He's such a good owner, he's the best!!! I could just bark until the sun comes up! I think I will!

"Oi, Charlie! Get some singin' lessons, ya' silly boy!"