Mister Pepper's Secret, Page 2

June arrived, and we now come to the day of the annual barbeque. Mia wondered whether the garden committee had forgotten about Mister Pepper. But on the morning of the celebration, Mister Pepper stood in the very place that Angelina had foretold.

  Mia was excited. She placed the red dog collar on her dresser before leaving for school that day. Angelina had tucked a surprise in that collar and she didn’t want to forget it.

  After their walk that evening, Mia and Bubbles went to the garden as people were arriving. The strings of lights on poles around the courtyard were lit. Although it was not yet dark, fireflies were adding glimmer to the celebration. Everyone was busy chatting, carrying tasty food dishes to the tables, and children were playing in the pathways. Mia moved over to Mister Pepper and, since no one was watching, traded the blue collar for the red one.

  As soon as she did, several friends ran up to say hello and for a moment she forgot about the magic Angelina had promised. Bubbles was racing around the walkway chasing a red ball with her doggy friend Lucy, and they were soon joined by Jasper, the new doggy from the penthouse.

  When Mrs. Goldenrod appeared, Mia went over and asked if she might get her a plate of food. “There are hamburgers and hot dogs,” Mia said. “Even vegan ones.”

  Mrs. Goldenrod got a pained look on her face. She took a deep breath, pursed her lips, and opted for a salad. As Mrs. Goldenrod sat and began chatting with her neighbors, Mia saw that Bubbles was sitting in front of Mister Pepper. People nearby were talking, sitting on benches or waiting in line for their charcoal-grilled dinner.

  Bubbles seemed deep in thought, and nodded her head every now and then. Mia stepped a bit closer and found that she was seeing a conversation between Bubbles and Mister Pepper in her mind’s eye. Animals think in images, and Mia was able to understand what the two dogs were saying. It didn’t matter that Mister Pepper was made of stone.

  “How did you get stuck in there?” asked Bubbles.

  “Well, it’s a long story.”

  “I like stories, long or short.”

  “Promise you won’t tell?”

  “Promise—dog scout’s honor.”

  “Then I’ll begin. When I was young, I was given to an older man Mr. Dinkus who lived alone. He was not very interested in a having a dog, much less playing with one. So he moved me out to a little penned area behind his work shed. He fed me when he remembered and sometimes forgot to give me water. There was no grass, only dirt and rocks on the ground, and my space was never cleaned. After a couple of winters, he built me a rickety doghouse.

  “One early spring when Mr. Dinkus was gone for a few days, a young boy saw me through the back fence. He climbed over and walked into the yard. I was a bit nervous, but he talked so nicely and then patted me gently on the head. It was beautiful. But after a while he left, and I never saw him again.

  “Over the years, I always remembered that one day with the young boy, but it made me sad and I would whimper myself to sleep. After a while I stopped crying, I stopped eating, and then I stopped moving. One morning I woke up and I couldn’t feel anything. I had turned to stone.”

  “Oh, dear, Mister Pepper!” said Bubbles amazed. “How did you come to Astor Court then?”

  “Mr. Dinkus didn’t want a dog statue so he threw me out in the trash. But there was a garbage man who spotted me. He loved dogs and he thought I looked good enough to be sold in the thrift shop in town. That’s where Lenore went shopping, and the rest is history.”

  “That’s some story!” said Bubbles. “I hope you like it at our place then—in the garden.”

  “Actually, I love it outside here. I can see the children playing, the lovers holding hands, and the residents coming home to their families from work. I want everyone who sees me to think of me as a friend—the friend who is always waiting here for them, no matter what.

  “And now it is time for me to be a friend for these children.”

  And sure enough, as Mister Pepper finished his story, the children started coming towards him. A young girl greeted Bubbles and then went to sit by Mister Pepper with her arm around him. “Here, Pepper, do you want some of my watermelon?” she asked, giving him a kiss on the cheek. Another little girl came up and gave Mister Pepper a hug. A young boy stepped over and gently patted him on the head. Bubbles watched her new friend and thought she could see the trace of a smile.

  Mia sighed, after learning this story. As she watched Bubbles, she noticed that she was distracted by a familiar voice.

  “Pepper, Pepper—wherefore art thou, Pepper?” exclaimed Angelina. She was running towards Mister Pepper in bare feet and a flowing, long white dress.

  “Oh, Angelina,” said Mia. “I heard the story that Mister Pepper was telling Bubbles. I was able to understand because of the magic red collar.”

  “Yes,” said Angelina. “It was quite a story wasn’t it?” And without waiting for an answer, Angelina took off Mister Pepper's red collar and wrapped it around her wrist. She kissed Mister Pepper on the top of his head and gently fastened the old blue collar around his neck.

  “That’s all the secrets we’re telling for now, right Peps?” She turned to Mia, and remarked at what a big crowd there was at the barbeque.

  She asked Mia to keep Mister Pepper’s secret and to check every once in a while to make sure that Mister Pepper was happy. Mia wasn’t sure she would be able to tell. They paused to listen to the sound of children laughing near them. Angelina said she had the deepest faith that she would. After all, why would she bother telling Mia secrets if she didn’t think Mia was special?

  “Now I really must find my aunt, and ask her to help me with my lines. She used to be an actress, you know.”

  Mia hadn’t known. There were so many surprises this evening—she was beginning to feel dizzy.

  “By the way, we moved on from animals. I’m rehearsing ‘Romeo and Juliet’ now—can’t you tell? Oh, Aunty, Aunty—wherefore art thou, Aunty?”

  Angelina walked with a flourish to where Mrs. Goldenrod was sitting. She whispered in her ear and they both left towards the ninetieth street garden door. Angelina turned and blew kisses to Mia and shouted, “Parting is such sweet sorrow…” and with laughter dashed out the door, gently pushing her aunt ahead of her.

  “Oh, Bubbles,” sighed Mia, as she looked back to where the children were still laughing and petting their new statue friend. “Oh, Mister Pepper! Astor Court is such a magical place. Come on, Bubbles, let’s get some watermelon.”

  In the following winter, Mrs. Goldenrod passed away peacefully in her sleep. She was ninety-two years old and talked to her household friends up until the very end. She left all of her furniture to Angelina who was at a loss as to what to do with it. Angelina thought carefully about the matter and finally donated it to an animal rescue group so it could be used to help save animals.

  Not long after Mrs. Goldenrod’s departure, a graduate student moved into her apartment. Mia saw her some mornings in the elevator, carrying a tote bag full of books. She usually looked deep in thought, but would always smile.

  Mia and Bubbles stopped to say hello to Mister Pepper every day, no matter what the weather. They had become fast friends. Mister Pepper ended up having many other people who would greet him each day.

  As for myself, I have lost a brick or two somewhere. They’re probably in the process of becoming something else. I hope that whatever it is, they will be useful—and happy!

  My story is over. Mrs. Goldenrod said it best—if people would be polite to their friends, as well as their enemies, the world would be a better place. And I would like to add, polite to things of the world that don’t breathe or move. One never knows how a little polite attention can make all the difference to that brick, or furniture, or statue…

  About the Author

  Marian Hailey-Moss is a former actress and a semi-retired psychotherapist She champions the humane treatment of animals, veganism and lives in New York City. The story was inspired by the statue that her actress friend Lenore Harris
gave her and by a foster dog named Pepper.

  Visit Marian at www.marianhaileymoss.com

  About the Artist

  MARC CHALVIN is a Parisian artist who fills his drawings and his animations with life, whimsy, and wisdom. Marc feels they speak for themselves.

  Special Thanks

  to

  Abandoned Angels Cocker Spaniel Rescue, NY

  Other children’s books by Marian Hailey-Moss

  Teatime with Sophie

  A Palace for Peepers

  (with Andrea End)

  A Dog Named Randall

  (with Mark Wilk)

  Milky Whey’s Dream

  An Elephant Called Butterfly

  (with Lois Meredith)

  An Elephant Called Mira

  PEACEFOOD