Tales of Bernard

By William Forde

The social cohesion of any civilised society cannot be achieved without the eradication of high unemployment, mass homelessness and class division. While ever this triple scourge plagues our country, Britain will remain a divided nation, unable to harness the full potential of its human resources.

The provision of adequate shelter, to act as a base from which meaningful tasks can be performed, alongside the rightful expectation to be treated equally, are the basic rights of every citizen and creature within any humane and democratic society.
In the final analysis. Homelessness impairs health, homelessness deprives education, homelessness increases the level of hopelessness, homelessness reduces the prospects of obtaining full-time employment, homelessness increases the vulnerability of our most vulnerable citizens, homelessness breaks up families, homelessness costs lives!
The plight of the homelessness is a cost we cannot afford to leave unresolved. It is a shared responsibility among all within society.

In writing 'Tales of Bernard', I have tried to provide the reader and all dog lovers with a taste of what it is like to be homeless.
Through reading about the exploits of our hero, Bernard, alongside those of Boxer and his pack of stray-pedigree hounds, the story as a whole can be productively used as a 'discussion starter' in both home and classroom for the child reader.

'Tales of Bernard' is a book that can be enjoyed by any dog lover, whether they be child or adult as the central themes covered in the story embrace the many problems to be found in any society that experiences, abandonment, desertion, bullying and homelessness.

Each of the dog characters in the book will be readily identified with by some child readers as they display behaviour and traits which are common to many growing children.

The overall theme of the book is that whether it is bullying, homelessness or indeed any other problem of social and environmental conditioning, we all need to pull together to help each other win through.
Twenty five years working as a Probation Officer in West Yorkshire taught me that all bullies were at some earlier stage of their lives subject to bullying themselves. I also learned that all persons bullied can best help themselves as well as the bully by standing up to them and informing on them. I learned that bullying can only exist with the acquiescence of all those involved in the process; the bully, the bullied and the spectator.

Similarly, the solution to all other problems in society, whether they be homelessness, loss etc.etc can best be resolved by all working together as part of the problem and part of the solution instead of following an ‘I’m all right Jack’ type of mentality.

Tales of Bernard is as relevant to the reader today as it was when it was first published during the 1990s. The book is suitable for young person, adult or any dog lover. Enjoy.

William Forde: September, 2013.

• Language: English
• Publisher: William Forde
• Release date: Sep 2, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301498291

William Forde

William Forde was born in Ireland and currently lives in Haworth, West Yorkshire with his wife Sheila. He is the father of five children and the author of over 60 published books and two musical plays. Approximately 20 of his books are suitable for the 7-11 year old readers while the remainder are suitable for young persons and adults. Since 2010, all of his new stories have been written for adults under his 'Tales from Portlaw' series of short stories. His website is www.fordefables.co.uk on which all his miscellaneous writings may be freely read. There are also a number of children's audio stories which can be freely heard.He is unique in the field of contemporary children's authors through the challenging emotional issues and story themes he addresses, preferring to focus upon those emotions that children and adults find most difficult to appropriately express.One of West Yorkshire's most popular children's authors, Between 1990 and 2002 his books were publicly read in over 2,000 Yorkshire school assemblies by over 800 famous names and celebrities from the realms of Royalty, Film, Stage, Screen, Politics, Church, Sport, etc. The late Princess Diana used to read his earlier books to her then young children, William and Harry and Nelson Mandela once telephoned him to praise an African story book he had written. Others who have supported his works have included three Princesses, three Prime Ministers, two Presidents and numerous Bishops of the realm. A former Chief Inspector of Schools for OFSTED described his writing to the press as 'High quality literature.' He has also written books which are suitable for adults along with a number of crossover books that are suitable for teenagers and adults.Forever at the forefront of change, at the age of 18 years, William became the youngest Youth Leader and Trade Union Shop Steward in Great Britain. In 1971, He founded Anger Management in Great Britain and freely gave his courses to the world. Within the next two years, Anger Management courses had mushroomed across the English-speaking world. During the mid-70's, he introduced Relaxation Training into H.M. Prisons and between 1970 and 1995, he worked in West Yorkshire as a Probation Officer specialising in Relaxation Training, Anger Management, Stress Management and Assertive Training Group Work.He retired early on the grounds of ill health in 1995 to further his writing career, which witnessed him working with the Minister of Youth and Culture in Jamaica to establish a trans-Atlantic pen-pal project between 32 primary schools in Falmouth, Jamaica and 32 primary schools in Yorkshire.William was awarded the MBE in the New Year's Honours List of 1995 for his services to West Yorkshire. He has never sought to materially profit from the publication of his books and writings and has allowed all profit from their sales (approx £200,000) to be given to charity. Since 2013, he was diagnosed with CLL; a terminal condition for which he is currently receiving treatment.In 2014, William had his very first 'strictly for adult' reader's novel puiblished called‘Rebecca’s Revenge'. This book was first written over twenty years ago and spans the period between the 1950s and the New Millennium. He initially refrained from having it published because of his ‘children’s author credentials and charity work’. He felt that it would have conflicted too adversely with the image which had taken a decade or more to establish with his audience and young person readership. Now, however as he approaches the final years of his life and cares less about his public image, besides no longer writing for children (only short stories for adults since 2010), he feels the time to be appropriate to publish this ‘strictly for adults only’ novel alongside the remainder of his work.In December 2016 he was diagnosed with skin cancer on his face and two weeks later he was diagnosed with High-grade Lymphoma (Richter’s Transformation from CLL). He was successfully treated during the first half of 2017 and is presently enjoying good health albeit with no effective immune system.

Book preview

‘Tales of Bernard’

By

William Forde

Copyright October 2014 by William Forde

Revised April 2017

Smashwords Edition

Smashwords Edition, Licence Notes

Thank you for downloading this e-book. This e-book is licenced for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Contents

Author’s Foreword

Chapter One - ‘The Runt of the Litter’

Chapter Two - ‘Big dog – Small bark – Big disappointment’

Chapter Three - ‘Bernard goes Bonkers’

Chapter Four - ‘Bernard meets Blossom’

Chapter Five - ‘Bernard and the Falling Sky’

Chapter Six - ‘Bernard and the Dog-nappers’

Chapter Seven - ‘Dilemma and Decisions’

Chapter Eight - ‘The Rescue’

Chapter Nine - ‘The Circus Comes to Town’

Chapter Ten - ‘The Bernese beauty’

Chapter Eleven - ‘Bernard, Brigid and Bernice’

Chapter Twelve - ‘All Together at Last’

Author’s Background

Other Books by this Author

Connect with William Forde

Author’s foreword

The social cohesion of any civilised society cannot be achieved without the eradication of high unemployment, mass homelessness and class division. While ever this triple scourge plagues our country, Britain will remain a divided nation, unable to harness the full potential of its human resources.

The provision of adequate shelter, to act as a base from which meaningful tasks can be performed, alongside the rightful expectation to be treated equally, are the basic rights of every citizen and creature within any humane and democratic society.

For the past fifty years, ‘Shelter’ has fought for the rights of our homeless neighbours throughout our land. Without the existence of ‘Shelter’ and other organisations, which advocate rights on behalf of those without a roof above their head, the impact upon the ultimate cost to our economy would be devastating.

In the final analysis, homelessness impairs health, homelessness deprives education, homelessness increases the level of hopelessness, homelessness reduces the prospects of obtaining full-time employment, homelessness increases the vulnerability of our most vulnerable citizens, homelessness breaks up families, and homelessness costs lives!

The plight of the homeless is a cost we cannot afford to leave unresolved. It is a shared responsibility between the politicians, the homeless and those citizens with their own homes.

I would urge that every parent buying this book for their child and every school buying this book for its pupils, discuss the issues of ‘homelessness’ with the child reader, and if possible support the work of ‘Shelter’ and other organizations that seek better accommodation for all by your financial or personal contribution.

In writing ‘Tales of Bernard’, I have tried to provide the reader and all dog lovers with a taste of what it is like to be homeless.

Through reading about the exploits of our hero, Bernard, alongside boxer and his pack of stray-pedigree hounds, the story can be productively used as a ‘discussion starter’ in both home and classroom for the child reader.

‘Tales of Bernard’ is a book that can be enjoyed by any dog lover, whether they be child or adult as the central themes covered in the story embrace the many problems to be found in any society that experiences, abandonment, desertion, bullying and homelessness.

William Forde, October 2014.

Tales of Bernard

by

William Forde

Chapter One - ‘The Runt of the Litter’

Please can I have some milk now? pleaded Bernard. I’m starving and there’s never any left by the time I get there!

You just have to wait your turn, his older three brothers barked back. We were here first, Titch!

Being the runt of the litter, Bernard did as he was told.

Come on now boys, be fair. One of you let all Bernard in! snapped Brigid, who was the mother to the litter. Your youngest brother hasn’t had a drop yet and if you keep pushing him out, he will never grow!

Brigid was a beautiful St Bernard bitch and although she loved all four of her pups, she was naturally protective of Bernard; her youngest and the smallest of the litter.

Brigid realised that Bernard was a polite and courteous pup of pleasing and gentle disposition, and because he didn’t like to push and shove, it was easy for his three brothers to take advantage of him; which they often did.

Bernard was a pedigree, but compared to his three brothers, who were all much larger, he looked poor specimen of his breed.

The door burst open and two humans entered the room; one of them ranting and raving at the top of her voice. All four pups ran for cover.

Put the runt in the shed quickly! the lady owner bellowed at her husband. The buyers are here to view, and if they catch sight of the runt they’ll begin to think that there’s something wrong with all the litter!

Bernard shook with fear whenever he heard this voice, much more than his brothers. He knew that there was something different about him that angered his owner. He could sense that there was something that seemed to make her treat him more harshly than his brothers. He hid behind the settee, hoping that she wouldn’t see him and would go away.

Bernard’s owner was Marguerita Melissa Mudgrove. She was colloquially known to reputable members of the dog-breeding fraternity as ‘Mad Maggie’, because of her menacing looks and aggressive temperament.

Mad Maggie had, in the past, tried her hand at the shows but had been disqualified for dubious practice. She then decided that there was more money to be made in breeding pedigrees than showing them.

Nobody crossed Mad Maggie and emerged from the fray unscathed! Her broad skull with slightly-arched forehead and deep muzzle was indistinguishable from the head of a raving Rottweiler. Once her face locked itself in scowling motion, her mouth frothed fearsomely as her menacing jaws begged to bite.

Built to a great size, her deep chest and wide, muscular back gave her the body of a Mastiff. She didn’t talk like other humans. Instead, the words blasted forth from her mouth like a cannon, exploding its shells in all directions. Where money was concerned however, Mad Maggie had the nose of a bloodhound and could smell the presence of profit by simply breathing in.

Mad Maggie was a large-sized double-chinned two-faced woman! In public, she pretended to be a lady and an animal lover, but in private she was a foul mouthed, bellowing bully who was coarse in language and unrefined in mannerisms. Think of all that is nasty with the greediest of people in this world and you will perfectly picture Mad Maggie; a gluttonous, voracious gobbler of food who is selfish, mean-spirited, devious, full of spite and money grabbing!

Deep down, Mad Maggie hated animals and only tolerated their presence inside her house for the quick profits they made her.

Spying Bernard cowered down behind the settee, she swooped upon her prey. Her shovel-sized hand seized him by the scruff of the neck, hoisting him upwards, like a captured rat in the mouth of a cat.

Seizing Bernard with eyes of malice, Mad Maggie thrust the pup into the hands of her husband, Walter, and snarled, Put the runt in the shed quickly!

Walter looked to have been shaken from his senses as he stared back at his wife with a look of vacancy. Because she had screeched and spat her order in his face, the boom of her voice had vibrated his eardrums to the extent that he hadn’t heard a word; any word that he could understand the meaning of that she had barked at him.

I said, put the runt in the shed now, you gormless good-for-nothing! she bellowed at her timid husband. Get rid of the runt now!

Walter Mudgrove was a prisoner to his puny size; a ‘fetch this here’ and ‘carry that there’ creature to his monstrous wife. He was lean in bone, frail in stature and obsequious in demeanour. He wouldn’t have dared look Mad Maggie in the eye; even had he been tall enough to do so! He obeyed her every command without question; never once barking back.

She, on the other hand, treated him with contempt. She treated him woefully and fed him no better than a dog. She never allowed him to spend any part of their money on luxuries like haircuts.

Consequently, Walter presented as a pathetic looking picture, with his long hair flopped down in grey strands over each side of his head; covering his eyes like a Skye Terrier peering out nervously at the world beyond.

Taking Bernard from Mad Maggie’s clutches, Walter carried the pup outside and put him inside a cold, dark, brick shed, out of sight of the buyers.

I’m sorry fella, but I’ve got to do as she says or they’ll be hell to pay for both of us. If you’re wise, you’ll keep quiet until the buyers have gone, otherwise she’ll punish you! he said, as he locked the shed door.

Bernard felt frightened and alone in the dark shed. He tried to settle down on the damp floor.

Why am I always the one who is put out in the cold whenever the doorbell rings? he wondered. What have I done wrong to deserve this? I wish I knew!

After six weeks of shifting Bernard in and out, every time a buyer called to view the remaining pups for sale, Mad Maggie decided to leave him out in the shed permanently. Even after Bernard’s brothers had all been sold off, he still didn’t get a look in!

Now that we’ve sold the other three, Mad Maggie said as she tucked into her steak and chips greedily, we’ll have to decide what to do with the runt. He’s only an unnecessary expense for us to keep!

If we fed him up a bit better dear and brought him back inside the warm house, we might be able to sell him also like the others, Walter replied cautiously. He was always wary of making suggestions, lest his wife got the impression that he was telling her what to do.

He can stop outside! There’s no point wasting good money feeding the runt up! Once a runt, always the runt; that’s what I say! He’ll never amount to anything worthy of selling. All he’ll do is eat up the profits that we’ve made from the rest of the litter. So, don’t you go wasting good food on the little runt. He can eat the scraps! Mad Maggie screamed.

Bernard had never felt so alone. Having had no contact with his mother or brothers for two weeks now, Bernard began to feel unwanted and unloved. He didn’t know what was going on.

If....if......if only they’d let me back inside the warm house, I’d never do anything wrong again! Bernard cried as he tried to find a dry spot on the cold, damp, shed floor to lie down on.

He began to pine for the noise and smell of his family, especially his mother. Hearing his mother inside the house and needing her to snuggle up to, he instinctively barked for her.

Mum! Please don’t leave me out here on my own. I want to come in, Mum. I’m cold and hungry. I don’t want to be left alone. I want to come in now! he barked louder and louder.

Brigid heard the bark of her son out in the shed and started to bark back.

Shut it, you noisy bitch! Shut it now or you’ll be out in the shed also! Mad Maggie snarled at Bernard’s mother.

When Brigid stopped barking, Bernard became more frightened. Being unaware of what was happening inside the house and not knowing why his mother’s bark had suddenly stopped responding to him, he barked louder.

Mum! Mum! Where are you? What’s happening, Mum? I want to come in! I want to come in now! Bernard barked.

That’s it, you noisy runt! That’s it! Now you’re for it! I’ll teach you to snap and snarl at your bigger and betters! yelled Mad Maggie, as she grabbed the leather strap, which was hanging up on the inside of the door.

Her mouth began to froth with rage, and clenching her teeth, she marched outside towards the shed mouthing, "I’ll teach you,