The story behind the story……………

A story inspired partly by Franz Kafka’s, ‘The Metamorphosis’, first published in 1915, Metamorphosis is a story about travelling salesman, Gregor Samsa who wakes up one morning to find that he has become a human sized, insect like creature.

It has also been inspired by the ‘Just So’ stories of Rudyard Kipling, where disobedience and unhelpfulness have unforeseen and unnerving consequences.

So, without further ado, I give you…….

The woman who turned her husband into a dog…………

“No, I don’t” – these are the final words spoken to me by my husband. And no before you wander off in completely the wrong direction and jump to completely the wrong conclusion. Let me assure you, that he is very much alive and doing well, all things considered.

He’s just not quite as he was.

Even now as I look at him, I’m still not quite sure how it happened. Though I am clear on what happened and reasonably clear about when it all started. So perhaps that is a good place to begin………

It was six months ago just before my 50^th birthday when I experienced an unusual and unexpected yearning to get a dog. As if from nowhere, I felt a strong need for the unconditional love and companionship that only a dog could provide. Besides it would be a good way to get out and about to meet people and provide me with some much-needed regular exercise.

With these ‘happy’ thoughts in my head, I floated the idea of getting a dog past my husband and it’s fair to say he was less than keen.

‘Hmmm, yes, I can see some positives, but what about the poo, veterinary bills? What about my eczema? Why don’t we get some fish? They look pretty with no constant petting.’

So, I wasn’t too amused, when a week later, on my return home from a trip to London to find a tank installed in our home. Complete with a clutch of tropical fish and my husband standing by it, looking as pleased as punch.

‘This is something we can both enjoy.’

He was clearly very pleased with this demonstration of initiative and ordinarily I would have been over the moon with any show of action and follow through. I had half wondered, hoped even that he might have used my time away to look at compatible dog breeds. Size, temperament, hairiness, intelligence, etc. Sure, we had talked about fish in passing, but I certainly didn’t remember us agreeing to a whole tank of brightly coloured and frankly, annoying fish.

And, I am sorry to say that my response was short and to the point.

‘No,’

At what stage then, did I make my choice and start to wonder? Ask myself, what if? What kind of dog could I create, live with? Was it possible?

Even now as I look back the changes were subtle, small and gradual. The transformation took a bit of time and focus. And I’m still not quite sure how I managed it. Though I believe myself to be a rational woman, married for some 30 years now.

So, there you have it.

Until next time

Shortstoriesblogger

Janice Taylor

www.blueskycareerconsulting.co.uk