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My name is Win.
I am a dog.
A very good dog, actually.
Everybody at Arsenal tells me so, which is how I know it’s true.
I have lots of hoomans. Big ones, little ones, loud ones, quiet ones, ones who smell like grass, and ones who smell like the nice food I’m not allowed to eat.
I love all of them.
Sometimes I follow Ben because he gives very good belly rubs. Sometimes I follow Bukayo because he always sounds happy when he sees me. Sometimes I follow Gabi because he talks to me in a funny voice and makes lots of noise when he laughs.
I follow the kit hoomans because they carry interesting things. I follow the kitchen hoomans because they carry even more interesting things. And I follow the people who clean the floors because they have those big moving sticks that I am not allowed to chase.
Very rude.
I also follow Big Boss.
His name is Mikel.
Sometimes he says my name very seriously.
“Win.”
And I stop whatever I’m doing.
Usually.
He’s a good hooman, but he talks a lot about something called pressing.
I don’t know why.
He has hands.
He can press things himself.
Anyway, I love everybody at Arsenal.
They’re my pack.
But I do have a favourite.
His name is Martin.
I call him Skip.
He gives the very best ear scratches, smells nice even when he’s sweaty, and sometimes sits on the grass with me when he should probably be doing something else.
He has a lovely smile.
I like his smile.
When Skip smiles, I wag.
When Skip laughs, I wag harder.
And when Skip calls my name, I usually come running.
Unless somebody has chicken.
I’m sorry, Skip.
Chicken is chicken.
But I still like him the most.
Which is why I was a little confused when a new hooman arrived one summer and started looking for Skip almost as much as I did.
His name was Rice.
I liked Rice.
Still do.
He’s a very good boy.
But gosh.
He follows my Skip everywhere.
The first time I came to Arsenal the weather was getting warmer.
There was lots of grass.
Lots of space.
Lots of doors.
And so many hoomans that I didn’t know where to start.
I remember meeting Big Boss first.
He crouched in front of me, held out his hand, and smiled.
“Hello, Win.”
Hello!
I sniffed him.
Coffee.
Clean clothes.
No food.
Hmm.
He scratched my head.
Good.
Very good.
Then another hooman came through the door.
“Oh, look at her!”
He crouched immediately, both hands going to my cheeks.
“Hello, gorgeous. Who’s this little girl?”
“That’s Win,” Big Boss said.
“Win?”
“Yes, Ben.”
Ben laughed.
“Course you’ve called her Win.”
I didn’t know what was funny.
Win was a lovely name.
Much better than Ben.
Sorry, Ben.
He scratched beneath my chin.
OH.
Very good.
I liked Ben immediately.
He talked a lot, smelled nice, and had big hands that were excellent for rubbing my tummy.
I was just beginning to think he might be my favourite when another hooman appeared in the doorway.
“Ben, you coming?”
I looked up.
He has hair thar looks like sand.
Blue eyes like the sky.
Soft voice.
The new hooman smiled when he saw me.
“Oh, hello.”
Oh.
Hello.
Ben looked over his shoulder.
“Come meet the new girl, Skip.”
Skip?
I looked between them.
The new hooman crouched.
“Hello, sweetheart.”
He held out his hand.
I sniffed.
Grass.
Coffee.
Clean clothes.
Nice smell.
Then he scratched behind my ear.
Oh.
OH.
THERE.
RIGHT THERE.
My leg started moving all by itself.
The hooman laughed.
“Like that, do you?”
YES.
MORE.
He scratched again.
I leaned against his knee.
Ben started laughing.
“Would you look at that. She’s picked her favourite.”
The nice hooman smiled.
“She’s lovely.”
I wagged.
The nice hooman rubbed my cheeks one last time before standing.
“See you later, sweetheart.”
Later?
Hmm.
Okay.
I watched him walk away.
Then Ben called me.
“Win! Come on, darling.”
Oh!
Ben!
I hurried after him.
He had very good hands too.
And just like that, I learned something very important about Arsenal.
There were lots of hoomans worth following.
But the one called Skip?
He was special.
I didn’t follow Skip everywhere.
That would have been silly.
What if Ben had treats?
What if Gabi wanted to play?
What if Bukayo was eating something?
I had places to be.
Important dog things.
Some mornings, I’d follow Ben into the changing room and sit beside him while he put his boots on. Other mornings, I’d find Bukayo and let him rub my tummy until somebody called him away.
Gabi was one of my favourites too.
He was very big and very loud.
“WIN!”
GABI!
I’d hurry toward him, and he’d crouch with his arms open.
“Come here, menina!”
I didn’t know what menina meant.
But he always sounded happy.
So I was happy too.
Then there was Willy.
William.
Wilo.
Saliba.
So many names for one hooman.
He was tall and quiet and liked scratching the top of my head.
Sometimes I sat beside him while he talked to Gabi.
Sometimes I fell asleep there.
Very nice.
I liked everybody.
But if Skip walked past while I was getting scratches, my ears always lifted.
There he is!
My favourite!
Sometimes I’d go to him.
Sometimes I wouldn’t.
Depends.
If Ben was already scratching my tummy, I wasn’t going anywhere.
Skip understood.
He was clever.
One afternoon, he came into the lounge and found me lying upside down across Ben’s lap.
Ben looked very pleased with himself.
“Look at this princess.”
Skip smiled.
“She’s comfortable.”
“She likes me.”
Skip crouched beside us.
“Win?”
I turned my head.
SKIP!
He rubbed my ears.
Oh.
Lovely.
Ben looked offended.
“Don’t come over here trying to steal her.”
Skip laughed.
“I’m just saying hello.”
“She’s with me.”
I wagged.
Yes.
With Ben.
And Skip.
Two hoomans.
Four hands.
Perfect.
Then somebody called Ben for training, and he had to stand.
Very disappointing.
I followed Skip instead.
Good arrangement.
When Kai arrived, I thought something had gone wrong.
He was very tall.
Very, very tall.
I looked up at him.
Then farther up.
Goodness.
All that hooman.
Did he need so much leg?
Ben brought him over one morning.
“Come meet Win.”
Kai crouched.
It took a while.
“Hello, Win.”
He had a quiet voice and gentle hands.
I sniffed his fingers before letting him scratch my chin.
Oh.
Good.
I liked this one.
“She’s cute,” Kai said.
Ben grinned.
“She knows.”
Correct.
Kai smiled and rubbed my chest.
Then Skip appeared.
“Kai!”
Long Hooman stood and smiled.
“Hey, Martin.”
Skip gave him a hug.
“How’s everything going?”
“Good. Just getting used to it all.”
“Yeah, course. Let me know if you need anything.”
Ben leaned against the wall beside them.
“Don’t listen to him. He’ll have you doing extra rondos by Friday.”
Skip laughed.
“Shut up.”
Kai shook his head, smiling.
I watched the three of them.
Hmm.
Nice.
Happy hoomans.
Good pack.
After that, I followed Long Hooman quite often.
He walked more slowly than some of the others, which was nice when I wanted to sniff things.
His legs also made a very good hiding place.
One morning, I settled between them while he was standing beside Ben and Skip.
Kai looked down.
“Oh, she’s doing it again.”
Ben glanced at me.
“Congratulations. She thinks you’re furniture.”
Kai sighed.
“Brilliant.”
Skip started laughing.
I wagged.
I didn’t know what furniture meant.
But if it meant sitting somewhere nice while people scratched my head, then Long Hooman was excellent furniture.
I met Rice on a warm morning.
Ben brought him over while I was sitting near the changing rooms.
“Dec, have you met Win yet?”
The new hooman looked down.
“Oh, hello!”
He crouched straight away.
Very good.
I liked hoomans who crouched.
It saved me looking up all the time.
He had dark hair, blue eyes, big shoulders, and very big hands.
Excellent hands.
I sniffed.
New grass.
New shoes.
Nice hooman smell.
No food.
Yet.
“She’s gorgeous,” he said.
Thank you.
I know.
He scratched the side of my neck.
OH.
Good spot.
Very good.
Ben smiled.
“Careful, she’ll have you wrapped around her little paw in a week.”
Rice laughed.
“Think she already has.”
I wagged.
Yes!
He was a clever hooman.
Then Ben said, “Come on, Rice. I’ll show you where everything is.”
Rice.
Hmm.
I knew rice.
Rice was food.
Nice food.
I liked the name.
Then another voice came from behind us.
“Morning, Dec.”
SKIP!
I turned.
There he was.
My favourite.
Rice looked up too.
His hand stopped scratching.
Hmm.
Hand?
Why stop?
“Morning, Martin.”
Skip smiled.
“Getting settled all right?”
“Yeah. Everyone’s been brilliant.”
“Good. Give me a shout if you need anything.”
“Cheers, mate.”
Skip patted his shoulder and walked away.
Rice watched him.
Ben watched Rice.
I watched Ben.
Lots of watching.
Then Ben smiled.
A funny smile.
The one he had that always make skip close his eyes.
“What?” Rice asked.
“Nothing.”
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Like what?”
Rice shook his head.
“You’re weird.”
Ben laughed.
I wagged.
Yes.
Ben was weird.
But nice.
Then Rice remembered me.
“Sorry, Win.”
He scratched my ears again.
Much better.
I liked Rice.
He had good hands.
And he knew Skip.
Very promising.
Rice was a loud hooman.
Not bad loud.
Just loud.
He shouted across the pitch, clapped when somebody did something well, and sometimes talked with his whole body.
His arms moved everywhere.
I liked watching him.
Once, he got so excited about something that he waved both arms while talking to Gabi.
I thought he was throwing something.
I looked around.
No ball.
No stick.
Nothing.
Very disappointing.
He was good at football, though.
At least, I think he was.
The other hoomans seemed happy when he kicked the ball.
Big Boss nodded a lot.
Skip nodded too.
But Skip was a little different around Rice.
He was still nice.
Skip was always nice.
But sometimes his smile was smaller, and his voice sounded like the one he used when Big Boss was talking.
One afternoon, I was lying near Ben while he and Skip sat on a bench.
Rice was farther away, talking to Bukayo.
“He’s doing well,” Ben said.
Skip nodded.
“Yeah. Really well.”
“Good lad, Dec.”
“Mm.”
Ben looked at him.
“What’s that face?”
“What face?”
“That one.”
Skip sighed.
“Nothing.”
“Martin.”
Skip rubbed his forehead.
“He’s used to being captain, isn’t he?”
Ben glanced toward Rice.
“Yeah.”
“He’s been doing it for years. He’s confident. Everyone listens to him.”
“Yeah, and?”
Skip was quiet.
Then he said, “Just takes some getting used to.”
Ben shrugged.
“Doesn’t mean he’s after your job.”
Skip looked at him.
“I didn’t say that.”
“Didn’t have to.”
Hmm.
They sounded serious.
I didn’t like serious.
Serious meant nobody was laughing.
I stood and put my head on Ben’s knee.
Ben scratched my ears without looking away from Skip.
“He’s all right, mate. Give him a chance.”
Skip nodded.
“I am.”
I looked toward Rice.
He was laughing with Bukayo now.
Happy Rice.
Then I looked at Skip.
Quiet Skip.
Hmm.
Maybe Skip needed a walk.
Walks made everything better.
I pushed my nose against his hand.
He looked down.
“Oh, hello, sweetheart.”
He scratched behind my ears.
There.
Small smile.
Good.
I have many talents.
I can sit.
I can give my paw.
I can find a dropped biscuit from very far away.
And I know where most of my hoomans like to spend their time.
Ben likes the changing room.
Kai sometimes sits in the quiet corner of the lounge.
Bukayo likes being with his friends.
Big Boss spends a lot of time in rooms where everybody talks and nobody plays.
And Skip?
Skip moves around a lot.
Sometimes he’s on the grass.
Sometimes he’s in the gym.
Sometimes he’s looking at one of those glowing screens with the other hoomans.
Very busy boy.
I know because I visit him whenever I happen to be nearby.
One morning, Rice found me near the changing rooms.
“Morning, Win.”
RICE!
I wagged.
He crouched.
Good.
Scratches.
He rubbed my ears and looked down the corridor.
“Seen Martin?”
Hmm?
Skip?
I had seen Skip.
He’d gone toward the coffee room.
Rice smiled.
“Shall we go find him?”
FIND SKIP?
YES!
I liked that game.
We walked together.
I stopped to sniff a pair of shoes.
Rice waited.
Good Rice.
Then I found something interesting near a chair.
Rice waited again.
Very patient.
Eventually, we reached the coffee room.
Skip was there with Kai.
I hurried over.
SKIP!
He looked down.
“Hello, Win.”
He scratched my ears.
Wonderful.
Rice appeared behind me.
“Morning, Mart.”
Skip looked up.
“Oh, morning, Dec.”
Rice smiled.
“Found her wandering around.”
Hmm.
No.
I was inspecting.
Very important difference.
Skip looked amused.
“Did you?”
“Yeah. Thought I’d bring her over.”
“Cheers.”
Rice stood beside them.
Kai took a sip of coffee.
Skip asked how Rice was finding the new training sessions.
Rice answered.
Then Rice asked Skip something.
Then Skip answered.
Then Rice asked another thing.
I lay down.
Lots of talking.
Very little scratching.
Eventually, Kai looked down at me.
“She’s fallen asleep.”
Skip laughed.
“She’s not much interested in tactics.”
Correct.
Tactics were boring.
Nobody was throwing anything.
Rice chuckled and crouched to scratch my head.
Good.
He remembered.
We played Find Skip quite often after that.
Not every day.
Sometimes I was busy following the kitchen hoomans.
Sometimes I was with Ben.
Sometimes Gabi called me, and Gabi was very difficult to ignore because he was so loud.
But whenever Rice found me, he usually asked where Skip was.
This was funny.
There were lots of other hoomans to find.
Once, Rice found me near the gym.
“Hello, girl.”
Hello!
He scratched my head.
“Where’s Martin, then?”
Hmm.
Again?
I wagged.
Rice smiled.
“Come on.”
We found Skip outside.
He was talking to a coach.
Rice waited until they finished.
Then he walked over.
“Mart, quick question.”
Skip looked up.
“Yeah?”
Rice paused.
Just a little.
Then said, “You know that drill we did yesterday?”
Skip nodded.
“Yeah?”
Rice started asking about where he should stand when the ball moved to the other side.
Skip listened carefully.
Then answered.
Then Rice asked something else.
And something else.
I sat beside them.
Hmm.
Lots of questions.
Very clever Skip.
Must know all the answers.
Eventually, Skip smiled.
“Anything else?”
Rice laughed.
“No, that’s it. Cheers.”
Skip nodded.
“No worries.”
Then he looked down at me.
“You keeping him company, Win?”
YES.
Very good company.
Rice scratched my ears.
“She’s been brilliant.”
I wagged.
Thank you.
Then I spotted Bukayo walking past.
BUKAYO!
I hurried after him.
He laughed when he saw me.
“Win! Where’ve you been?”
Many places!
Very busy!
Behind me, I heard Skip laugh.
“Well, she’s left you.”
Rice sighed.
“Yeah. Cheers, Win.”
Sorry, Rice.
Bukayo had just crouched down.
And I was not missing that.
One afternoon, I was resting beneath Kai’s legs in the lounge.
Very good legs.
Nice shade.
Ben was sitting nearby, eating something.
I watched his hand.
Then his mouth.
Then his hand again.
He looked down.
“No, Win.”
Hmm.
Rude.
Kai scratched my head.
“She knows you’ve got food.”
“She always knows.”
Correct.
I have a nose.
Very useful.
Then Rice walked in.
“Anyone seen Martin?”
Ben stopped chewing.
He looked up.
Then slowly smiled.
“Morning, Dec.”
“Morning.”
“Looking for Skip?”
“Yeah.”
“Again?”
Rice frowned.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
Kai covered his smile with his coffee cup.
Rice looked between them.
“What’s funny?”
“Nothing,” Kai said.
Ben leaned back.
“He’s in with Mikel.”
“Cheers.”
Rice crouched and scratched my head before leaving.
Good Rice.
As soon as he was gone, Ben laughed.
“He’s unbelievable.”
Kai shook his head.
“Leave him alone.”
“He asks where Martin is every day.”
“He’s a midfielder. They work together.”
Ben looked at him.
“Kai.”
“What?”
Ben kept looking.
Kai lasted about two seconds before smiling.
“All right.”
Ben glanced down at me.
“And she’s helping him.”
Hmm?
Me?
I wagged.
YES.
Very helpful.
Ben scratched behind my ears.
“Poor thing. Doesn’t even know she’s his wingwoman.”
Wing?
I looked at my side.
No wings.
Only legs.
Four good legs.
I didn’t know what Ben meant.
But he sounded pleased.
So I wagged again.
Many sleeps passed.
Rice became one of my favourite hoomans.
He knew where the treats were kept.
He threw sticks properly.
He liked rubbing my chest, and sometimes he sat on the floor with me when the other hoomans were talking.
He also stopped needing my help to find Skip.
This was good.
He was learning.
Now, whenever I saw Rice, Skip was often somewhere nearby.
Sometimes they were talking.
Sometimes laughing.
Sometimes just sitting together.
Very nice.
But one morning, something was wrong.
I found Skip sitting in the lounge with Ben.
Skip was looking at this box that lights up, I heard they call it a phone.
His face was quiet.
Not happy quiet.
The other kind.
I went over and rested my head on his knee.
He scratched my ears.
But he didn’t smile.
Hmm.
Bad.
Ben was looking at him.
“You’ve seen it, then?”
Skip nodded.
“Yeah.”
“Martin, don’t overthink it.”
“I’m not.”
Ben gave him a look.
Skip sighed.
“All right, maybe a bit.”
He looked at his phone again.
I looked too.
Little glowing box.
Lots of marks.
Couldn’t smell anything.
Very boring.
Then Skip read something aloud.
“There’s Martin Ødegaard at Arsenal, my club. I’m not thinking about it, but if anything were to ever happen to him, I really would love to put the armband on for Arsenal.”
Hmm.
Armband.
Oh!
Skip’s arm thing.
Rice wanted one?
Why didn’t somebody give him one?
Arsenal had lots of clothes.
I’d seen the kit room.
So many socks.
Wonderful place.
Ben sighed.
“He was talking about captaining England, mate.”
“I know.”
“And he probably didn’t mean for it to sound like that.”
Skip rubbed his face.
“I know that too.”
Ben waited.
Then Skip said, “It’s just strange to read, isn’t it? ‘If anything were to ever happen to him.’”
“Yeah, he could’ve put that better.”
Skip leaned back.
“When he first joined, I wasn’t sure how he’d feel about me being captain. He’d already been leading West Ham for years.”
Ben nodded.
“But he’s never given you any trouble.”
“No. He hasn’t.”
“Then speak to him.”
Skip was quiet again.
I didn’t like it.
I nudged his hand.
He looked down.
“Hi, sweetheart.”
Hello.
Scratch?
He scratched my ears.
A little smile appeared.
Good.
Ben looked at me.
“At least she’s keeping you company.”
Skip smiled properly this time.
“She always does.”
Well.
Not always.
Sometimes I was with Gabi.
Or Kai.
Or the kitchen hoomans.
But I understood what Skip meant.
I loved him.
Even when he had the bad phone.
When Rice came back from being away, I was very happy.
RICE!
BACK!
I ran toward him as soon as I saw him.
He crouched.
“Hello, gorgeous!”
He rubbed my cheeks.
“Missed me?”
YES!
Many sleeps.
Very bad.
He laughed.
Then he looked down the corridor.
“Martin about?”
Hmm.
Our game!
Find Skip.
I wagged.
We found Skip near the training pitch.
Rice called out.
“Morning, Mart.”
Skip looked over.
“Morning, Dec.”
Rice smiled.
“You all right?”
“Yeah, good. You?”
“Yeah.”
Skip scratched my head.
“Hi, Win.”
Hello!
Then he looked back at Rice.
“Got to sort something with Mikel. I’ll catch you later, yeah?”
“Yeah, course.”
Skip walked away.
Rice watched him.
Then looked at me.
“Bit quiet today, isn’t he?”
Hmm.
Yes.
Quiet Skip.
Rice sighed.
I put my nose against his hand.
He scratched my head.
“Come on, girl.”
We went for a walk.
Good walk.
Lots of grass.
One excellent leaf.
But Rice was quiet too.
Hmm.
Two quiet hoomans.
Not good.
A few days later, Rice found Skip sitting outside after training.
I was with Rice because he’d been throwing a stick for me.
Very good stick.
Not too big.
Not too small.
Perfect stick.
Rice stopped beside Skip.
“Mart, got a minute?”
Skip looked up.
“Yeah, course.”
Rice sat beside him.
I settled near their feet and started chewing my stick.
Very nice.
The hoomans talked.
Something about an interview.
Something about being captain.
Something about Rice not wanting Skip’s armband.
I listened.
Mostly.
Then Rice said, “I loved being captain at West Ham. Still love that side of things. But I didn’t come here expecting to take anything away from you.”
Skip nodded slowly.
“I know.”
“I wasn’t hoping something would happen to you, mate. Christ, that sounded awful.”
Skip laughed.
“Yeah, a bit.”
Rice rubbed the back of his neck.
“I just meant I’d love to do it again one day. But you’re our captain. Everyone respects that. I respect that.”
Skip looked at him.
For a little while, nobody spoke.
I chewed my stick.
Crunch.
Very good.
Then Skip said, “I think I was a bit wary of you when you arrived.”
Rice looked surprised.
“Really?”
“Yeah. You’d been captain for years. You’re confident, you’re loud, everyone listens to you. I didn’t know how we’d work together.”
Rice stared at him.
Then laughed.
“Mate, I was nervous around you.”
Skip blinked.
“What?”
“Honestly. You’d just had a brilliant season, everybody loved you, and I was coming in for all that money. I didn’t want to mess anything up.”
Skip’s mouth twitched.
“You didn’t seem nervous.”
“Yeah, well, I wasn’t going to tell everyone, was I?”
Skip laughed.
OH.
GOOD SOUND.
I looked up.
Both smiling.
Very nice.
Rice leaned back.
“I thought you didn’t like me at first.”
Skip looked embarrassed.
“Sorry.”
Rice shrugged.
“You’re all right now.”
Skip laughed again.
“Thanks.”
Rice smiled at him.
Then, more quietly, said, “I like playing with you, Mart. I want us to be good together.”
Skip looked back at him.
“We are.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
Rice smiled.
A big smile.
Very happy.
I wagged.
Good.
The hoomans were happy again.
I stood and put my head between their knees.
Hello.
Finished?
Skip laughed and scratched my ears.
Rice rubbed my neck.
OH.
FOUR HANDS.
VERY GOOD.
I dropped my stick at Rice’s feet.
He looked down.
“Oh, sorry, girl. You waiting for me?”
YES.
THROW.
He laughed, picked it up, and sent it across the grass.
BEST.
I ran.
Behind me, I heard Skip laughing.
“She doesn’t care what we’re talking about, does she?”
Correct.
Stick was much better.
After the armband thing, Skip and Rice got along even better.
I liked that.
They talked a lot.
They laughed a lot.
Sometimes they ate lunch together.
Sometimes they walked outside together.
Sometimes Rice came looking for me and we went to find Skip.
But now, even when I wandered away to visit somebody else, Rice stayed with Skip.
Hmm.
Interesting.
He used to come with me.
Now he stayed with Skip.
One morning, I was sitting beside Bukayo when Rice walked past.
“Morning, Win.”
Hello!
I wagged.
He scratched my head.
Then he spotted Skip near the door.
“Mart!”
Skip turned.
“Yeah?”
Rice hurried over.
I watched him go.
Hmm.
Rice liked Skip.
Very much.
Bukayo scratched my chest.
“You’re not following him?”
I looked up.
Hmm?
No.
You have hands.
Very good hands.
I stayed.
Bukayo laughed.
“Fair enough.”
Ben seemed to find Rice very funny.
Especially when Skip was around.
One afternoon, I was lying beside Kai in the lounge when Rice came in carrying two coffees.
Ben looked up.
“One for Martin?”
Rice stopped.
“Yeah.”
“Ooooh, I see.”
Rice frowned.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
Kai smiled into his drink.
Rice sighed.
“Can you two not?”
Ben grinned.
“Not what?”
Rice shook his head and walked away.
I watched him.
Two coffees.
No chicken.
Hmm.
Poor planning.
Ben looked down at me.
“You know, Win, he’s not even pretending anymore.”
Pretending?
Hmm.
Was there a ball?
Kai laughed.
“Leave him alone, Ben.”
“He’s been bringing Martin coffee for weeks.”
“That’s nice.”
“Yeah, very nice.”
I looked at Ben.
Then Kai.
Then the door.
Hmm.
The hoomans were being strange again.
But Ben had started scratching my tummy.
So I didn’t mind.
Rice was funny around Skip.
Not always.
Usually, he was loud and confident.
He talked to everybody.
He laughed easily.
But sometimes, when Skip smiled at him, Rice went quiet.
I saw it one afternoon.
Skip was sitting on a bench after training.
Rice came over with his water bottle.
“You heading in?”
“In a bit.”
“Mind if I sit?”
Skip smiled.
“Course not.”
Rice sat.
They talked.
Then Skip laughed at something Rice said.
Rice smiled.
And kept smiling.
Even after Skip stopped laughing.
Hmm.
I watched from beside Gabi.
Why was Rice smiling so much?
Nobody had given him a treat.
No ball.
No stick.
Nothing.
Gabi scratched my head.
“Win, come here!”
GABI!
I turned immediately.
He crouched and rubbed my cheeks.
Very good.
I forgot about Rice for a little while.
There were more important things.
Like Gabi’s hands.
One afternoon I was following a very interesting smell down the corridor.
Possibly food.
Possibly shoes.
Possibly food that had been near shoes.
Wonderful.
Then I heard Skip laugh.
Oh.
Skip!
I looked up.
He was standing near the window with Rice.
They were very close.
Lots of space around them.
But they were standing in one little spot.
Hoomans did that sometimes.
Very odd.
Rice was talking quietly.
“…honestly, I thought you were never going to say yes.”
Skip laughed.
“Dec, you asked me out for coffee three times.”
“Yeah, and you said you were busy.”
“I was busy!”
“I know that now.”
Skip smiled.
“You could’ve just told me.”
Rice looked at him.
“Bit difficult when I wasn’t sure you liked me.”
Skip laughed softly.
“You’re an idiot.”
Rice grinned.
“Yeah, probably.”
Then they got quiet.
Very quiet.
I stopped sniffing.
Hmm.
What was happening?
Rice leaned down.
And pressed his mouth against Skip’s.
Oh.
What?
Skip put his hands on Rice’s shoulders.
And pressed his mouth back.
Hmm.
Face touching.
Very strange.
I watched for a moment.
Then I walked over.
Hello!
Skip heard my paws.
He pulled away and looked down.
“Win!”
ME!
YES!
I wagged.
Rice laughed.
“Hi, girl.”
Hello, Rice.
Skip crouched.
I immediately pushed my nose against his cheek.
He laughed.
“Hello, sweetheart.”
I licked his face.
There.
Proper kiss.
Nice and wet.
Rice crouched beside us.
“She’s got the right idea.”
Skip looked at him.
“Yeah?”
Rice smiled.
Then kissed his cheek.
Again.
Hmm.
Lots of kissing.
I wondered if Skip tasted nice.
I sniffed his face.
No chicken.
Odd.
Rice scratched my head.
I wagged.
Well.
Both hoomans were happy.
And I was getting scratches.
Very good.
After that, Rice and Skip spent even more time together.
Sometimes they arrived at training together.
Sometimes Rice carried Skip’s bag.
Sometimes Skip wore Rice’s jacket.
I didn’t understand that.
Skip had lots of jackets.
I’d smelled them.
But he seemed to like Rice’s.
Maybe it smelled nice.
I understood liking nice smells.
I liked Rice’s smell too.
He smelled like grass, clean clothes, and sometimes chicken treats.
Excellent.
But there was one small problem.
Rice had started sitting in my favourite spot.
Not always.
Sometimes Ben sat there.
Sometimes Kai.
Sometimes Bukayo.
I didn’t mind.
Usually, I just found another place.
There were lots of nice places at Arsenal.
But Rice was there a lot.
A lot.
One afternoon, I found Skip sitting on the sofa.
Rice was beside him.
His arm was around Skip.
Skip was leaning against his shoulder.
Hmm.
My favourite spot.
I stood in front of them.
Skip looked down.
“Hello, sweetheart.”
Hello.
I put my paws on the sofa.
He smiled.
“Want to come up?”
YES.
He moved his legs.
Rice shifted too.
I climbed up and settled across both their laps.
Perfect.
Skip laughed.
“She’s comfortable.”
Rice rubbed my side.
“Yeah, I can see that.”
Oh.
Nice.
Very nice.
Then Rice kissed Skip’s hair.
I opened one eye.
Hmm.
Again.
Rice noticed.
He laughed.
“What?”
Nothing.
Just watching.
Skip scratched behind my ear.
I closed my eyes again.
Very good.
Ben appeared a moment later.
He stopped in the doorway.
Looked at us.
Then grinned.
“Well, that’s nice.”
Rice sighed.
“Morning, Ben.”
Ben ignored him.
“Win, you’ve finally accepted him, have you?”
Accepted?
Hmm.
Rice was warm.
Good seat.
Very nice.
I wagged.
Ben laughed.
“She’s got both of you where she wants you.”
Kai appeared behind him.
He looked at us.
Then at Ben.
“Can you leave them alone?”
“I’m talking to Win.”
“She’s asleep.”
I wasn’t.
But I appreciated Kai’s help.
Rice scratched my back.
I decided not to move.
One day, Skip came back from training looking tired.
Not normal tired.
Sad tired.
I knew the difference.
Normal tired Skip still smiled when he saw me.
Sad tired Skip smiled a little, but his shoulders stayed low.
I found him sitting near the window.
He had his elbows on his knees and was looking at the floor.
I walked over.
Hello, Skip.
He looked down.
“Hi, baby.”
I put my head on his knee.
He scratched my ears.
Slowly.
Hmm.
Sad.
I stayed.
A little later, Rice came in.
He stopped when he saw Skip.
“Hey.”
Skip looked up.
“Hey.”
Rice sat beside him.
“You all right?”
“Yeah.”
Rice didn’t say anything.
For a while, they just sat together.
Then Skip sighed.
“Just frustrated.”
“Training?”
Skip nodded.
“Yeah.”
Rice leaned back.
“Want to talk about it?”
Skip shook his head.
Then nodded.
Hoomans.
Very confusing.
Rice waited.
Skip started talking.
Something about a pass.
Something about where he should have stood.
Something about not being good enough.
I didn’t understand.
Skip was very good.
He gave excellent scratches.
How could he not be good enough?
Rice listened.
Then he said, “Mate, you’re allowed to have a bad session.”
Skip laughed a little.
“That’s not what you were saying when I misplaced that pass.”
Rice grinned.
“Well, it was a terrible pass.”
Skip stared at him.
Then burst out laughing.
OH.
GOOD.
Rice laughed too.
“But seriously. You’re fine. We’ll sort it tomorrow.”
Skip leaned against him.
Rice put an arm around his shoulders.
Then kissed his hair.
Hmm.
Nice.
Skip looked much happier.
I moved closer and put my head on his lap.
He smiled down at me.
“Got both of you looking after me, have I?”
YES.
Very good.
Rice scratched my ears.
“She’s doing most of the work.”
Correct.
Thank you, Rice.
Skip laughed again.
I wagged.
Mission done.
I don’t like thunder.
Thunder is bad.
Very bad.
The sky growls.
Loudly.
I don’t know why.
I have never done anything to the sky.
But one evening, the sky became very angry.
Rain hit the windows.
Wind rattled the doors.
Then—
BOOM.
OH NO.
BAD SKY.
I jumped up.
Needed hooman.
Any hooman.
Good hooman.
I hurried into the corridor.
Another boom.
NO.
VERY BAD.
Then I saw Rice.
He was talking to one of the staff.
“Win?”
RICE!
HELP.
He crouched immediately.
“Hey, sweetheart. What’s wrong?”
BAD SKY.
LOUD.
VERY LOUD.
Another rumble came.
I pressed against him.
Rice wrapped his arms around me.
“Oh, poor girl.”
He rubbed my back.
Slow.
Gentle.
“You’re all right. I’ve got you.”
Hmm.
Warm.
Safe.
Good Rice.
He stayed with me until I stopped shaking so much.
Then he looked down the corridor.
“Come on. Let’s find Martin.”
SKIP?
YES!
BEST IDEA.
We found Skip in the lounge with Kai and Ben.
Skip looked up.
Then saw me.
“Oh, Win.”
SKIP!
I hurried over.
He crouched and put his arms around me.
“Hello, sweetheart.”
I pressed against him.
Bad sky.
Very bad sky.
Rice sat beside us.
“Found her shaking in the corridor.”
Skip rubbed my ears.
“Poor baby.”
Kai moved his bag from the sofa.
“Here. Sit down.”
Good Long Hooman.
Very good.
Skip sat.
I climbed beside him.
Rice sat on the other side.
Ben came over and scratched my head.
Lots of hands.
Lots of nice hoomans.
Very safe.
The sky growled again.
I pressed closer to Skip.
He scratched my ears.
Rice rubbed my back.
Ben sat nearby, talking about something funny.
Kai laughed.
Skip laughed too.
Rice smiled.
The hoomans kept talking.
Normal things.
Dinner.
Training.
Something Ben had done wrong.
I didn’t know.
I just liked hearing their voices.
After a while, the thunder grew quieter.
My eyes started closing.
Skip leaned against Rice.
Rice kissed his forehead.
Hmm.
There they go again.
But I was warm.
And sleepy.
And had four hoomans nearby.
Very good.
I closed my eyes.
Maybe thunder wasn’t so bad when my pack was around.
One evening, after most of the hoomans had gone home, I found Skip and Rice sitting together near the windows.
The sun was low.
The grass outside smelled wet.
Very nice.
Skip had his head against Rice’s shoulder.
Rice was rubbing his hand.
I walked over.
Skip smiled.
“Hello, baby.”
SKIP!
I wagged.
He scratched my ears.
Rice smiled too.
“Hi, Win.”
Hello, Rice.
He rubbed my neck.
Perfect.
I settled between their feet.
They kept talking.
Something about Ben.
Something about Kai.
Something about going out for dinner.
Then Rice laughed.
“You know, I should probably thank her.”
Skip looked down.
“Win?”
“Yeah.”
Hmm?
Me?
I lifted my head.
Rice smiled.
“For helping me when I first joined.”
Skip laughed.
“She helped you?”
“Loads.”
I wagged.
YES.
VERY HELPFUL.
Rice looked at me.
“Didn’t you, girl?”
Of course.
Rice turned back to Skip.
“Every time I wanted to talk to you, I’d go looking for her.”
Skip stared at him.
Then started laughing.
“Wait. Seriously?”
Rice grinned.
“Yeah.”
“All those times you brought her over?”
“Yeah.”
“And the treats?”
“Well, she liked the treats.”
CORRECT.
Excellent treats.
Skip shook his head.
“Oh my God.”
Rice laughed.
“Ben worked it out almost straight away.”
“Of course he did.”
“Pretty sure Kai knew too.”
Skip covered his face.
“That’s embarrassing.”
Rice leaned closer.
“Not as embarrassing as asking you if Win liked going for walks in the morning or afternoon.”
Skip laughed harder.
“Declan!”
“What? I was trying!”
Skip leaned against him.
“You could’ve just asked me out.”
Rice smiled.
“I did eventually.”
“After about eight months.”
“Well, you weren’t exactly making it easy.”
Skip laughed.
“Sorry.”
Rice smiled softly.
“Worked out in the end.”
Then he kissed him.
Hmm.
Again.
Very funny hoomans.
I watched them for a moment.
Then put my nose against Rice’s hand.
Hello.
Still here.
Rice laughed.
“Sorry, Win.”
He scratched my ears.
Good.
Skip smiled down at me.
“She’s been your little helper all along.”
Rice nodded.
“Best wingwoman I’ve ever had.”
Wingwoman?
Again?
I looked at my side.
Still no wings.
Hmm.
Maybe I should ask the birds.
Rice scratched my neck.
“Couldn’t have done it without you, girl.”
I wagged.
Yes!
Very good helper!
Then Skip smiled.
“So you were using our dog to spend time with me?”
Rice shrugged.
“Worked, didn’t it?”
Skip laughed and kissed him again.
Hmm.
Our dog?
Me?
I lifted my head.
I liked that.
Our dog.
Two hoomans.
Four hands.
Lots of love.
Very good.
Many Sleeps Later
Things are different now.
Rice doesn’t need me to find Skip anymore.
He knows where Skip is.
Sometimes he knows before I do.
Very clever.
I like Rice.
A lot.
He brings me treats.
He throws sticks.
He knows when the thunder makes me scared.
And he always scratches my neck when I come over.
I still follow everyone at Arsenal.
Sometimes I spend the whole morning with Ben.
Sometimes I sit with Kai.
Sometimes Bukayo calls me over, and I go running because he sounds so happy.
Sometimes I follow Gabi and Willy out to the pitch.
Sometimes I nap near Big Boss’s office.
Very nice warm spot.
Lots of walking.
Lots of scratches.
Lots of hoomans.
But Skip is still my favourite.
And Rice?
Rice seems to think Skip is his favourite too.
Hmm.
Funny.
Because there are lots of lovely hoomans at Arsenal.
Why does Rice always pick Skip?
I suppose I can’t blame him.
Skip is very nice.
This morning, I found Skip and Rice sitting together outside.
The sun was warm.
The grass smelled nice.
A bird was hopping near the fence.
I watched it.
Very interesting bird.
Then I heard Skip laugh.
Oh!
Skip!
I looked over.
Rice had his arm around him.
Skip was smiling.
I trotted toward them.
Rice saw me first.
“Hey there princess.”
Skip looked down.
“Hello, sweetheart.”
SKIP!
I hurried over.
He scratched my ears.
Perfect.
Rice rubbed my neck.
Also perfect.
Then Rice kissed Skip’s cheek.
Hmm.
Again.
I looked at him.
He looked down.
“What?” He laughed, “She’s watching.”
Skip smiled.
“She always watches.”
Of course.
Important job.
I sat between their feet.
Very nice.
Warm grass.
Good shade.
Rice looked down.
“Want to come up?”
YES.
He moved his leg.
Skip shifted too.
I climbed onto the bench and settled between them.
Perfect.
Skip laughed.
“She’s got the best seat again.”
Rice scratched my back.
“She knows what she’s doing.”
Correct.
Very smart dog.
Then Ben appeared.
“Morning, lovebirds.”
BIRDS?
where?
Rice groaned.
“Morning, Ben.”
Ben looked down at me.
“Oh, hello, darling.”
BEN!
I wagged.
He crouched and rubbed my cheeks.
Wonderful.
Kai came over a moment later.
He looked at us.
Then at the very small space left on the bench.
“Is there room for anyone else?”
Skip laughed.
“Not really.”
Ben looked at Rice.
“She’s finally letting you have some time with Martin, then?”
Rice smiled.
“Very generous of her.”
I wagged.
Yes.
Very.
Ben laughed.
“You know she was here before you.”
Rice nodded seriously.
“April. I was July. I’ve heard.”
Skip started laughing.
Kai shook his head.
“Why do you know that?”
“Ben reminds me.”
“Someone has to,” Ben said.
Rice rubbed my ears.
“Don’t worry, girl. I know my place.”
Hmm.
Good Rice.
Then Skip leaned over and kissed Rice.
Ben made a noise.
“Oh, for God’s sake.”
Kai laughed.
Skip pulled away, smiling.
“What?”
“Nothing,” Ben said. “Just wondering if the rest of us are invisible.”
Rice grinned.
“Would be nice.”
Ben looked offended.
“Rude.”
I watched them.
Happy hoomans.
Lots of laughing.
Very good.
Then Bukayo called from across the grass.
“Win!”
BUKAYO!
I lifted my head.
He crouched and held out his arms.
“Come here, girl!”
Oh!
Yes!
I jumped down from the bench and ran toward him.
Behind me, Ben burst out laughing.
“Well, there goes your dog.”
Skip laughed too.
“She’ll be back.”
Correct.
But Bukayo had very good hands.
And I was busy.
Later, after training, I found Skip and Rice near the changing rooms.
Rice was carrying Skip’s bag.
Again.
Very strange.
Skip had two hands.
I’d counted.
But Rice seemed happy carrying it.
So I didn’t worry.
They were talking quietly.
Rice reached for Skip’s hand.
Skip took it.
Hmm.
Hand holding.
Very funny.
Now both their hands were busy.
How would they scratch me?
I walked closer and nudged Rice’s leg.
He looked down.
“Hello, gorgeous.”
Hello.
Hand?
Rice laughed and let go of Skip’s hand to scratch my head.
Good.
Very good.
Skip smiled.
“She’s got you trained.”
Rice laughed.
“Yeah, apparently.”
I wagged.
Correct.
Very good boy.
Then Skip crouched beside us.
He scratched behind my ears.
OH.
BEST.
Rice rubbed my neck.
Two hoomans.
Four hands.
Perfect.
I closed my eyes.
Warm.
Happy.
Safe.
I love my Arsenal hoomans.
All of them.
Ben and his good belly rubs.
Kai and his very long legs.
Bukayo and his happy voice.
Gabi and his big hugs.
Willy and his quiet scratches.
Big Boss and his shiny shoes.
The kitchen hoomans.
The kit hoomans.
The people who throw balls.
Even the people who keep taking my balls away.
I love them all.
And I love Rice.
Rice is a very good hooman.
He makes Skip laugh.
He brings me chicken.
And sometimes, when we’re all sitting together, Rice scratches my back while Skip scratches my ears.
That is the best.
I still don’t know why Rice keeps kissing Skip.
But Skip always smiles afterward.
And I like that.
So I suppose it’s fine.
Rice can have some of Skip’s kisses.
I get the ear scratches.
Very good.
Then Rice leans over and kisses Skip’s cheek again.
Hmm.
I look up.
They both laugh.
“What is it, Win?” Skip asks.
I wag.
Just checking.
Rice smiles and scratches my head.
“Good girl.”
YES.
Very good girl.
I lean into his hand.
Then Skip kisses the top of my head.
OH.
BEST.
See?
Rice gets kisses.
Win gets kisses.
Everybody gets kisses.
Very good pack.
Very good day.