Edna had been very low since the loss of Brandy and Neisha. She desperately missed having a dog, and not long after Neisha passed on, she began to look for another pet. No sooner had she begun her search than she came across a dog that reminded her of Brandy. This was Spice, another exuberant Heinz 57 female whose resemblance to Brandy was remarkable, other than the fact that she was golden in colour. Suddenly, Max, the tired old dog, found himself walking with a young female pup.
It was amazing. Edna and I were delighted to see that there was life in the old dog yet. Max didn’t even seem tired any more. He loved his new companion from the moment they met. Smaller than Max to begin with, Spice was destined to be a big dog and she grew rapidly. She had an abundance of energy and she imparted this to Max. He might not run and play as boisterously as in his youth, but he always managed a frolic with his new pal.
After two or three months, Edna and I began to notice an interesting phenomenon. Spice, we discovered, was not the Goody-Two-Shoes that Brandy had been. Spice did not necessarily pay attention when Edna gave her orders, and she was quite stubborn at times. If Edna called Spice when she was running free, she always looked around to see what she might be missing before deciding whether to obey or not. She could also be a little feisty at times.
Suddenly, we realized what was happening. Spice was displaying some of the traits of her walking companion. Edna and I had to see the funny side of this. It was as if ‘Uncle Max’ was whispering tips in Spice’s ear: “You don’t have to come the instant you’re called. Always look to see if you’re missing something exciting. Don’t let other dogs push you around. Keep your mistress on your toes.”
And as for Max, he looked pleased as punch when Spice got into trouble. He was like a proud teacher beaming benevolently at his star pupil. Spice was not going to grow up a wimp; she was going to be a girl with spirit, a chip off the old Max block. Max was rejuvenated and there was no question why. Spice Girl was a real tonic! Living up to her name, she became his Spice of Life.