Waiting to depart brings the usual rush
With mother conducting the band
My father is perched on the edge of his chair
The car keys clutched in his hand

The bags are all waiting there, by the front door
With labels for each of the clan
You'd think we were flying to fight in the Gulf
Not going to visit my gran

Mother is shouting for somebody, please
PLEASE, FOR THE LOVE OF GOOD GOD
Could somebody please just nip out to the yard
And take a quick check on the dog

She always gets like this before we set off
It's a wonder she hasn't dropped dead
Dad just takes it and closes his eyes
While she stands there pecking his head

I think the best thing is to check on the dog
Old Zacky stays out of the fray
He's always aware of the mood that she's in
He avoids her, keeps out of her way

It's awfully quiet in the garden
Which isn't like Zack at all
He's usually chewing on something
Or running about with his ball

I look down the guinnel that's next to our house
And the fears that I had were bang on
The gate which is meant to keep dogs in
Was open, and Zacky was gone.

I had to tell mum I was going to look
She tore out a clump of her hair
i asked my brother to help me
But he quite clearly just didn't care

So I slinked off into the darkness
Looking for that bloody thing
Thinking that knowing my doggy
He's probably run up to the Kings

They own a farm at the top of the road
And he likes to round up their sheep
Old farmer King has threatened to shoot
But it's a promise he's yet failed to keep

I whistled and shouted and called out his name
Knowing that he wouldn't come
He'd be too busy chasing a cat
Or biting the fleas on his bum

Further up the road I saw
Some people were stood in the road
I thought at first that someone broke down
And the car was going to be toed

I got closer and saw a few people
One of them hugging a man
She was crying uncontrollably
Standing there next to her van

"I just didn't see him," she sobbed to the others
They told her she wasn't to blame
I saw on the ground in front of her feet
Lying there cold in the rain

I couldn't catch my breath at first
My best friend was dead in the street
He'd only wanted to have some fun
And chase after a couple of sheep

I kneeled on the tarmac beside him
And put my hand on his wet fur
His eyes were still open just staring ahead
I knew he was no longer there.

He looked so beautiful lying there still
His body was sodden but strong
A droplet of crimson fell from his nose
The only sign of anything wrong

And I cried and I cried as i hugged by best friend
And at home mother still cursed his name
They were waiting to depart
But Zacky had gone in the rain.