Zoé
Chapter 8: Mocha at Grandma's
Zoé has to go on vacation and leave Moka with Grandma. How will he adapt to this new house? And… will he manage to behave?
Reading difficulty
The holidays are finally here. Zoé has to leave Moka with Grandma for a week.
"Are you sure you're going to be okay, Moka?" Zoé asks, gently stroking him.
Moka wags his tail happily. He doesn't understand what's going on.
Zoé carefully prepares Moka's large bag with everything she needs: her favorite soft cushion, her bowls, a large bag of kibble, all her toys, her health record, her blue harness and her leash.
"There you go, you really won't want for anything!"
In the car, Moka is asleep on the back seat. He doesn't know he's going to be staying at Grandma's for a long time.
At Grandma's, Moka looks everywhere with curiosity. He sniffs the living room, the garden. He always stays close to Zoé.
Grandma gives him a nice treat. "Don't worry, my big boy! We're going to have lots of fun together!"
Zoé stays a while to play with Moka. But we have to leave now.
"I'm going to miss you a lot, aren't I, Moka?" said Zoé, hugging him very tightly.
Moka moaned softly. He rested his head against her. He sensed that something was different.
"See you very soon, my beloved Moka! Be good!" said Zoé in a trembling voice.
She leaves. Behind the closed door, she hears Moka gently scratching the wood.
The first few days are difficult for Moka. He looks for Zoé everywhere in the
house. He waits a long time near the front door. He sniffs his cushion to smell its scent.
Grandma spoke to him in a very gentle voice. "Come on, my handsome boy, let's go for a long walk in the park!"
Little by little, day after day, Moka gets used to this new life. He discovers Grandma's large flower garden. He lies down quietly next to Grandma's armchair when she reads.
But one morning, a little mischief happens!
Grandma put her warm slippers down by her armchair to go make her tea. When she came back a few minutes later, they had completely disappeared!
She's looking everywhere. Where have they gone?
She finally finds Moka. He's comfortably settled in his basket with a chewed-up slipper between his paws!
"Oh, Moka!" Grandma laughed softly.
In the evening, Zoé calls Grandma. "How is Moka today? Is he eating well?"
Grandma shows the damaged slipper to the phone's camera. "He left his little footprint here too!"
Zoé is very embarrassed. "Oh no! I'm so sorry, Grandma!"
"Don't worry at all, darling! It's normal!"
The days go by. Moka gains confidence. Every evening, Zoé calls him and he wags his tail very strongly when he hears her voice on the phone.
Zoé will be back from vacation soon.
But she wonders anxiously: does Moka still remember her after all these long days? Will he recognize her right away?
"Are you sure you're going to be okay, Moka?" Zoé asks, gently stroking him.
Moka wags his tail happily. He doesn't understand what's going on.
Zoé carefully prepares Moka's large bag with everything she needs: her favorite soft cushion, her bowls, a large bag of kibble, all her toys, her health record, her blue harness and her leash.
"There you go, you really won't want for anything!"
In the car, Moka is asleep on the back seat. He doesn't know he's going to be staying at Grandma's for a long time.
At Grandma's, Moka looks everywhere with curiosity. He sniffs the living room, the garden. He always stays close to Zoé.
Grandma gives him a nice treat. "Don't worry, my big boy! We're going to have lots of fun together!"
Zoé stays a while to play with Moka. But we have to leave now.
"I'm going to miss you a lot, aren't I, Moka?" said Zoé, hugging him very tightly.
Moka moaned softly. He rested his head against her. He sensed that something was different.
"See you very soon, my beloved Moka! Be good!" said Zoé in a trembling voice.
She leaves. Behind the closed door, she hears Moka gently scratching the wood.
The first few days are difficult for Moka. He looks for Zoé everywhere in the
house. He waits a long time near the front door. He sniffs his cushion to smell its scent.
Grandma spoke to him in a very gentle voice. "Come on, my handsome boy, let's go for a long walk in the park!"
Little by little, day after day, Moka gets used to this new life. He discovers Grandma's large flower garden. He lies down quietly next to Grandma's armchair when she reads.
But one morning, a little mischief happens!
Grandma put her warm slippers down by her armchair to go make her tea. When she came back a few minutes later, they had completely disappeared!
She's looking everywhere. Where have they gone?
She finally finds Moka. He's comfortably settled in his basket with a chewed-up slipper between his paws!
"Oh, Moka!" Grandma laughed softly.
In the evening, Zoé calls Grandma. "How is Moka today? Is he eating well?"
Grandma shows the damaged slipper to the phone's camera. "He left his little footprint here too!"
Zoé is very embarrassed. "Oh no! I'm so sorry, Grandma!"
"Don't worry at all, darling! It's normal!"
The days go by. Moka gains confidence. Every evening, Zoé calls him and he wags his tail very strongly when he hears her voice on the phone.
Zoé will be back from vacation soon.
But she wonders anxiously: does Moka still remember her after all these long days? Will he recognize her right away?
The holidays are approaching, and Zoé is preparing for her departure with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. But this time, something is different: she won't be able to take Moka with her. This reality weighs heavily on her heart.
"Are you sure you'll be okay, Moka?" she asks, stroking her silky fur.
The little dog wags its tail, unaware of what is about to happen.
Zoé knows that Grandma will take care of him, she has no doubt about it. But the idea of leaving him for a week breaks her heart.
"I'll have to get all his things ready so he doesn't lack anything!"
Zoé takes out the list they made for the trial: her cushion, her bowls and kibble, her favorite toys, her health record, her harness and leash. But this time, they need to pack enough for a whole week!
She checks several times to make sure she hasn't forgotten anything.
"Looks like you're going on holiday too, Moka!" Zoé jokes with a smile as she fills a large bag with her things.
The day of departure arrives.
In the car taking them to Grandma's, Moka sleeps on the back seat, unaware that this journey marks the beginning of a separation.
"You see, Moka," Zoé murmurs even though he's asleep, "we're almost at Grandma's. You're going to have a great time with her."
When they arrive at Grandma's, Moka wakes up and seems intrigued. He sniffs everywhere, explores every corner of the living room, but stays close to Zoé, glued to her legs, sensing that something is about to happen.
"Don't worry, my dear! You'll see, we'll have lots of fun together!" Grandma reassured him in her warm voice, handing him a treat.
Zoé stays with them for a while, playing with Moka in the garden, showing her where her basket and food bowls are. But the time to leave comes.
"I'm going to miss you, won't I, Moka?" she murmured in a choked voice as she knelt down to hug him.
Moka moaned, a plaintive sound that tore at her heart, resting her head against her.
"Come on, darling," Grandma interjected. "He'll have fun here with me, I promise. And you can call him every night!"
Zoé takes a deep breath, gathers her courage, and gets up. "Okay. See you soon, my Moka. Be good."
She leaves the house, turning around several times. Behind the door, she hears Moka scraping wood.
The first few hours are difficult for Moka. He looks for Zoé everywhere in the house, exploring every room. He waits by the door for long periods. He sniffs her cushion, searching for her scent.
Grandma, with her patience, spoke to him in a gentle voice. "Don't worry, my handsome boy. Come with me, we're going for a lovely walk in the park!"
Little by little, day after day, Moka begins to get used to this new routine. He discovers Grandma's large garden, with its many colorful flowers and little paths. He learns to lie down next to Grandma's armchair when she reads.
But one morning, a small mishap occurs.
Grandma puts her favorite slippers next to her armchair before going to make her tea.
When she returns, they have disappeared!
She looks for them everywhere in the living room. She discovers Moka settled in her basket, with one of the slippers chewed up between her paws!
"Oh, Moka..." sighs Grandma, but she can't help laughing.
That same evening, Zoé called Grandma urgently.
"Grandma! How is Moka? Is he eating well? Is he not too sad?"
Grandma, amused,He laughed. "See for yourself..."
She turns on the video on her phone. Moka is lying on the rug, chewing on a toy.
Zoé sighed in relief. But she noticed something.
"Grandma... what's that over there?"
Grandma takes the destroyed slipper and shows it off with a mischievous smile.
"Let's just say he left his little mark here too!"
Zoé's eyes widened. "Oh no, Grandma! I'm sorry!"
"Don't worry," Grandma reassured her. "He was stressed. It's normal with young dogs!"
Zoé nods her head, embarrassed but relieved.
"I'll buy you a new pair when I get back!"
As the days go by, Moka gains confidence. He follows Grandma everywhere, he plays with her, and he waits every evening for Zoé's call. When he hears her voice on the phone, he wags his tail vigorously.
One day, Grandma sends a video: Moka is running in the garden, ears flapping in the wind, looking happy.
Zoé smiled as she looked at her. "You're right, Moka. Even when we're far apart, we'll always be together."
She counts the days until the reunion, but she is reassured: Moka is happy at Grandma's.
Soon, the big day of her return will arrive. But Zoé wonders anxiously: does Moka still remember her after all these days? Will he recognize her?
"Are you sure you'll be okay, Moka?" she asks, stroking her silky fur.
The little dog wags its tail, unaware of what is about to happen.
Zoé knows that Grandma will take care of him, she has no doubt about it. But the idea of leaving him for a week breaks her heart.
"I'll have to get all his things ready so he doesn't lack anything!"
Zoé takes out the list they made for the trial: her cushion, her bowls and kibble, her favorite toys, her health record, her harness and leash. But this time, they need to pack enough for a whole week!
She checks several times to make sure she hasn't forgotten anything.
"Looks like you're going on holiday too, Moka!" Zoé jokes with a smile as she fills a large bag with her things.
The day of departure arrives.
In the car taking them to Grandma's, Moka sleeps on the back seat, unaware that this journey marks the beginning of a separation.
"You see, Moka," Zoé murmurs even though he's asleep, "we're almost at Grandma's. You're going to have a great time with her."
When they arrive at Grandma's, Moka wakes up and seems intrigued. He sniffs everywhere, explores every corner of the living room, but stays close to Zoé, glued to her legs, sensing that something is about to happen.
"Don't worry, my dear! You'll see, we'll have lots of fun together!" Grandma reassured him in her warm voice, handing him a treat.
Zoé stays with them for a while, playing with Moka in the garden, showing her where her basket and food bowls are. But the time to leave comes.
"I'm going to miss you, won't I, Moka?" she murmured in a choked voice as she knelt down to hug him.
Moka moaned, a plaintive sound that tore at her heart, resting her head against her.
"Come on, darling," Grandma interjected. "He'll have fun here with me, I promise. And you can call him every night!"
Zoé takes a deep breath, gathers her courage, and gets up. "Okay. See you soon, my Moka. Be good."
She leaves the house, turning around several times. Behind the door, she hears Moka scraping wood.
The first few hours are difficult for Moka. He looks for Zoé everywhere in the house, exploring every room. He waits by the door for long periods. He sniffs her cushion, searching for her scent.
Grandma, with her patience, spoke to him in a gentle voice. "Don't worry, my handsome boy. Come with me, we're going for a lovely walk in the park!"
Little by little, day after day, Moka begins to get used to this new routine. He discovers Grandma's large garden, with its many colorful flowers and little paths. He learns to lie down next to Grandma's armchair when she reads.
But one morning, a small mishap occurs.
Grandma puts her favorite slippers next to her armchair before going to make her tea.
When she returns, they have disappeared!
She looks for them everywhere in the living room. She discovers Moka settled in her basket, with one of the slippers chewed up between her paws!
"Oh, Moka..." sighs Grandma, but she can't help laughing.
That same evening, Zoé called Grandma urgently.
"Grandma! How is Moka? Is he eating well? Is he not too sad?"
Grandma, amused,He laughed. "See for yourself..."
She turns on the video on her phone. Moka is lying on the rug, chewing on a toy.
Zoé sighed in relief. But she noticed something.
"Grandma... what's that over there?"
Grandma takes the destroyed slipper and shows it off with a mischievous smile.
"Let's just say he left his little mark here too!"
Zoé's eyes widened. "Oh no, Grandma! I'm sorry!"
"Don't worry," Grandma reassured her. "He was stressed. It's normal with young dogs!"
Zoé nods her head, embarrassed but relieved.
"I'll buy you a new pair when I get back!"
As the days go by, Moka gains confidence. He follows Grandma everywhere, he plays with her, and he waits every evening for Zoé's call. When he hears her voice on the phone, he wags his tail vigorously.
One day, Grandma sends a video: Moka is running in the garden, ears flapping in the wind, looking happy.
Zoé smiled as she looked at her. "You're right, Moka. Even when we're far apart, we'll always be together."
She counts the days until the reunion, but she is reassured: Moka is happy at Grandma's.
Soon, the big day of her return will arrive. But Zoé wonders anxiously: does Moka still remember her after all these days? Will he recognize her?
The holidays are approaching, and Zoé is preparing for her departure with a mixture of excitement for the adventures ahead and apprehension about the impending separation. But this time, unlike all her previous trips, something is different: she won't be able to take Moka with her. This reality weighs heavily on her heart.
"Are you sure you'll be okay, Moka?" she asks softly, stroking her silky fur, as if to memorize the sensation.
The little dog wags its tail, unaware of what is about to happen, of the upheaval that will take place in their lives.
Zoé knows that Grandma will take care of him; she doesn't doubt it for a second. Grandma is patient, caring, and she adores Moka. But despite this certainty, the idea of leaving him behind, of not seeing him for a whole week, breaks her heart in a way she never could have imagined.
"I'll have to prepare all his things so he doesn't lack anything! It's my responsibility."
With her mom's help, Zoé goes through the list they made for the trial visit at Grandma's: her cushion, her bowls and kibble, her favorite toys, her health record, her harness, and her leash. But this time, they need to pack enough for a whole week. She checks several times to make sure she hasn't forgotten anything important.
"Looks like you're going on holiday too, Moka!" Zoé jokes with a smile as she fills a large bag with all her belongings.
The day of departure arrives.
In the car taking them to Grandma's, Moka sleeps on the back seat, exhausted from the morning's excitement, unaware that this journey marks the beginning of a separation. Zoé, meanwhile, watches the passing landscape through the window, her heart pounding with an apprehension she tries to control.
"You see, Moka," she murmurs even though he's asleep, "we're almost at Grandma's. You're going to have a great time with her."
When they arrive at Grandma's, Moka wakes up and seems intrigued by this environment which he recognizes from his trial day. He sniffs everywhere with his nose, explores every corner of the living room, but stays close to Zoé, glued to her legs like a shadow, sensing that something is about to happen.
"Don't worry, my big boy! You'll see, we'll have lots of fun together!" Grandma reassured him in her warm voice, handing him a treat she had bought for him.
Zoé stays with them for a while, playing with Moka in the garden, showing him where his basket and food bowls are, trying to reassure him with her presence and ease the transition. But the time to leave arrives. She can no longer postpone it.
"I'm going to miss you, won't I, Moka?" she murmured in a choked voice as she knelt down to hug him, burying her face in his soft fur to hide the tears that threatened to fall.
Moka moaned, a plaintive sound that tore at his heart, resting his head against her as if he understood that something sad was happening.
"Come on, darling," Grandma interjected, placing a hand on her shoulder. "He'll have fun here with me, I promise. And you can call him every night to see how he's doing!"
Zoé takes a deep breath, gathers her courage, and stands up, her legs trembling. "Okay. See you soon, my Moka. Be good."
She leaves the house with hesitant steps, turning back several times, her heart heavy. Behind the door she has just closed, she hears Moka scratching at the wood, a sound that pierces her soul.
The first few hours after Zoé's departure areIt's difficult for Moka. He searches for his young mistress everywhere in Grandma's house, exploring every room as if she might be hiding somewhere. He waits by the front door for long periods, hoping to see her reappear. He sniffs her familiar cushion, searching for her scent.
Grandma, with her patience, spoke to him in a gentle voice. "Don't worry, my handsome boy. Come with me, we're going for a lovely walk in the park! The fresh air will do you good."
Little by little, day after day, with the resilience that characterizes dogs, Moka begins to get used to this new routine. He discovers Grandma's large garden, so different from the one he knows, with its many varieties of colorful flowers and its little paths lined with lavender. He learns to lie down near Grandma's armchair when she reads her novels or watches television, finding comfort in this closeness.
But one morning, about three days after Moka's arrival, a small mishap occurs, revealing the stress he still feels.
Grandma puts her favorite slippers, the thick wool ones she loves, next to her armchair before going to prepare her morning tea in the kitchen.
When she returned a few minutes later, they had disappeared!
Intrigued, she searches everywhere in the living room, lifting cushions, looking under furniture. She discovers the culprit: Moka is settled in his basket, looking both satisfied and guilty, with one of the chewed slippers placed between his paws like a trophy!
"Oh, Moka..." sighed Grandma, but she couldn't help laughing at the sight despite the unpleasantness. "You needed to take it out on my poor slippers, didn't you?"
That same evening, as promised, Zoé called Grandma with an urgency tinged with anxiety.
"Grandma! How is Moka today? Is he eating all his kibble? Is he not too sad? Is he crying too much?"
Grandma, amused by this eagerness, laughed. "My dear, calm down. See for yourself..."
She activates the video function of her phone and points the camera towards the living room. Moka is lying on the rug, chewing on one of her favorite toys, looking relaxed.
Zoé sighed with relief, feeling a tension release in her body. But her gaze noticed something in the corner of the screen, an object that didn't belong there.
"Grandma... what's that over there?"
Grandma swivels the camera and, with a mischievous smile, picks up one of her now half-destroyed slippers, showing off the teeth marks and dangling threads.
"Let's just say he left his little mark here too!" she said philosophically.
Zoé's eyes widened in horror. "Oh no, Grandma! I'm so sorry! This is terrible!"
"Don't worry, my darling," Grandma reassured her. "He was a little stressed during the first few days. It's a normal reaction with young dogs experiencing separation! It doesn't bother me."
Zoé nods, still embarrassed despite the reassuring words, but relieved that Grandma is not angry.
"I'll buy you a new pair when I get back, I promise! The nicest ones I can find!"
As the days passed, forming a new routine, Moka grew more and more confident. He followed Grandma everywhere in the house like a faithful shadow, he played with her in the garden, chasing the balls she threw, and he eagerly awaited Zoé's call each evening. When he heard her voice on the telephone speaker,It wags its tail vigorously and moves closer to the device as if it could see it.
One day, Grandma sends Zoé a video: Moka is running in the garden, her ears fluttering in the wind like little flags, the image of canine happiness.
Zoé smiled as she watched the video on repeat, tears in her eyes but her heart warmed. "You're right, my Moka. Even far apart, we remain together in our hearts."
She is now counting down the days until their reunion, ticking off
Each evening a new window opens on her calendar. But she is reassured: Moka is happy at Grandma's, even in her absence.
The seaside holiday is drawing to a close. Tomorrow is the big day of their return home. But in the car on the way back, a question begins to nag at Zoé: after all these days apart, does Moka still remember her? Will he recognize her, or will he hesitate? Has their bond remained strong despite the distance?
"Are you sure you'll be okay, Moka?" she asks softly, stroking her silky fur, as if to memorize the sensation.
The little dog wags its tail, unaware of what is about to happen, of the upheaval that will take place in their lives.
Zoé knows that Grandma will take care of him; she doesn't doubt it for a second. Grandma is patient, caring, and she adores Moka. But despite this certainty, the idea of leaving him behind, of not seeing him for a whole week, breaks her heart in a way she never could have imagined.
"I'll have to prepare all his things so he doesn't lack anything! It's my responsibility."
With her mom's help, Zoé goes through the list they made for the trial visit at Grandma's: her cushion, her bowls and kibble, her favorite toys, her health record, her harness, and her leash. But this time, they need to pack enough for a whole week. She checks several times to make sure she hasn't forgotten anything important.
"Looks like you're going on holiday too, Moka!" Zoé jokes with a smile as she fills a large bag with all her belongings.
The day of departure arrives.
In the car taking them to Grandma's, Moka sleeps on the back seat, exhausted from the morning's excitement, unaware that this journey marks the beginning of a separation. Zoé, meanwhile, watches the passing landscape through the window, her heart pounding with an apprehension she tries to control.
"You see, Moka," she murmurs even though he's asleep, "we're almost at Grandma's. You're going to have a great time with her."
When they arrive at Grandma's, Moka wakes up and seems intrigued by this environment which he recognizes from his trial day. He sniffs everywhere with his nose, explores every corner of the living room, but stays close to Zoé, glued to her legs like a shadow, sensing that something is about to happen.
"Don't worry, my big boy! You'll see, we'll have lots of fun together!" Grandma reassured him in her warm voice, handing him a treat she had bought for him.
Zoé stays with them for a while, playing with Moka in the garden, showing him where his basket and food bowls are, trying to reassure him with her presence and ease the transition. But the time to leave arrives. She can no longer postpone it.
"I'm going to miss you, won't I, Moka?" she murmured in a choked voice as she knelt down to hug him, burying her face in his soft fur to hide the tears that threatened to fall.
Moka moaned, a plaintive sound that tore at his heart, resting his head against her as if he understood that something sad was happening.
"Come on, darling," Grandma interjected, placing a hand on her shoulder. "He'll have fun here with me, I promise. And you can call him every night to see how he's doing!"
Zoé takes a deep breath, gathers her courage, and stands up, her legs trembling. "Okay. See you soon, my Moka. Be good."
She leaves the house with hesitant steps, turning back several times, her heart heavy. Behind the door she has just closed, she hears Moka scratching at the wood, a sound that pierces her soul.
The first few hours after Zoé's departure areIt's difficult for Moka. He searches for his young mistress everywhere in Grandma's house, exploring every room as if she might be hiding somewhere. He waits by the front door for long periods, hoping to see her reappear. He sniffs her familiar cushion, searching for her scent.
Grandma, with her patience, spoke to him in a gentle voice. "Don't worry, my handsome boy. Come with me, we're going for a lovely walk in the park! The fresh air will do you good."
Little by little, day after day, with the resilience that characterizes dogs, Moka begins to get used to this new routine. He discovers Grandma's large garden, so different from the one he knows, with its many varieties of colorful flowers and its little paths lined with lavender. He learns to lie down near Grandma's armchair when she reads her novels or watches television, finding comfort in this closeness.
But one morning, about three days after Moka's arrival, a small mishap occurs, revealing the stress he still feels.
Grandma puts her favorite slippers, the thick wool ones she loves, next to her armchair before going to prepare her morning tea in the kitchen.
When she returned a few minutes later, they had disappeared!
Intrigued, she searches everywhere in the living room, lifting cushions, looking under furniture. She discovers the culprit: Moka is settled in his basket, looking both satisfied and guilty, with one of the chewed slippers placed between his paws like a trophy!
"Oh, Moka..." sighed Grandma, but she couldn't help laughing at the sight despite the unpleasantness. "You needed to take it out on my poor slippers, didn't you?"
That same evening, as promised, Zoé called Grandma with an urgency tinged with anxiety.
"Grandma! How is Moka today? Is he eating all his kibble? Is he not too sad? Is he crying too much?"
Grandma, amused by this eagerness, laughed. "My dear, calm down. See for yourself..."
She activates the video function of her phone and points the camera towards the living room. Moka is lying on the rug, chewing on one of her favorite toys, looking relaxed.
Zoé sighed with relief, feeling a tension release in her body. But her gaze noticed something in the corner of the screen, an object that didn't belong there.
"Grandma... what's that over there?"
Grandma swivels the camera and, with a mischievous smile, picks up one of her now half-destroyed slippers, showing off the teeth marks and dangling threads.
"Let's just say he left his little mark here too!" she said philosophically.
Zoé's eyes widened in horror. "Oh no, Grandma! I'm so sorry! This is terrible!"
"Don't worry, my darling," Grandma reassured her. "He was a little stressed during the first few days. It's a normal reaction with young dogs experiencing separation! It doesn't bother me."
Zoé nods, still embarrassed despite the reassuring words, but relieved that Grandma is not angry.
"I'll buy you a new pair when I get back, I promise! The nicest ones I can find!"
As the days passed, forming a new routine, Moka grew more and more confident. He followed Grandma everywhere in the house like a faithful shadow, he played with her in the garden, chasing the balls she threw, and he eagerly awaited Zoé's call each evening. When he heard her voice on the telephone speaker,It wags its tail vigorously and moves closer to the device as if it could see it.
One day, Grandma sends Zoé a video: Moka is running in the garden, her ears fluttering in the wind like little flags, the image of canine happiness.
Zoé smiled as she watched the video on repeat, tears in her eyes but her heart warmed. "You're right, my Moka. Even far apart, we remain together in our hearts."
She is now counting down the days until their reunion, ticking off
Each evening a new window opens on her calendar. But she is reassured: Moka is happy at Grandma's, even in her absence.
The seaside holiday is drawing to a close. Tomorrow is the big day of their return home. But in the car on the way back, a question begins to nag at Zoé: after all these days apart, does Moka still remember her? Will he recognize her, or will he hesitate? Has their bond remained strong despite the distance?