From an original story by Rachel Burns
He is a very lucky dog.
He lives with a kind family and his favourite person is young Joe. They spend a lot of time together in the garden learning and practising new tricks.
Buddy loves gravy bones but not as much as he loves Joe.
Goodboy, Buddy!
Ha, Ha, Ha !
Boing!!!
Joe’s Mum
Buddy tries everything he can to cheer him up.
He licks Joe’s face. He fetches Joe’s favourite football from the garden. He even holds out his paw… but nothing works.
Joe tells Buddy to leave him alone.
The postman has delivered a letter from Joe’s dad.
Joe quietly reads the letter out to Buddy.
Now Buddy understands why Joe is so upset. Joe is missing his dad.
Buddy misses him too.
DearJoe, I’msorryIcan’tbe with you right now.
Ithinkaboutyoualthetime. Missyou.Love,Dad.
That morning, Mr. Boyd, Joe’s teacher sees Joe standing on his own in the playground.
Mr. Boyd suggests that they go and do some drawing in the classroom.
“I’m really missing my Dad,” Joe says, “but I don’t want to tell Mum or Gran in case I make them feel sad too.”
Joe usually runs around with his friends. Booofff…
Mr. Boyd listens and suggests that Joe gives his lovely picture to his dad.
“I think he’d really like that.” Joe smiles.
Mr. Boyd tells Joe to come and find him or another teacher if ever he feels sad or just needs a chat.
Don’t feel like it...
Joe’s Gran
“Sorry, love. Not this week… but soon. I promise,” says Mum nodding.
Gran and Mum don’t like to see Joe upset.
Everyone misses Joe’s Dad. Gran misses his funny jokes.
She has an idea that might just help, so she pops back to her house and heads up to the attic. Gran never throws anything away. She returns carrying a few dusty boxes.
Humphf!
Sniff...
Sniff...
“These are my memory boxes,” Gran tells Joe.
The boxes are full of old photographs and special things that Gran has collected over the years.
Joe starts to smile as he looks inside each box.
Gran explains that they are going to make a new memory box for Joe.
“There’s a box with MY name on it!” he exclaims, and he lifts out some tiny woollen booties that Gran knitted for him when he was a baby.
Mum starts to laugh at some of the old photos.
“This is your dad when he was the same age as you, Joe. You look just like him here,” chuckles Mum. Sniff...
I knitted some for your Dad when he was a baby, too. Look!
Whenever he misses his dad, he can cheer himself up by looking through all the old memories.
Joe finds a few special things that make him think of Dad and all the fun times they’ve shared to go into his memory box.
Joe puts in Dad’s favourite football scarf alongside his lucky pebbles that they found at the seaside, and Mum’s favourite photograph, which is of baby Joe, his dad and Buddy as a little puppy.
Buddy drops in his favourite chewed slipper that belonged to Dad.
Mum tells Joe they can go and see Dad next week. She marks the date on the calendar and the week goes by very quickly.
The night before the visit, Joe has trouble getting to sleep so Mum makes him a milky drink. She lets Buddy sleep in Joe’s bedroom just for one night.
They get up early because it is a long drive.
Joe is excited and nervous at the same time.
Gran is coming too, and she brings sandwiches, a bag of toffees and of course, her knitting.
We are going on an adventure. Buckle up, Gran!
I’ll see you tonight, Buddy! Back soon!
Joe wants to take Buddy along but Mum says he’s not allowed. Lola
Thanks, John!
He is going to have a nice day with Mr. Johnson, their neighbour, and his dog, Lola. Buddy barks goodbye as the family drives away.
Buddy goes wild when he sees that Joe is back from the day trip. Joe smells of Dad!
I think someone has missed you!
BUDDY! Get down!
After lots of cuddles, Joe tells Buddy all about his day. “We passed lots of green fields that stretched for miles and we saw some horses and rabbits.”
Buddy wags his tail at the thought of it.
“We were all so happy to see Dad again.
He picked me up and swung me around then hugged Mum and Gran.” Smiles Joe.
is dark when the family return
Dad says he can’t wait to see the new tricks I’ve taught you!
“He says I’ve grown since last time I saw him, and I said that his hair looks funny.
“Dad has a notice board with MY pictures all over it.
He said when he feels sad, it cheers him up.”
The little café sold pop AND chocolate muffins and Mum let me have BOTH!”
“Mmmm”. Joe licks his lips at the thought.
“He says he loved the drawing I did of you, Buddy”.
The next day is “Show and Tell” morning at school.
Mr. Boyd has asked the children to bring something special in to class.
Joe brings his memory box.
Joe tells his classmates all about his dad and how much he misses him. He enjoys showing everyone what is inside the box.
The children all say ‘“Awwwww” at Buddy’s puppy photo.
They all want to make their own boxes after seeing Joe’s.
We don’t live with our Dad either
Buddy is SO cute!
This is my dad
I have a memory box for my grandad
Mr. Boyd tells Gran that he is very proud of Joe for being so brave and talking about his feelings.
You were brilliant today, Joe! Well done!
Well done, Joe
WOOF!
The memory box was Gran’s idea. Wasn’t it, Gran?
Joe overhears Gran telling his Mum all about what Mr. Boyd had said and how proud she is of him.
Mum is pleased that Joe isn’t feeling as sad this week.
It’s nice to see Joe smiling again
“It’s Joe’s birthday tomorrow. I’m sure he’ll have more things to pop inside it,” whispers Mum.
Joe is happy inside as he walks home with Gran and Buddy.I love looking in the memory box too
Joe jumps out of bed and excitedly runs down the stairs. He rips opens his presents with Buddy’s help. Gran makes him a delicious football cake. Buddy helps him to blow out the candles.
Joe misses his Dad being there but he speaks to him on the phone later that day.
Joe tells his Dad about how many goals he thinks he’ll score in his new boots.
Thanks for all my birthday presents. I love my new kit!
WOOF!
I bet you look great
“Be sure to send me a photo for my board! Ooooh, I wish I had a piece of Gran’s cake. You lucky thing!”
The following week, Joe takes out his memory box and places his birthday card from Dad inside.
Whenever he sees his Mum or Gran feeling a bit sad, he finds his memory box and they go through the photographs and special things together.
Joe and his family add a few more photos to the box over time.
Joe’s dad even draws a picture of Buddy which makes him woof and wag his tail. Buddy is a very lucky dog.
He gobbles up a gravy bone and goes to sleep on Joe’s knee dreaming of chasing rabbits over green fields.
Even though not everyone is living together at the moment, he
It always helps them to remember the good times they shared with Dad.
WOOF!
Whendidyoubecomeso clever, Joe? Come hereandgivemeacuddle.
Talking about feelings is a good thing instead of keeping it all inside, Mum.
We would like to thank everyone who contributed to the development of this Buddy and the Box story, so wonderfully brought to life by Liz Million.
likeWehopeyou our book!
Nepacs is a north east charity which aims to promote a positive future for people who have been affected by adverse situations. We work with families, young people and children, and those affected by the criminal justice system.
We are there for people during difficult times when they need some additional support, whether that be advice, information, emotional support, building resilience, confidence and self esteem, or some real practical or legal advice. Much of our work is delivered by volunteers, who bring energy, warmth and friendship, and offer reassurance in the most challenging of circumstances.
Well known for our work within the criminal justice field we are also concerned about the damaging impact of a prison sentence on the families of prisoners themselves and seek to limit this through informal support and signposting for help with finance, childcare and health issues We don’t only work with the person in prison but the person who may be going through their own ‘hidden sentence’.
Find out about the history of Nepacs as well as our charitable mission, aims and values which underpins all of our work.
www.nepacs.co.uk
Book design & artwork by Greg Marshall (ambientcreative.com)
