Lob's
Girl is a fictional short story about a German Shepard and a girl named
Sandy. This narrative is set in England and opens with the Pengelly family
spending time at the beach during the summer. "Some people choose their
dogs, and some dogs choose their people," writes author Joan Aiken in the
opening line of this story. While each member of the family is
enjoying Summer's warm embrace, Lob, an Alsatian or German
Shepard does exactly that, chooses his person. The problem is Lob has already
been chosen by an owner who lives over four hundred miles away.
This
conflict plays out as Lob makes the four hundred mile trek from his
owner's home to the Pengelly's. After two escapes, Lob's owner realizes the
truth in Aiken's opening line and proposes the Pengellys keep Lob. Bert,
the patriarch of the family agrees and all seems well.
Nine
years pass, Sandy is a teenager, Lob an older version of the handsome dog that
pounced into the story's exposition, and the bond between pet and owner
tightens. On a stormy eve, the dutiful Sandy sets out to give her lonely aunt
company. This is where the story takes a mysterious turn.
While
reading this story our class learned about foreshadowing. This is a literary
device where the author gives the reader a clue about the events that will take
place later in the story. These clues can be obvious or difficult to identify.
I was not able to identify Joan Aiken's use of this device until rereading the
story. I enjoyed this mysterious tale and appreciate Joan Aiken's use of foreshadowing
making this a unforgettable story.
