Mind The Road
And Stay Away From Water
The following day was indeed bright and sunny.
Moopah and Fabby kindly asked them what they would like for breakfast then equally kindly told them they didn’t have any of those things and offered some cornflakes.
After a delicious bowl drenched in runny honey, milk and a blob of cream, they decided to go exploring.
Fabby packed their bags, making sure there were small bottles of water and some provisions in each. Moopah banged yet another nail in the wall and said a rude word. Fabby told him off.
“It’s not my fault. The nails keep bending.”
“Then don’t hit them so hard,” she replied with a smile and escorted Evan and Chloé to the front door. “Now, I think you’ve got everything. Who’s got Francis and Elle?”
“That’s me!” Chloé chirped in. “Evan’s got Monkey.”
He spun round to show off the big fat head that protruded from his rucksack.
“Hello, Mum! Have you packed some bananas?” Monkey said. He had a surprisingly deep voice for a cuddly toy. Bananas were always his main concern.
“Good grief! I didn’t see you there before. Gave me quite a turn.” She patted them on their heads. “Don’t forget to be back for tea, if not before, and don’t go too far.”
As they walked down the path she called, “And mind the road and stay away from water.” They looked at one another and shook their heads.
Once on the paved driveway that led up the hill to the other houses, they discussed their options.
“So! Where’s good to go and explore, Francis?” Evan asked.
Sat in the back of Chloé’s rucksack, arms and head poking out of a small pocket, Francis rested his head on his paw and affected a thoughtful look. “I think it would be nice if we went up the hill and you can meet Shrimpy and Whitey. They used to live down the road but they moved and now they don’t.”
Elle saw the confused look on Evan’s face. “Now they live up the hill just along the dirt track road. We like them.”
“But will they like us?” Chloé pondered.
“Oh, it’s alright” Elle chipped in. “They used to growl and bark a lot at first but Mum started giving them a treat every time we met and they’re very friendly now. They call her the ‘Biccy Lady’ don’t they, Francis?”
“They do. But you’ll have to move me because I’m sat on the dog biscuits.”
So, off up the hill they went. Five chums together. At the top of the road they waved to a lady in her garden then pushed through the long grass, making their way towards the track at the top. Evan bent down in a slight crouch and went ahead as chief scout, imagining he was in the jungle.
Chloé, meanwhile, was discussing wildflowers with Elle. Francis was fighting off a very determined wasp.
The view from the dirt track was quite breathtaking in its simple beauty and they sauntered along, kicking the occasional stone, chasing the different coloured butterflies and every now and then examining the wild bees that thronged around small bushes filled with little blue flowers.
Suddenly a small, scruffy looking, tan and white dog appeared in front of them. Its long hair was clumped in places and it looked as if it had spent the night in a bush. Beside her slunk a short haired white dog which barked.
Chloé and Evan stopped short in their tracks. Francis called, “Take the rucksack off and show me to them.” She did and the pair began gambolling to and fro in the dust, tails wagging furiously. The scruffy dog, Shrimpy, even threw herself at Chloé’s feet and lay on her back.
As she rubbed the animal’s tummy, Chloé asked, “I can understood why you call him Whitey but why is she called Shrimpy?”
“Mum thought she was like a frightened little shrimp when we first used to meet. She would bark but wouldn’t come near but then one day she learned how to be friendly. We think Whitey told her about the biscuits and put a good word in for us,” Francis replied between licks from Whitey, as Evan dragged the dog’s treats from the pocket beneath him.
A couple of biscuits later, the happy pair were left behind, still wagging their tails, as the kids took the narrow path up the hill to the dark wood.