The path

Tata gambolled ahead merrily. Leonora went down the path quite quickly but carefully.

There had been lots of rain and there were a lot of displaced stones on the path so she didn't want to fall.

Finally they arrived down at the beach.

Tata immediately started digging a huge hole to show Leonora how to do it.

She dug a very deep hole very quickly and then stood back for Leonora to admire it.

"Ruff," she barked proudly.

"That's super Tata. And you also know that I can't do anything remotely like that don't you?"

"Ruff," agreed Tata, laughing.

Tata ran around in a few crazy circles and then the two of them went for a paddle in the sea. Or at least Leonora paddled and Tata ran boisterously in the waves.

Then they decided to climb back up the cliff.

Leonard and Mrs Leonard were wandering up and down the cliff top but they had lost sight of Tata and Leonora.

As Leonora tried to follow Tata up the cliff, she slipped on a stone.

And went down awkwardly. When she tried to stand up she knew it was a bad fall.

Tata came back and barked at her. "Ruff."

"I'm sorry Tata, I'm not sure if I can get up, but I'll have a go."

Leonora tried to put the weight on her ankle and knew it was bad.

"Shit, shit, shit, shit," she said for want of anything better.

Tata furrowed her brow and realised this was serious.

"Ruff, ruff, ruff ruff," she barked helpfully and charged off up the cliff to tell Leonard and Mrs Leonard.

They were wondering why the two had not come back up the cliff path together. "Ruff," barked Tata sadly.

Leonard frowned. It was his fault. He had suggested that Leonora go digging holes in the sand in the first place.

He staggered off down the cliff path with the two little crutches. The little crutches were very smug because they had been chosen over the poles to do this important task. They were quiet and serious and helped Leonard carefully all the way down until they reached Leonora.

Leonard looked at her. Flippin' woman. Falling over on the cliff path, he thought. What on earth was she playing at?

He tried to help her up. "Lean on me."

She did. And they both fell over.

"Ruff," barked Tata, trying not to laugh, but thinking they both lacked a pair of legs.

The two of them were tumbled up in a heap. Leonora thought she was rather too close for comfort to Leonard and he had been utterly useless. Leonard thought Leonora had no concept of weight-bearing load and was deliberately trying to make him look like an arse.

Entwined, although not through choice, they glared at each other.

"Get up," they both said simultaneously to the other. And then again, to each other, "I can't."

Leonard looked at Tata. "Please go and get some help. Now.

"I really don't want to spend any longer rolling around on the ground with Leonora."

And off she bounded, up the cliff top path. Still trying not to laugh.