Tata's plan

Fortunately Leonard didn't seem to have incurred any damage as a result of Tata's boisterous welcome.

He dragged his large weary body over to the sofa, preparing to feel sorry for himself.

Tata was having none of it.

"Ruff," she barked imperiously.

"Oh not just yet, sweetheart. I had such a miserable trip in and out of town.

"The little crutches chattered noisily all the way in, I forgot to buy a magazine, and no-one in the tea shop asked me about my leg.

"I was so fed-up I only ate half a packet of Golden Crunch."

Tata was so surprised she sat down with a sudden thump.

Leonard always ate a whole packet of biscuits at once. Sometimes two. But never half a packet in one session. It was all or none. Leonard was an all or nothing kind of guy really.

She looked at him thoughtfully. And came up with an irresistible plan.

"Grrr ruff ruff, ruff, ruff ruff ruff," she barked and then put her head on Leonard's overlarge stomach, and gazed at him imploringly with her soulful eyes.

It was a winning combination. Leonard reluctantly gave up his idea of lying on the sofa, and pondering when would be the optimum moment to make a cup of tea and finish the biscuits.

He knew Tata was right. She always was. Take Tata's Landy into town, pick up a magazine (or two), and go off to bag a few caches. He got the magazine, she got a nice ride in her Landy, then she could get her walk while he got his numbers up with the caches. He might even get in a few FTFs.*

Leonard smiled at Tata, and stroked her head. How lucky he was to live with such a clever dog. Suddenly his spirits lifted in anticipation of the afternoon's fun and excitement.

Tata moved carefully out of the way so that Leonard did not fall over her when he got off the sofa. She pad pad padded behind him as he went to the crutch store.

Leonard was feeling so much better that he was even nice to the little crutches.

"Tata and I are going out in her Landy, so I won't be taking all of you. That's OK isn't it? Because you did have a nice long walk earlier."

The little crutches were so stunned at Leonard's change of mood that they just nodded their heads without saying anything.

To avoid any accusations of favouritism, he picked the nearest crutch, a rather smart reddish-brown one, which happened to be one of the ones he had bought for 20€ in Switzerland after the ski-ing accident.

Then he smiled at them all. "See you later. Be good." And he closed the cupboard door.

Leonard picked up his car keys, and he and Tata walked out of the front door to set off on their expedition.


*First To Find for anyone not familiar with the bizarre terminology of geocaching