Emails

Leonard had waited all evening for Leonora to reply to his email, but nothing arrived. He decided he was bored with the internet so he picked up a dvd he'd been given as a present. American Gangster, that should distract him.

Mrs Leonard and Tata cleared off to bed as usual. The film was long and slow and he nearly fell asleep a few times. Just as well it was a present, he thought when it had finally finished. Wouldn't have been pleased if I'd bought it. And he staggered off to bed.

Sunday morning dawned bright and sunny and he and Rod set off for the estate.

They started laughing at some of the other other guys in the party who were all dressed up in camouflage outfits.

"Why are they dressed up like that?" asked Rod, trying not to snigger and failing.

"Hiding from the targets," suggested Leonard.

"Or the pigs," added Rod.

The pigs were part of an organic farm on the estate, and they ran wild in the woods.

Leonard decided to take some photos of the pigs to send to Leonora, she would be bound to reply to that. The pigs were so cute. They had come to greet the party as they arrived at the estate. They were just like dogs - wagging their tails and sniffing everyone and their bags, one even tried to bite Leonard's leg. Then they followed the party all the way to the farm gate until the men disappeared into the woods.



Rod and Leonard had an excellent day out. The weather stayed fine all day and it was really enjoyable. When he returned home, he uploaded his pictures as usual, and then went to do some tasks around the house. He decided to leave emailing Leonora until later, he didn't want to spend all night waiting for her to reply in case she didn't bother.

Just before he went to bed, he dashed off the email and attached a couple of images of the pigs. She was sure to like them. He smiled to himself and went to bed.

...................................

Leonora had a good Sunday too. She was starting to get into an organised routine. She was pleased that she had started planning her cooking as it meant she didn't spend ages wondering what she fancied to eat every day.

When she was younger she always used to write out her menus for the week and pin them up. And then when she came in from work, she just got on with it, without having to think about what to cook.

So on Sunday she made orange and tomato soup. It was particularly easy. She chucked the tomatoes in the pan with an onion and a carrot, plus a strip of lemon rind, a bayleaf, some peppercorns, and some vegetarian stock. While it simmered away, she retired to her sofa.

Her evening meal would be a bowl of chilled soup, followed by a fine salad, with some potatoes, layed in a pan with garlic, salt and pepper, and the tiniest shavings of cheese from a piece that had sat in her fridge far too long while she was staying at Leonard's house, but fortunately had not gone off.



As for Leonard, she had decided that she was not going to bother with him for now. She would have a Leonard-free weekend.

She stretched out on her sofa and asked the little crutches if they were ok.

"Yes, Leonora, we are quite happy thank you," they said in unison as usual.

"I know it's a bit boring at the moment, because I am not going out, but when I am feeling better, we can go for lots of short walks and stuff," she said.

The litte crutches smiled at her and then chattered on together as usual while she stuck her nose in her book.

................................

When she woke up on Monday morning, Leonora realised she had adjusted quickly to coming home. She was perfectly happy in her own space, and she was eventually working out the easiest way to do things with the help of the little crutches. They were good company too and were never grumpy. She had become fond of them and did not want Leonard to take them back.

In fact, she had no desire at all to return to Leonard's.

She made strong black coffee as usual, and had some toast with olive pate for breakfast. She chatted to the little crutches while she ate, and then they all went over to the computer with another cup of coffee (a serious achievement) to see what was happening in the big wide world of the internet.

Leonora scowled when she saw yet another email from Leonard. What did he want this time?

She opened it up and scrolled rapidly down reading all about his day out in the woods and the cute pigs. Then she got to the photos.

Er no, Leonard, I am not interested in men wearing camouflage outfits to go shooting pop-up or pop-down targets or whatever they are. The pigs are very cute, she thought, no doubt you think that when you are stuffing your face with a fat boy breakfast too.

And she blasted off an email to that effect, adding for good measure, "We really are worlds apart Leonard. I think we should call it a day. Thanks for your hospitality. Regards, Leonora."