Friday

When she woke up on Friday morning Leonora was livid.

The evening before she had been in a state of mild shock after the episode in the shower and had managed to get through dinner as though nothing was wrong, and then gone to bed.

But by the morning her anger had had chance to ferment overnight and she decided Leonard had gone one step too far.

She lay in bed listening to Leonard and Mrs Leonard getting ready to go to work, and decided to wait until they had left the house before she got up. She really couldn't bring herself to say anything remotely civil to Leonard.

His footsteps came towards her room. Leonora feigned sleep. She was very good at that.

Leonard stuck his head round the door.

"Morning you. I'm off to work, but as it's Friday I'll be home in a few hours so we can go out somewhere this afternoon," he said.

He waited for an answer. Nothing.

"Oh well, see you then."

Like hell, thought Leonora. Like hell. She lay there for a while longer listening to the sound of Tata's Land Rover starting up and then driving down the street. Then she gave it another five minutes or so just in case for some bizarre reason he decided to come back for anything.

When she was satisfied the coast was clear she got up. She packed her tiny bag, made the bed, and walked out into the hall.

Tata was lying on her basket snoozing happily. She heard Leonora get up but decided to wait for her to go into the kitchen before she went to greet her. Leonora paused in the hall. She had forgotten something. What was it?

She suddenly remembered, and opened the door to the junk cupboard. The three remaining little crutches were still there, neglected, abandoned and very sorry for themselves.

Leonora smiled at them, and reached in to take them out. They opened their big eyes in shock. They couldn't remember the last time they had gone anywhere. They were so dejected they figured it would be their last trip out, and they were going to be thrown on the scrap heap.

"I'm taking you home with me to join the other two little crutches," she said kindly.

The little crutches still didn't say anything as Leonora bundled them under her arm, and picked her bag up with the other hand.

She marched out of the front door, and strode towards her Land Rover. She opened the driver's side, put the bag on the passenger seat, and lay the three little crutches down carefully in the rear of the vehicle.

Then, taking a deep breath, she put the key in the ignition. She said a quick prayer to Lucas, Prince of Darkness and any other Land Rover deities who might be listening, and turned the key.

Brrrrrrrrrm. The Land Rover sprung into life (if Land Rovers can do that). Leonora engaged first gear and set off home.