Fredcat's Tails
Valentines Day revisited
 Fredcat the Valentino |
Fredcat thought that accompanying Mr. B. to the mailbox and back was always a pleasant way to enjoy a mid-day break. It was a warm spring day and the wretched snow was but a distant memory as the two came back inside the house. The Grumpy One was distracted by a request from Fredcat's best human friend, Cathie, for "A nice cup of tea please - you do make a nice cuppa!" |
"Hrrumph!" muttered Mr. B. but, faced with that sort of female pleading, even the Grumpy One had to hasten to comply. Examination of the mail would have to wait. That was a pity, thought Fredcat, as there were definitely some interesting letters waiting to be opened. Eventually the Cathie thirst was quenched, and Mr. B. turned his attention to the letters.
There was a collection of bills which Cathie passed to Mr. B. with a sweet smile, saying, "I'll let you deal with those, I prefer to look at the glossy magazines to see the latest fashions." There were also two letters of note - both addressed to Fredcat!
"This first letter contains an invitation from David and Laura to a party to celebrate Valentine's Day," said Fredcat with a pleased grin. "I like parties - as long as there are plenty of interesting people to talk to - and lots of good food and a nice place to rest one's head. You guys know that sleeping off a good meal is a Fredcat must, " he added, even though his audience were cynically nodding their heads. Everyone knew that Fredcat liked to nap between sleeps.
"And the other one?" said Cathie, "that looks even more grand; it has an impressive red seal. I wonder who could have sent it?" (Curiosity may have killed the cat but Cathie's penchant for wanting to know everything about everything was well known.)
Fredcat read through the letter slowly, not just once, but twice. "Well, I can't tell you everything that this letter says," he finally replied, "suffice it to say that I have been invited to do a spot of sleuthing on behalf of ..." And there he stopped. "Let's just say that I am to track down some villains and it's linked to the Valentine's Day invitation."
Cathie was not to be put off, however and, under continued pressure from her, Fredcat admitted that there was a problem with some national food supplies, all efforts to deal with it had failed and this had led the Powers That Be to seek outside help. And after that comment, Fredcat was not to be drawn any further.
 Government courier Treacle |
"This letter could not be sent directly to me," noted Fredcat, "so they used someone that they know that they can trust. Treacle was persuaded to pass on this missive to me. She has done well!" "Will you go? And how will you combine two invitations at the same time?" asked Cathie. |
"That's the beauty of the second invitation. Somehow, the Powers That Be have got wind of the fact that I was to be invited to the Valentine's Day party and they suspect that this day of entertainment is to be used as a cover for some nefarious activity. Knowing that I am always up for a good party they have arranged for me to be present - hoping that I can infiltrate this enterprise and, quote, unquote, sort it out."
"I can't see you acting as a detective," said Mr. B., "I'm not sure if you're up to it." He didn't add the fatal words "at your age" but all present knew what he meant. Fredcat bristled. "I may be only five years old, but I'm a super-sleuth, and I've solved quite a few difficult puzzles during my short time on Earth," he snapped, "and I'm to be off as soon as possible." There was no arguing with him.
On arrival at Laura's house in Twinlona Mill, Fredcat looked around for something to amuse himself before the next day's party and set off for Twender Park. It was lovely there, there was a distinct lack of snow and it was a beautiful day.
 Passing on inside info! |
"Hi there!" came a call suddenly from across the pathway, startling Fredcat from his reverie. "I'm Raymond, and you're obviously Fredcat, I can tell from the description I was given. I have some news for you." And there stood a gentle looking rabbit, nose quivering slightly. |
Fredcat looked up in alarm, he wasn't ready to start sleuthing and wasn't expecting any help - and certainly not from a rabbit. But he quickly recovered his feline composure and replied, "OK, Raymond, what do you have to tell me?"
Raymond was clearly a nervous fellow - he kept looking around all the time he talked. "I've been given a message from one of your feline, ah, associates, to let you know that there's something going on at the Mill at Twinlona. There's a lot of suspicious activity there, and you must check it out as soon as possible. Tonight, in fact."
"Tonight! Which cat said that?" said a startled Fredcat, and was about to ask for more details when the nervous and ever-twitching Raymond must have heard a twig snap or something, and promptly fled. Rabbits are nervous creatures at the best of times and he dashed off at a speed that had even Fredcat surprised.
Fredcat pondered the sudden appearance - and even more rapid disappearance - of Raymond as he slowly made his way back to the house. Who was the feline messenger? And why was the message given to a rabbit to tell Fredcat, instead of simply telling Fredcat personally? It was all most peculiar.
At the house he met his human hosts who told him that another feline guest had also turned up and was waiting to meet him in the living room. Intrigued, Fredcat made his way indoors.
 Tormentor Tinkerbelle! |
There inside was a gorgeous-looking cat. "Hello, Fredcat," she said, "I'm Tinkerbelle, and I'm glad that you were invited to this shindig. It's exciting, isn't it? Did you have far to travel? Who sent you the invitation?" Tinkerbelle asked these questions whilst walking gracefully around the room, acting for all the world like a feline femme fatale. Fredcat was nonplussed; something about Tinkerbelle didn't quite ring true. She was clearly a very attractive cat and was extremely sure of herself but Fredcat was innately suspicious and wouldn't commit himself to answering her questions, limiting himself instead to pleasantries. |
"Do you know who else is coming?" said Fredcat, playing for time; after all this feline seemed to be well informed. Perhaps someone staying at this house would provide clues about the mystery he had been sent to solve. Tinkerbelle didn't immediately answer. He watched as she groomed afresh her already immaculate appearance.
"I know two of the felines who are coming - apart from those associated with our human hosts," she said carefully. "You already know Treacle and Nikita, of course." And she purred loudly and looked at her paws in self-admiration, blowing gently on them.
As if on cue the two host cats entered and immediately the atmosphere changed from one of slight tension to one of unrestrained joy. It had been months since the three cats had all been together and they had a lot of chit-chatting and catching up to do.
Tinkerbelle was not ignored, far from it. She seemed to be just as much a part of the animated discussions as were the others, so much so that Fredcat's fears were soon forgotten.
Now it's all very well chatting to old friends but sooner or later - sooner, in Fredcat's case - the Fredcat insides began to rumble and the topic of food became important. Nikita was the first to notice the Fredcat restlessness and said with a perceptive smile, "There's some food available in the kitchen for we cats, though I'm afraid it's not quite what we had ordered. There seems to be a shortage of some of the better quality grub. I must apologise for that!"
Despite Fredcat's eagerness to gain access to the kitchen, he noticed some looks passing between several of his friends. Silent signals of unease seemed to flit between them, but he put it down to the apology offered by Nikita.
On entering the kitchen Fredcat immediately noticed that, although the feeding bowls were full, the quality of the fare offered was not as high as usual for the Nikita residence. But the kitchen was immaculate - so clean, in fact, that one could quite easily eat off the floor. (In fact, Fredcat had often noticed that cats like to eat off the floor anyway!) The kitchen was fully decorated with coloured bunting and there were signs everywhere of the preparations for the next day's party.
Each of the cats' feeding bowls had been carefully named and Fredcat spotted his straightaway and tucked in thankfully. The others quickly followed suit. Finally, licking his lips, Fredcat looked at the remaining untouched bowls and read some of the names inscribed thereon. "I see here that one of our guests is called Jack," he remarked, "does anyone here know him?"
 Disarming Jack! |
Even Fredcat was impressed by the newcomer. He was smart from his top to his toe. Everything shone. Perhaps Fredcat liked him because Jack had very similar colouring and markings as Fredcat (vanity by mirrors?)? Perhaps he liked him because Jack had that easy smile that made him instantly a hit with all comers. Whatever it was, he was an immediate success with everyone. |
Soon it was time to meet some of the humans who had been invited. Not all of the human guests were staying in the Nikita residence, of course, but those that had arrived were a cheery crowd and were gathered outside, admiring cars. There was Thomas Edge, who was showing off his brand new four wheel drive SUV, and Mrs. Eastside who sported a nippy, shiny bright, little red sports car. She was clearly very proud of her roadster.
A little later, when everyone had rested up a little, Jack spoke up. "It looks like being a nice evening so let's go for a stroll. I hear that there's a disused old mill here at Twinlona - that should be an interesting place to take a peek around." He smiled lazily at the rest of the cats. Fredcat caught his eye quizzically, but Jack just kept on smiling, amiably.
Before Fredcat could frame a reply, Tinkerbelle leapt in, saying, "Yes, let's! I always like a good hunt around old places, one never knows what one might find there." She dazzled the rest with her smile. Her decision to go for a stroll with the rest of the guests surprised Fredcat, as he had already decided that Tinkerbelle was a distinctly stay-at-home feline, far too conscious of her own exquisite grooming to risk getting dirty walking around a disused mill. But he supposed that as it was almost party time, a little outing would be good for her and everyone else.
Inwardly, however, Fredcat was a little perturbed. Here was Jack suggesting a trip to the mill, an activity which Tinkerbelle had eagerly supported. And this proposed trip closely followed on from Raymond's message to Fredcat earlier that afternoon. But Jack and Tinkerbelle didn't know about Raymond, of course. Nonetheless it seemed that the world and his wife were determined that Fredcat should visit the mill! Fredcat, however, hadn't needed a second - or third - invitation, and had already decided to go there this evening at all costs - but on his own. Now there would be a party of cats marauding around the place - that would certainly cramp his style!
In fact the party visiting the mill became even larger than expected. Several other cats had arrived during the early evening and, on hearing of the planned foray, some of them had expressed a wish to join in. Fredcat looked them over - a motley bunch, indeed. But one cat in particular caught his eye - Chloe. For some reason she was keeping in the background, saying little but obviously very alert to the conversation. She was an extremely attractive feline but kept looking around as if searching for someone.
 Watchful Chloe |
Just as often, however, that individual is dying to become one of the crowd and join in fully, and it only needs a little friendly shove to get them to lose their shyness. Which character was Chloe? |
Fredcat watched as Chloe silently groomed herself. This seemed to take a long time as the Chloe white fur coat needed lots of attention. Fredcat was just about to slide over and say "Hello!" when Jack announced to everyone, "Right! Let's be off. It's an awkward climb and night has now fallen, so I think it would be a good idea if we kept together - in pairs, wherever possible. Perhaps a lady cat and a gent cat could team up."
Fredcat and the other cats instantly began to sort themselves out into pairs. Fredcat was amused as he watched Jack take complete control of the trip, matching and re-arranging the party of felines to his satisfaction (at least that's how it appeared to Fredcat). All the other cats seemed quite happy to have Jack take the lead. Oh yes, Constant Reader, it seems that cats are quite lazy when it comes to organisational matters, as well as being quite the sleepy heads when left to their own devices!
Despite Jack's organisational skills (not even Jack could overcome the problem of their being more female cats than males) Fredcat found himself partnered with two lady cats, namely Charlie and Chloe. Jack and Tinkerbelle had quickly formed one pair, while Treacle and Nikita were paired with Snottycat and Bumper, respectively. A friend of theirs, Eddie, was also paired up with Ginger. Other pairs of cats were likewise paired.
Fredcat had offered to have a trio in the hope of partnering Chloe as she looked like the one to be left out of the groupings. He had pretty well resigned himself to not being able to investigate the mill on his own. Perhaps the groups would give him cover if he need to carry out a solo investigation. If all else failed he might even make a return trip later on when the other members of the trip had returned to Nikita's residence.
 Crusading Charlie |
Her fluffy Maine Coon fur kept flying all over her face and she kept flicking her tail - knocking so many ornaments off the low table that Treacle was forced to move some of them to a higher shelf! |
Finally all were ready and the fearless felines made their way silently (Charlie notwithstanding!) towards the mill. The going was quite rough; there were plenty of small ditches and fast-growing brambles to negotiate but finally they made it. Charlie was covered in briars and Chloe was in almost the same state. Fredcat himself seemed to have avoided getting too mussed up, he assumed that his short fur brushed off the clutching brambles more easily.
On the walk up the hill, he had tried to get close to Chloe to have a quiet word with her, but she and Charlie had kept up an almost ceaseless conversation so that there was no chance of Fredcat chatting to her and drawing her out. In any case, chatterbox Charlie, it turned out, was doing an excellent job on his behalf!
On arrival at the top on the outside wall of the mill, they pawsed for breath. There they found, to their surprise, that there was no sign of Jack or Tinkerbelle. "That's odd," thought Fredcat, "they should have arrived here first, after all they set off well in advance as one might have expected for the leading couple ..."
It was then that all heard the sound of machinery. Although muffled, it was easily heard by the cats whose hearing is, of course, far superior to that of their best human friends. Suddenly they made out a different noise, instantly recognisable as a large vehicle pulling to a stop. Then another vehicle drove off with a muffled roar. Then all was silent.
Fredcat looked around. With no Jack to take charge, all was confusion. He decided that he would have to do something but was not sure what. On previous sleuthing trips, he had tended to leave the outside operational activities to his renowned team of agents whilst he dealt with all the clever stuff. Yes, Dear Reader: Famous - yes! Fearless - yes! but Foolhardy - Nope!
He cleared his throat, "Um, we need to find our way into the mill to see what all this noise is," he said. But if he expected a chorus of agreement he was sadly disappointed. Nobody moved to second his idea. Some of the female cats were all for getting back to the Nikita residence straightaway. They were beginning to grumble about the amount of extra grooming they would now need to do before tomorrow's party, simply because of the damage caused to their coats by the messy climb.
The other males weren't too happy either, this trip was turning into a bit of a chore. They'd been to the mill, their expressions said, the mill was still there, so let's all get back home and get warm. From their point of view that was the sensible thing to do; they had no need to investigate extraneous noises near a deserted mill in mid-February.
The party showed signs of breaking up with indecision all around. It was then that a d*g barked. The sound was loud and long and frightening. That did it. Every feline instantly froze. A d*g in daylight is one thing, a d*g at night is quite another! There might be other d*gs nearby. The lets-go-home-now group turned and walked off back down the hill at a smart pace, keeping very close together.
Soon there was only Fredcat, Snottycat, Charlie and Chloe left. Nikita and Treacle as joint hosts had accompanied the others back down to the house. Chloe spoke up first, "It looks like we're on our own. Now, see here I'm quite used to being around d*gs, they don't bother me like they do some cats, so I'll go and see if I can find a way into the mill and let you know what's going on."
In fact the noises had stopped and this made matters slightly more worrisome. With noise you knew something was going on, but with silence all the fur on one's coat starts to prickle and one becomes uneasy.
 Snooping Snottycat! |
"I don't mind going with Chloe," said Snottycat, "I've lived in some tough places and I can look after myself if need be, d*gs or no d*gs. I'm used to d*gs* as well!" |
Now this was a surprise; admittedly Snottycat had a rough demeanour but she had not previously shown herself to be a courageous cat. Both Fredcat and Chloe looked surprised at this offer, but Snottycat had already started creeping ahead. Chloe quickly caught up with her and together the two felines disappeared.
All was still for a few moments, even Charlie had grown quiet. Then suddenly they heard a loud whisper. It was Snottycat. "Come on, this way," he said, "don't worry about the d*g, Chloe has sorted him out, it's quite safe now."
They followed Snottycat back inside the mill and saw an extraordinary sight. On the floor lay a large d*g, tail slowly wagging in friendship; he was gnawing on what remained of a meaty meal. Nearby sat Chloe, a little dishevelled, licking her paws. But suspended on a crane lift, at least forty feet up in the air was a large wooden box. Inside the box could be seen the outlines of both Jack and Tinkerbelle. They were both lying quite still.
As they entered the building both Fredcat and Charlie looked at each other. How did Jack and Tinkerbelle get up there? How were they going to get up there? Neither fancied the climb, each privately admitting that their skills and strengths lay elsewhere. Apart from that, neither of the other female felines showed the slightest sign of wanting to risk their necks trying to get to the box ....
 Mountaineer Eddie! |
"Where did you come from?" asked Fredcat, "I thought you'd returned with the others to the house!" |
"I decided to return as I was restless and the others seemed able to get by without me. I was a little worried about you guys being left on your own. It was a bit eerie getting inside the mill on my own but I could hear your voices so it wasn't that difficult. Let's see, I can easily climb up there and see how those two are."
And with that Eddie climbed up the steel rope suspending the box in which the two cats were caged as if he were a mountaineer, and was soon at the cage itself. He peered inside and called down to the others, "It's OK, they appear to have been knocked out but they're recovering. They're unhurt - although somewhat groggy." Within a few minutes he was able to open the door of the cage and together the three cats made their way down by leaping from vantage point to vantage point, led by the intrepid Eddie.
Soon all were reunited. Jack, recovering his poise, immediately took control. He was clearly a natural leader and the rest knew it. "Look, you guys," he said, "this is the site of a gang that's been operating a food distribution system. This is where quality food is brought, after being hijacked, to be replaced by inferior foodstuffs. The good stuff is being exported for a handsome profit! This operation has been going on for some time and we haven't been able to figure out how it was done. Now that we know the location it will only be a matter of time before we can put a stop to it all."
"But first of all we need to get out of here before the men return. They're holding a meeting out back and won't be gone for much longer. Somehow they knew we would be coming but they wouldn't have expected a rescue party so soon! We'd better be off and raise the alarm as soon as possible before they can react."
The assembled rescuers needed no second bidding and they left the mill in a hurry, tossing another bone to the luckless d*g who seemed to recognise that his ability to act as a guard d*g was sadly lacking. Indeed, just before they finally left, Chloe suddenly turned and, grabbing the d*g's lead, dragged him after them. He seemed quite happy to come with her - which was convenient. Chloe later explained that gangs sometimes let their most faithful supporters down by mistreating them and she had spotted that the d*g showed some signs of having been badly treated.
 Worried Nikita |
Jack did most of the talking, of course. He was full of praise for the rescue group. "Without you coming inside the mill and seeing our predicament, I'm not sure what our fate would have been," he said. "We might have ended up being taken abroad and dumped by some lonely road with no means of knowing where we were, and having to try to communicate in a foreign language, most likely."
"You see," he went on, "I can now tell you that I am an undercover agent working for the Powers That Be. We just didn't know how this scheme was working, and it was suggested that putting in a decoy would flush the villains out." He turned to Fredcat, and grinned.
"My boss decided that as Fredcat had been material in the past in flushing out all manner of crooks, it would be a great idea to invite the Famous One to this little shindig. We suspected that the centre of operations was nearby as it was close to major road, rail and sea links. But that was all we suspected."
"We let Fredcat know, via Treacle, what was going on in general terms but thought it best that he be kept unaware of all the issues so that he could approach the task with a fresh and open mind. He could come here as a private investigator going about his normal sleuthing business. Everyone knows about Fredcat the Famous!" (and here he bowed in Fredcat's direction) "and, sure enough, it wasn't long before something happened."
He continued, "As far as the current mill plot is concerned, I've already been told that the operation is being shut down, as I speak, and the information gleaned from some of the low-life there is being used to crack down on similar operations elsewhere. In fact, I need to go soon and help out with some of them."
The assembled cats turned to Fredcat and purred in unison as their way of appreciating the part that he had played in uncovering the mill plot. They also purred for Jack. Fredcat cleared his throat and said, "Thank you, Jack. It seems there were several little things going on about which I was ignorant, but it's all beginning to fit into place."
"The first thing to concern me was the message I received from Raymond the rabbit. Raymond himself never got the chance to tell me who the message was from because he was startled and fled in a hurry. At first I thought the message was from Jack, as he seemed so eager to get to the mill, but then I had to wonder why he didn't tell me himself about his part in all this. After all, he's hardly the shy retiring type! But Chloe is!" he continued, and here Fredcat pawsed. "She was acting so suspiciously that I thought she was the cat sending me the message."
At this Chloe flushed pink and started to stammer something but Fredcat waved her away. "But no, it wasn't Chloe who sent me the message, but she did overhear Raymond telling me when I was out in Twender Park. It was she that Raymond heard just before he so hastily fled. Chloe was worried about this message, she didn't know who I was at that time. She probably thought that I was the master villain, despite my otherwise well-known famosity!" And here Fredcat smiled indulgently. "She was relieved later when she found out who I really was."
Fredcat continued, "Initially, Chloe was too scared to talk to me. I knew she was the message cat because she was the only one who (a) knew that I had received the message, and (b) was desperately trying to get herself cleaned up after the walk outside. She was afraid I'd put two and two together and suspect her of being involved."
Fredcat pawsed for a second, then said, "No, my good friends, it wasn't Chloe who fed me the message, it was Tinkerbelle!" Now this was a shock to all those present. Immediately all eyes turned on Tinkerbelle who stared back impassively at Fredcat.
"I'm sorry, Fredcat," interjected Jack, with a smile, "but for once you have your wires crossed. Tinkerbelle, like me, is an agent working for the Powers That Be! She is also working undercover on this case," and the two agents smiled conspiratorially.
 Fredcat explains! |
He went on, "Only Thomas had a vehicle that could get to the mill over rough ground. Mrs. Eastside has an elegant roadster which would be totally unable to climb that terrain. It's my betting that this Tom Edge had been to the mill, quietly returned, and is now safely back in the house. My hunch is that right now he is packing and hoping to slip safely away, to restart operations elsewhere. He is your mastermind!"
Jack looked at him amazed. "Why, I think you're right, Famous One," he said, ruefully, "Why didn't I spot that? I'd better check this out as soon as possible. If he is on his way we will soon trap him."
"But what about the other early bird guest?" asked Nikita, "she's far too nice to be a villain!"
"You're right, replied Fredcat, "it's my belief that Mrs. Eastside is part of the Powers That Be, sent here to keep an eye on things." (And in that Fredcat was later proved correct.)
"And now to come back to Tinkerbelle," said Fredcat grimly, "I'm sorry, Jack, but unfortunately Tinkerbelle is what is commonly known as a double agent. She has been working for the Powers That Be but she's also been accepting bribes from the Dark Side. Tinkerbelle needs to fund her luxurious lifestyle and she couldn't resist the extra money as long as nobody was hurt."
"It was she who sent the message via the rabbit," Fredcat continued, "and after she had briefed him she was able to be back to the Nikita residence in plenty of time to smarten herself up before my arrival. It was she who sent the message to lure me to the mill on my own. She had to act through Raymond because she wanted to make sure that I would go to the mill, alone, as soon as possible."
Fredcat looked around the sea of shocked faces, and said, "Unfortunately for her, it was her partner Jack who unwittingly scuppered that idea and Tinkerbelle was forced to agree with his suggestion that everyone go to the mill. In any case she was keen to get me to go there on any pretext. When Jack and she set off early she alerted Mr Edge to get the men ready to capture us on our arrival."
When the gasps of surprise had died down, Fredcat went on. "Why, she even fooled Jack by pretending to be captured! Doubtless she would have later been offered a nice fat reward from The Dark Side for dealing with both Jack and Fredcat the Famous at one fell swoop. Jack would have been the one that was left high and dry. Indeed suspicion might have fallen on him as the cat who was feeding vital information to the Dark Side No wonder the Powers That Be could never get close to the villains - Tinkerbelle was always able to tip them off!"
They all looked at Tinkerbelle who turned not the slightest hair on her well-coiffured head. "I'm pretty good, you know," she said, "It was so easy to fool you all. Unfortunately you won't take this any further this evening because I'm sure that with my talents I'll be in great demand and I will easily find more employment as an agent, double or otherwise."
They looked at her in amazement. She certainly had poise, did that one. Fredcat couldn't help thinking that she was right, some villains seem to get away with everything. "Well, we'll let Jack sort that one out," said Fredcat. And Jack quickly arranged for Tinkerbelle to be escorted away. She would be debriefed, but what then? Goodness knows what would become of her.
Our Hero turned to Nikita, "As for the rest of us, let's get on with the party mood and start with some decent nosh; all this talk of food is making me very hungry!"
And with this remark, he turned to Mr. B., and smiled winningly. I'm sure there must be some best beef available for us all in the larder," he said.
Mr. B. looked long and hard at Fredcat. "What is this drivel?" he spluttered, "These cats you prattle on about are your very respectable friends and none of them has done anything as remotely as cunning or as daft as you make out. They all live decent lives with their best human friends. These human friends of theirs have been writing to you for some time now and their cats' photographs portray them as proper law-abiding cats."
He continued, "There is no Twinlona Mill or Twender Park. This Tom Edge and Mrs. Eastside just don't exist. There is no Valentine's Day party at David and Laura's (that I know of), and there are no barking d*gs around."
Mr. B. waited for the splutterings to die down, before continuing, "This is all just one gigantic fairy tale to get an extra dollop of best beef which you know I've been saving for my evening meal. Now, hop it! And get to bed early or it will be the worst for you."
At that moment, Cathie walked into the room. "Now look'ee here," she said crossly, "that tale is substantially true, although it may have been embroidered a bit (which is Fredcat's wont, after all). Those places that you mentioned had the letters deliberately muddled up so that real names and places would be concealed from those who didn't need to know. I can certainly vouch for everything that Fredcat has said. And I happen to know that Chloe has indeed taken on, as a pal, a very nice d*g - whom she loves to bits. It stays with her all the time!"
The Grumpy One started to protest, but Cathie cut him short, "I think you'd better open a tin of beans if you want any supper tonight," she said, "but first we need some nice new clean bowls to give these poor hungry creatures some decent beef, for a change. They deserve something better than those nasty, hard, rough biscuits you've put out."
And the Grumpy One knew when he was beaten. Next time, he vowed, next time ...but what do you think, Gentle Reader?