7. A Midsummer Night's...

Bella and Suzy were far too old to still show

enthusiasm for an early morning romp

A Midsummer Night’s …

It was hardly a dream… The flashing zigzags in the black sky followed by wild roaring left all my creatures trembling- the dogs crawled under the bed, my imprecise number of cats scarped to some hidden corner- then sharp lumps of ice cracked on the windows. I lit a candle not out of some devout supplication but because the electricity had been taken as always happens when ferocious storms hit the hills.

Sometimes the skies get angry

The morning, when it came, was no better, the rain kept crashing against the window. Around dawn a crack of light pushed through the black-grey clouds and it lulled me to sleep, to the sleep that the night had stolen. My dogs crept out from underneath the bed and settled themselves on the blue settee and began to snore- that too brought on drowsiness. I had not long fallen into that sonorous world of forgetfulness when I felt some teeth clamping on the hand that I left hanging out of the bed. It had to be Billy, of course, the little miniature Dalmatian type of dog that had sprung out from the hills and found its way to my abode. Bella and Suzy were far too old to still show enthusiasm for an early morning romp.

I stuck my head still further under the sheet and with a half open eye I asked my frantic dog:

"Give me one good reason why I should get up?"

And the dog evacuated in the most infelicitous style.

Never think things are as bad as they seem- they are worse.