Sunday morning

The next morning Leonora was feeling slightly brighter. She always felt better in the mornings. She was looking forward to a nice walk and seeing darling Sheba.

After her shower, she made some Assam tea, toasted some wholemeal bread, and spread it lightly with yeast extract. Leonora liked yeast extract, but she did not like the nasty commercial concoctions such as Marmite, Vegemite, or even worse - horrid meaty Bovril. No, Leonora's yeast extract was pure and undefiled and came from the health food shop.

She ummed and ahed about putting on some make-up but settled for some unnoticeable eye pencil and mascara. Then she couldn't decide whether to wear glasses or contact lenses. Perhaps she would wear the glasses and then she could hide behind them. She had become rather fond of her glasses for exactly that reason.

Next, she picked out some comfortable clothes, and put on her thick socks and walking boots. And waited for the 'phone to ring, which it did before not too long. She smiled.

'Hello,' she said brightly.

'Hello Leonora,' said Mark, none too sure whether this whole thing was a good idea or not.

'I'm ready whenever you are,' she trilled happily.

'I'll be round then,' he said flatly. And put the 'phone down.

Leonora gazed at the 'phone in surprise. Oh well, she thought, not much point chatting if he is soon going to be here.

The little crutches were watching all the preparations with their big eyes, although they said nothing.

When the doorbell rang, she dashed to the door. She smiled fleetingly at Mark and then:

'Oh, Sheba darling, how lovely to see you again. You are the most beautiful dog in the world.'

She felt a slight twinge of guilt as she normally told Tata that, but figured neither of them would ever discover her duplicity.

Sheba beamed at her and trotted happily into the kitchen, where co-incidentally, Leonora had left a couple of small pieces of toast, carefully spread with yeast extract.

Sheba sat down dutifully and waited for her treats. Leonora cooed over her and fed her the toast. Then she poured a bowl of water for Sheba, which she lapped up.

Leonora sat on the floor next to Sheba and stroked and petted her some more.

Mark was not pleased. At all. There was a difference between having a girlfriend who liked your dog, and having a girlfriend who preferred your dog to you. He knew it had been a mistake to revive this relationship.

'Shall I just leave Sheba here with you and clear off on my own?' he asked petulantly.

'No, of course not,' said Leonora, surprised at his sulky little boy behaviour. 'I just haven't seen her for a while, and it's so nice to see her again.'

'You haven't seen me either, but I don't seem to be getting the same treatment,' he said, nearly stamping his foot.

Leonora laughed. 'Do you want a bowl of water and some left-over yeast extract on toast?'

Mark was a dyed-in-the-wool bacon sandwich man, although he didn't usually indulge when Leonora was around.

He had the grace to look slightly abashed, and she walked over and gave him a light kiss on the cheek. 'It's nice to see you too,' she said.

Mark realised he was behaving like an idiot. The truth was he had been hurt and disappointed that she had never got in touch with him after her disappearance down to see that obnoxious cousin of hers.

'Are you ready?' he asked.

'Yes. Of course.'

And off they went. Sheba bounded in the back, and Mark carefully snapped her harness onto the carabina clip that he used as a safety restraint. Leonora piled in the front looking forward to a good morning out.