©Geraldine Banks January2025
Cross fiddled with the pen on his desk as he looked out from the Palace Office’s window, he could see Tedi ,Tizzie, Duke, Trinnie, Blaze and Marmie charging around the Quadrangle like the young dogs they were. They about two and a half years old all of them , as they’d been born the same day. They all played happily together and the Palace staff had fed watered and cleaned up after them. No one minded as they were such a friendly bunch of dogs although there was always a lot of rough and tumble with them and things very often looked chaotic.
Cross had realized that Security was an issue now for all the dogs at the House. There had been so much Publicity about the Inheritance and the subsequent events that had meant Tedi was the Head of the Household and the “Crazy Gang” as Cross liked to call him were his pack. Paparazzi had broken into the grounds a number of times trying to take pictures, but Cross knew there were worse thing such as dognapping that could happen and he was determined to keep all the dogs safe.
Cross returned to perusing his diary and papers. It was time to set in motion the old Duke’s plan of having an animal sanctuary and also to reinstate the annual “Pet and Livestock Show” which the Duke and Duchess had held for many years, until it was harshly cancelled during the Australians brief tenure at the Estate supposedly because of the costs associated with running it. The new date had to be decided , it was going to be some time next year. Suddenly a thought flashed through his mind.
” We should have a village meeting , that would be a good start, they’ll know the best time and we’ll need volunteers to help. “
Cross leapt up from his chair and looked at his calendar. He would send an e-mail to each of the villagers asking for them to meet and go from there. He quickly composed an e-mail and just as he pressed the send button a little head appeared around the open door to his office.
Cross looked around .”Tedi! how are you? Did you have a good play?”
Tedi wandered into the office nonchalantly, he was tired and thirsty after running around and immediately went to his water bowl.” Loud slurping sounds of the water being lapped up echoed around the office and once he had finished he shook his whiskers to get the excess water off. He then went over to his bed in the corner and plonked himself down and stared at Cross.
” Well , good Sir, would you like an update” Cross looked back at Tedi.
Tedi moved one of his paws forward which meant he was ready to listen.
” OK, well as you can imagine, we have had quite a lot of letters from all sorts of people, but I’ve chosen a few which I think might be of interest. “
” Firstly we’ve had a lot of requests for the ” Pet and Livestock Show ” to become an Annual Event at the Palace again. You will of course be it’s Patron and I’ve started gathering together some information first of which is to have a meeting with the villagers at the White Lion next Sunday evening at 7.30pm. You’ll have to come . I’ve sent out invitations to the villagers.”
Tedi moved his paw forward.
” Great , well we can sort out the arrangements later on , but I’m sure the whole village will turn out .”
“Also , I’ve had a letter from James, you never knew James but he used to run our Kennels and Cattery Rescue and Fostering Centre. He was wondering if there were any plans to reintroduce the “Show” and if so could he have his old job back. He used to be my right hand when it came to looking after all the animals we had in the old days. “
Tedi was getting tired, but had no doubt that James was the right person for the job if Cross thought so. He gave a little yelp of approval and at the same moment Cross glanced over at him, Tedi was sprawled on his bed fast asleep.
” I’ll take that as a yes then, young Sir!” Cross smiled. He knew Tedi could cope with no more than two or three questions in a session and he could he could tell when Tedi was giving his “approval” and when he was having one of his “dreams”. That had been an approval yelp. Now though Tedi needed his nap and Cross continued at his desk working on the endless paperwork that needed to be completed to enable the Estate to run smoothly.
thenotsomightyom 