LockDown: Day 21

 

The sun had been beating down all day. Finally it was setting and the day was beginning to cool.

Archie was relaxing in the summer house with a stiff gin and tonic, watching the sun go down and thinking of nothing at all.   His favourite classical music station was playing quietly in the background.  Of Colin, the mutt, there was no sign. Archie thought this a little odd, but knew he was somewhere, either in the house or secreted in the large established garden.   Alice appeared from the house with a similarly stiff gin and tonic heading towards him.

'Did I hear the phone ring', asked Archie.

'Yes, it was Miss Canning from next door.   Erasmus has gone missing.  She hasn't seen him for 4 hours and is a little concerned'.

Erasmus was Miss Cannings large black cat.  He was of an indeterminate breed, but Archie often joked that ' a puma had been involved in there somewhere'.

Miss Canning was the retired head mistress of one of the country's leading all girls boarding schools.  She had never married and had no family that anyone was aware of, but there was a reassuring twinkle in her eye that suggested she had lived, as Alice succinctly put it, 'a comprehensively full life'.   Though still a formidable character, she had become a little baffled by life in her later years, however, at the age of 93 she was entitled to be baffled, thought Alice. Erasmus was Miss Canning's constant companion, who even walked round the village with her when she took her evening constitutional.

'Perhaps he's fallen asleep up a tree somewhere', offered Archie helpfully.  He missed the reproving look that Alice gave him as his eyes were closed to allow the music to surround his every sense.

'It is a little worrying for her though.  He's normally within the sound of the biscuit box', said Alice as she looked out onto the garden. 'Where's Colin, by the way. I haven't seen him for a while. Has he finally disowned you?'.

Archie opened one eye and considered the question.  'Colin would never leave me or doubt me. That, my love, he leaves to the human race who, as is well known, are fickle and emotive in there choices'.

'Well, if both Erasmus and Colin are missing it must raise the question of have they eloped, eaten each other or been snatched by a group of ne'er do wells for sinister purposes?' enquired Alice.

'An interesting hypothesis', said Archie, whose attention had finally been attracted.   'It's unlikely they've eloped as Colin is not that way inclined. It is possible that he's eaten Erasmus, however.   I'll check the perimeter defences just to put your mind at rest dear'.  Archie rose from his comfortable chair, allowing Alice to collapse into it far quicker than was diplomatic.   'If I didn't know better I'd think that you were employing a ruse to get my chair', said Archie, setting off down the garden.

' We could always get another comfy chair in here dear, then we could both relax at the same time', called Alice.

'That would defeat the objective my love. The house is yours, but the summer house is mine', called back Archie.   Archie did not see the knowing smile that Alice wore as she settled back into the chair and closed her eyes.

A while later Archie reappeared. 'I can't find him' he said, trying not to sound as concerned as he felt.

'What about Erasmus', asked Alice.

'Wasn't looking for him, came the scathing reply.

'But he always comes when you call him', said Alice, sitting upright now and growing as concerned as Archie obviously was.   Colin was Archie's constant companion. Of equally indeterminate breed as Erasmus, but being a dog, far more loyal to his beloved human.  His disappearance was out of character.

Miss Canning's head appeared over the garden fence. 'Forgive me being nosey, Mrs Heywood, but did you say Colin was missing as well?', she asked.

'Well, we can't find him at the moment', replied Alice, 'but don't worry Miss Canning, I'm sure that both Erasmus and Colin will turn up'.   Alice hoped this was true. The thought of losing Colin would be akin to the bereavement of a family member, which he was.

'I'll check out the front', said Archie, heading towards the house.

'He can't have got out of the garden, surely', said Alice to his retreating back.

'Erasmus, has never been out on his own and he wouldn't leave the garden without telling me', chimed in an alarmed Miss Canning.

'Now, don't panic Miss Canning', said Alice, trying very hard to keep the panic out of her own voice. 'We'll find them'.

'Should we call the police', asked her worried neighbour.

'No, I'm not sure this is a police matter', said Alice, 'but I'll ring John and just see if anyone has reported seeing them'.   John was the retired village constable who lived a short distance away and maintained a hand in policing the village by being the lead of the neighbourhood watch group.

Alice returned a short while later to the sound of Miss Canning pleading with her beloved Erasmus to show himself. The frantic shaking of his biscuit box was obviously not having the usual desired effect. 

John had reassured Alice that the two absentees would very likely turn up, but he would put the word out and keep an eye open for them. 

For want of something to do, Alice, decided to walk the perimeter of the garden herself – just in case Archie had missed something.

20 minutes later Archie appeared from the patio doors to see Alice strolling nonchalantly up the garden chuckling to herself

'Have you found him?', called Archie.

'I've found them', replied Alice.

Miss Canning once again appeared over the fence. 'Did you say you've found him?', she asked anxiously.

'Yes, he's quite safe, Miss Canning', replied Alice. 'Erasmus and Colin appear to have called a truce and are curled up with each other quite comfortably under the azalea bush at the end of our garden'.

'Oh, thank the Lord', cried a relieved Miss Canning.

'Show me', said a relieved but less triumphant Archie.

Alice led Archie down to the end of the garden where the cool, fragrant air gave some relief from the heat of the day.  There, curled up side by side under the huge azalea bush were Colin and Erasmus, fast asleep.

'I say old man', said Archie in his best Wing Commander voice, 'What do you think you're doing fraternising with the enemy?'. Colin looked up sleepily and gave a huge yawn. He struggled to his feet to stretch, and yawned a little more. Erasmus opened one eye and settled himself more comfortably to continue his nap.

'C'mon traitor', ordered Archie, calling Colin to heel, 'and you', he directed to the AWOL Erasmus, 'get back in your own garden!'.

So ended the 21^st day.