Forty One

I am so looking forward to the Prom Pips. I didn’t realise it was today that we were seeing Renee. I am thrilled.
‘There they are George. Abbie and Laura. Can you see them just to the left of the memorial?’
Laura is joining us too? That’s terrific.
‘We’re not late are we? No, we’re not. In fact we’re actually on time for once. They probably can’t believe it…….. Hiya’.
‘Hi Philippa’.
‘Hello George’.
Hello girls.
‘You haven’t been waiting here long have you?’
‘No no. I arrived early and Abbie had only just got here so…’
‘It’s really good of you to do this Laura’.
‘No problem. It will be fun’.
‘I think we’d better go Philippa as there was already a long queue at Door 3 a few moments ago’.
‘OK, so Laura we’ll see you back here at the memorial afterwards but if you’re not here then we’ll know you’ve gone home’.
‘I’ll probably be here’.
‘Really? All right. Now George, Laura’s going to look after you for a couple of hours while Abbie and I go to the Prom OK?’
What?
‘She’ll take you for a lovely long walk around Hyde Park’.
Am I not coming to the Prom too?
‘I’m sorry to do this to you George but I need some culture from time to time otherwise my soul will just wither and die and since you’ve come into my life I haven’t managed to get out and see as much as I used to. Please don’t look at me like that’.
What makes you think I don’t need some culture in my life too Pips? What makes you think the odd walk is enough for me? I have a great love of music especially Renee Fleming who Rupert introduced to my musical repertoire when I was living in Cheam and I do not want to go for another walk when I could be listening to Renee.
‘He doesn’t look very happy Philippa’.
‘Be a good boy George. I have to do this sort of thing occasionally. Laura will take you to the Serpentine to see the ducks’.
I DO NOT WANT TO SEE DUCKS PIPS. I WANT TO SEE RENEE FLEMING!
‘Bye George. We have to go or it will be starting’.
BUT I WANT TO SEE RENEE!
‘Stop that George. They don’t let dogs into the Royal Albert Hall’.
Why not? Just because I am a dog does not mean I cannot appreciate an aria.
‘I don’t make the rules’.
But I feel sure they will make an exception for me once they know how much I love Renee and her work.
‘See you later’.
BUT…… I WANT RENEE! I WANT RENEE!
‘Ssssssh George!’
RENEE HELP ME…. I WANT TO SEE YOU!


‘I feel awful leaving him’.
‘Don’t keep looking back Philippa’.
‘But I feel guilty. Like a mean parent’.
‘George will be fine. You’ve been moaning that you never go out anymore’.
‘I know I know, but he would probably enjoy the concert. George likes music’.
‘How do you know?’
‘He gets very energised by it’.
‘George gets energised by everything. That’s the problem’.
‘It is not a problem Abbie. It’s what makes him who he is’.
‘You know you should listen to yourself sometimes Philippa’.
‘Who are we seeing tonight anyway?’
‘Maxim Vengerov playing Mozart’.