Six

'No George. Stay in your basket’.
But I’m not feeling poorly anymore.
‘It won't be forever, just until we've proved that you won’t be a distraction to the others in the office or a disruption in any way and that this whole arrangement can work’.
That sounds a bit boring Pips.
‘And this morning was a bit of a disaster on that front. Trust me'.
'Talking to yourself?'
'Oh hi Simon. No I'm just talking to George….
'He's feeling better is he? Let's have a look'.
'Yes, come round…'
'Ah. There we are. And out of the basket already! Hello George'.
Hello Simon. Very smart shoes. Are they Jeffery West by any chance?
'Have we recovered?'
It was the bus Simon. It had a moving floor.
'It was my fault'.
Yes it was Pips' fault for taking me on public transport.
'We shouldn't have stood in the bendy bit of the bus. I wasn't thinking. But there was nowhere else to stand. There's no room in those buses'.
'Well. We'll pretend this morning didn't happen and start again shall we?
Pleased to meet you George'.
Would you play some rough and tumble with me Simon if I feel like it? That would be terrific. Philippa's flat is a bit small and she hasn't let me off the lead yet.
'He looks like trouble to me'.
‘No he won’t be Simon I promise. He’ll just lie in his basket and no-one will even know he’s there'.
‘As long as he does’.
‘He will'.
Well it depends really Pips because the thing is/
‘Good. Glad to hear it. Is he…? What breed is he?'
'A Jack Russell'
Don't say it Simon don't say it don't say it.
'So why is he called George?'
I get so fed up with that Simon I really do. It's not all that funny actually.
'But I thought Jack Russell's were bigger'.
Oh here we go.
'He's the short-legged variety’.
'Really? I didn't know there were different types. He's not got a Napoleon complex has he! Well welcome to the gang George. Now get back in your basket!’
I'm glad Simon finds himself amusing. I will get in my basket if and when I feel like it and not before.
'I wasn't keen on the idea of Philippa getting you George but she's worked for me for a while now and done some good work and she promised me you would be very obedient so….’
You shouldn’t have promised that Pips, really, when you didn’t know me.
'Besides, we pride ourselves on being a relaxed kind of office’.
You shouldn’t promise something on behalf of somebody else.
‘We like to be informal…’
Because I may not feel like doing what’s been promised for instance.
We can handle the odd dog'.
‘Look what I’ve found in my bag George’.
My bone!
‘He loves his bone’.
This is my bone Simon and it’s not for you. Get off! Where’s my basket….


'George! Where are you going?'
I thought I would go and visit the receptionist for a chat if that's OK Pips.
'Come back here'.
Steve used to chat to the receptionist at work. He told me.
'Get back in your basket'.
But I'm a bit bored of my bone now and I’ve been in my basket almost all day and/
'NOW!'
All right. Keep your hair on Pips. Maybe another time then.