Sixty

‘George what are you doing up on the table? You know you’re not supposed to be up there’.
I have to be up here Pips because I am watching out for Princess to pass by on her walk as I would very much like to introduce myself to her.
‘You’re not eating my geranium are you?’
I am just smelling it while I am waiting. I feel sure she will pass by soon because Freddie says she often walks this way at the weekend and it is true that I have seen her in the street on Saturdays and…. Pips! There she is! She’s coming! PRINCESS IS COMING!
‘Ssssh George. No barking in the house. What have you seen?’
Let’s go let’s go let’s go let’s go Pips.
‘Careful George’.
I’m coming I’m coming I’m coming Princess I’m coming/
‘George what’s the matter? Do you need to go out?’
Yes I do I do I do I do. Quick Pips! Or she will have gone and I will have missed my opportunity.
‘OK let me get my coat. We’re in and out of this flat like a yo-yo these days’.
Quick Pips! Princess I am coming……. George is coming.


Hello Princess. That’s a very pretty name if I may say so.
‘Who are you?’
I’m George. You have probably seen me round and about the neighbourhood. I believe you have met Freddie who may have mentioned me to you.
‘Freddie? Who’s Freddie?’
He’s my best friend. He said he had made your acquaintance/
‘I don’t remember him’.
Well he remembered you and we were chatting last Sunday morning, as we quite often do these days, and he mentioned you and said you were new to the area and I said I had seen you because you have passed my flat sometimes. As a matter of fact I was looking out for you just now. You may have noticed me in the first floor window of number/
‘Look I’m in a rush. What do you want?’
Well the thing is Princess, I think that you are a very lovely girl and I would very much like to have some fun with you because I am a fun loving dog and/
‘OK stop right there. No offence, I mean I like fun, but you’re not my type’.
What do you mean?
‘You’re too small’.
I may be small but I have a very big heart which, I think you will agree, is the most important thing when it comes to having fun.
‘Sorry, but I like big dogs. That’s just the way it is’.
But they may not have as big a heart as I do.
‘I’ll find one who does’,
But he may not be as interesting as I am. I have a wide variety of interests such as modern art for example and recently I created a work in this very street entitled ‘Snow Garden’ – which you may have seen the other morning - and I occasionally like to involve myself in social issues. For instance not long ago I conducted a survey in the workplace called ‘What it Feels Like for a Muslim Girl’ and I am also particularly fond of Renee Fleming although I have not yet seen her live in concert but it is one of my resolutions for this year. In fact you are meeting me at a very fortunate time as I am about to venture into the exciting world of stationery/
‘Stationery?’
I work in an office you see. In Bloomsbury.
‘Good for you. Look I’m on my way to a pedicure. I don’t have time for this.’
Well perhaps we can arrange to meet some other/
‘It’s always the same with you Jack Russells isn’t it? What bit of ‘No’ do you not understand? I’m not interested OK? I like big dogs. That’s it. End of story. Just deal with it. Come on Chloe, walk on. And let’s avoid this street in future so I don’t have to bump into this freakshow again. The little weirdo is into stationery’.


‘George you’ve been very quiet this evening’.
I just need some time to myself if you don’t mind Pips.
‘Are you all right curled up there in the bookcase?....... George?’
I feel downhearted Pips actually.
‘Let’s have a look at you. What’s the matter?’
Do you think I’m too small?
‘Why don’t you come and cuddle up with me in bed and we’ll watch a DVD. Shall we watch a DVD?’
I don’t feel like doing anything.
‘No? This isn’t like you. Are you feeling OK?’
Do you think I am making the right decision in choosing a career in stationery?
‘Come here. I think I might have a bit of chocolate in the cupboard. Let’s see if I can find it……………….. Look George! Here it is! You’re in luck.’
Thank you Pips but I’m not hungry.
‘Don’t you want it? You’re worrying me now George, you really are. What’s wrong? What is it you want?’
I don’t know Pips. I think I want not to be me.