“Isn’t this lovely” said Bonny languidly as she stretched her legs across the smooth lawn inhaling its savoury scent.
“Indeed, it is” replied Ben in even more dreamy mode and rolling over to receive a full blast of sunshine. “Just for us, our secret space”.
Basking in the sun with the garden shed acting as a buttress against any wind they had spent many happy hours together until each had to fulfil their family duties.
“It’s Sunday” said Ben blankly, as if having to remind himself, having emerged from yet another doze “I guess I’ll have to go out on one of those long walks in the country soon. In a way, I’d sooner stay here though”.
“Come on” replied Bonny, trying to encourage him. “You know you love them really. You enjoy a bit of a run don’t you and they keep you fit. You don’t want to lose that figure of yours, do you? Didn’t you tell me that you had been getting a number of flirtatious looks from some of the ladies you meet on your walks”?
“Well”, said Ben relishing both recollection and anticipation and preening as he admired his physic in the reflection from a pane of glass in the greenhouse. “I don’t want to brag, but I do seem to attract quite a lot of attention when out. Sometimes it’s embarrassing and last week there was a scuffle between two of them over who had seen me first” he boasted.
“What do they know”? came the reply. “They don’t see you when you come back from one of your walks in the park when it’s raining. You look like a drowned rat. Not so attractive then, are you?” smirked Bonny.
“But I do scrub up well don’t I. At least I’ve still got it” he rebutted, though immediately regretted what he said. “I’m so sorry he said, that was cruel. I had forgotten your recent, he lowered his voice, op when you had it all taken away”.
“Oh, that’s OK” said Bonny, sweetly “I know you try to be kind, ‘most of the time’” she added with a degree of sarcasm.
“Mind you, it will be a miracle if I ever get the chance to use it” said Ben” causing them both to laugh. “I” he said, emphasising the ‘I’, “do not have a double-barrelled name!” he said rather morosely. “I wouldn’t be regarded as having the right background for breeding”.
Their conversation had moved to one of mutual appreciation.
“You’re so good with Tom” said Bonny. “He’s so much calmer these days isn’t he”.
“Well, I try”, replied Ben plaintively, “we do seem to have a connection, but you know that level of autism is difficult to deal with. But then you underestimate the good you do for gran. You’re her baby”.
Bonny scrunched up, “well she is rather cuddly isn’t she and seems to like it. We both enjoy one another; I think, and she has nice hands”.
“Nice isn’t it” said Ben, “this mutual help”.
“And affection” added Bonny.
By now the shadow of the shed was reducing the rays of the sun. As so often, the two compatriots had curled up together for mutual warmth and comfort.
After a short time, both seemed to have gained new energy and become bored with their slumber.
“Do you fancy a game of tag before dinner?” suggested Ben gently.
“Oh yes” replied Bonny. “It’s such fun when they see how we play. They can’t make out who is chasing who”.
“And, even better” said Ben “is that the humans can’t understand why a cat and a dog can be good friends.”
“Or talk to one another”, added Ben.
Clive Stokes - June 2025