A flat day

It was going to be one of those flat days nothing special to do no project  to  fill the hours that stretched before her Pat sighed and poured her fourth cup of tea just as she replaced her cup on its saucer her mobile phone rang Claire, her bestie since nursery school,  sounded out of breath "I'll be with you in half an hour get yourself ready to go out." Pat who had envisaged a lazy day of recliner and tv with maybe a pub lunch was jerked out of her lethargy. True to her word  Claire arrived thirty minutes later she put a copy of the local paper on the table " read the leading article" Pat put her glasses on and read the local animal shelter was looking for dog walkers " great idea" Claure was  enthusiastic Pat less so " it would do us good a good deed and it would do us both good we don't get enough excercice",

They arrived at the shelter  to find a number of people waiting the gates opened and  and  tvolunteers emerged each leading two dogs "that's yours" Pat pointed to a large Alsatian "and that's mine" a miniature long coated Dachshund with sad eyes. Holding the leads  they followed instructions to a large meadow that was a dog's delight at the end of an hour both Pat and Claire were exhausted the dogs less so. After a short rest they set off again filling another hour with doggie enjoyment. Back at the shelter the director was waiting to thank them reminding them that the shelter was open every day and that dogs could be adopted at any time proving the future adoptant could provide the necessary guarantees.

"I'd love the Alsatian but with three cats at home it would become a war zone but you haven't any cats  and that Dachsund really took to you"  Pat shook her head  "it's a big commitment and I don't think I'm ready for it" 

The whole evening  Pat couldn't stop thinking of those sad  eyes. The following morning she rang Claire "I need you to come with me to the pet shop I need a lot of things" Claire asked no questions but hugged herself. 

They returned to the shelter armed with all the necessary guarantees having left a house fully equipped with all the necessary doggie needs.

"Her name is Ella and she's five years old  her owner died his family didn't want her and this is why she ended uo here" "I want her" and having completed all the formalities Pat collected Ella whose sad eyes were filled with joy. The flat days were over.

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