Bertie growled as we entered the 'Dog Shop'. I saw Madame force a smile from out of the corner of my eye!! It appeared that we all had a vivid memory of the recent visit in which, despite Bertie!, we bought him a red woollen coat because of the exceptionally low temperatures!!! I also noticed her reach for the muzzle!!!
Nanette, Bertie and I entered and I explained that we now needed a raincoat!! We had a week of solid rain and poor Bertie at 5 kilos and close to the ground was really suffering!! There were two small terriers in the 'front parlour' where you go when you have had your coat massacred and been subjected to a torrent of water called a bath! I must say, they looked pristine clean and were not slow to demonstrate their superiority!
Then there was another fluffy 'society' girl on the high table, attached by a chain to a bar .....she was very keen to watch the coat trying session...perhaps she fancied Bertie??..... and was perilously near the edge of the table with curiosity! one small slip and she would hang herself by the chain!!! Madame obviously knew something I didn't as she was unconcerned.
I lifted Bertie on to a side table and Madame produced an orange and black raincoat!! We had attempted to measure the length of Bertie's back but he was having none of it!! so the only option was to try it on straight away, or that was the theory.
Now, I am totally used to Bertie and his temperament, so I went to try the coat on. As I didn't see how to fit it under the stomach, Madame kindly offered to show me....Ooh La La!!! Grrrrrrrr...That was it!! She whipped the muzzle out and transformed before our very eyes from a polite nervous 'wanting to sell a coat' shopkeeper into a masterful ..err? or is it ' mistressful'??... 'I'll show 'em'... Tyrant! I never saw anyone snap a muzzle on so deftly and at such speed. Not even our vet has this degree of skill!! Furthermore, our sharp Bertie was completely taken aback!!
The coat was a trifle too long in the back and a horrible colour....or so I thought but as there was nothing more to choose from I decided on it, simply wanting to escape a.s.a.p.
I lifted Bertie down from the table complete with new coat. Nanette had to investigate and approve it of course and we left the shop with Madame wringing her hands and having a nervous breakdown ( as was the case after our last visit ) and myself with Nanette ( still very curious about the coat.. (why haven't I got one Jil?? ) plus Bertie on a lead somewhere under the coat, which made it difficult to decide what species he belonged to!! Dog or Bumble Bee?? It's all that orange and black you know!!! Have a lovely day all!! Jilxx