The Princess and the Centime

Now I'm a pup who likes her creature comforts. I mean all these little Parisian dogs that look positively brisk as they pound the pavement by their human's side. Hhmm I mean a lovely run in the Bois de Boulogne or a nice stroll to the cafe followed by an hour or two lolling under a table, or chasing up crumbs from nearby tables, is one thing, but pavements can get hard on a girl's paws afer a while and be downright damp on occasion. So...when the whim takes me I have a great little plan for avoiding further pavement pounding. I go for the embarrassment angle. My mum can get quite selfconcious so it works a treat! I simply collapse down on my tummy, chin to the ground, and gaze up beseechingly at my mum. She tries to get me to my feet; and when I continue to simply gaze sadly up at her, she lifts me on to my paws. I flop down. She lifts me. I go into my ragdoll routine. She lifts me again, all the while trying to use that stern tone of voice that Auntie Gabrielle tought her. Hah! So people begin to look. Some smile as they walk by. But worse some start to look concerned. ' Il est fatigue ce chien??" a worried lady enquires. My mum assures her that I'm not too fatigued at all, that I am just ' capriceuse" . Hhhmph!! My mum starts to get embarrassed. " They'll think I abuse my dog, Cherry! she says now please!!" I'm still flat out on the pavement, gazing up. Any minute now she'll lift me in her arms just to avoid the embarrassment. Ha I'm a master at this!

So the other day, Mum was again at a loss. She'd tried sternness, her pretend-angry voice, pleading and " look look over there! Cherry! It's Auntie Gabrielle! Let's go!!" I've heard this one before and this time I know it's a ruse! . Determined not to pick me up it seems, yet unwilling for further dragging me along on my tummy, Mum sinks down to her haunches and goes sinto a little reverie by my side. She's like that for some time, gazing at the shops on the opposite side of the street, the people passing by when out of the corner of her eye, she sees that someone is approaching closer than they should... And suddenly a hand in front of her at eye level, outstretched and open with a couple of little golden coins - ten centime pieces proffered. Oh no no monsieur she stammers, struggling to her feet. " Non merci, vous etes gentille!" " No thanks, you're kind!" There's a lot of people sitting in the streets begging in our neighbourhood, sometimes with their dogs ; but I guess my mum just didn't see that she and I were doing quite a good impression of being one of them

Shame she refused really! My mum wandered homeward, (I decided to cooperate) reflecting on the little kindnesses inherent in the human species - an old retired guy looking quite poor himself offering what little he could spare... Me: " oh mum you should have taken it! You could always buy treats for me!"

And there's alway the doggie bag mum!!