Camberdoodles episode 17 – part 1
As the first glimmers of light crept through the curtains, DeDe woke up thinking it really has been a funny year, âI canât remember when we last had anything to look forward to.â She flipped through the pages in her diary only to find grooming appointments and Danteâs birthday stretching between now and Christmas. It depressed her to think there were no day trips or parties on the horizon. Bucking herself up, she thought, âIâm luckier than so many, I really must put on a smile and carry on.â
When she got downstairs Dante was already in the garden doing his routine security checks. She muttered, âI could set my watch by his routineâ. As she finished her breakfast another wave of âpoor meâ feelings swept over her. The combination of nothing to look forward to and Danteâs military lifestyle filled her with gloom.
As usual, Dante wasnât ready to leave to catch the train and as usual DeDe had to remind him to hurry up. Walking down the hill she knew exactly where heâd stop to sniff and which passers-by he would say a bright âgood morningâ to and the others he preferred to hurry on by.
Once theyâd settled on Billy train and said hello to Phoebe, DeDe went quiet. So quiet in fact even Dante realized something was wrong. Tentatively he asked what the matter was, but he could see she was not keen to talk. âNever mind, he thought, Lily-Poo will be at the beach and I know they tell each other their secrets, so perhaps she will feel better by lunch time.â
Harley gets a surprise
When they got to the beach Harley was knee deep in a hole. He was concentrating so hard he hadnât noticed them approaching, so when they all said, âHelloâ at the same time, he jumped into the air in surprise.
As normal, Phoebe, Harley and Dante went down to the sea for a paddle, leaving Lily-Poo and DeDe in the dunes. Once they were out of sight DeDe turned to Lily-Poo and with a sigh said, âDo you really think this is all there is to life? Coming to the beach and doing the same things every day?â DeDe went on âDante doesnât ever question his lot, he’s always happy whatever heâs doing, but Iâd like a bit more from lifeâ. Before she could say more the others were dashing back and were in earshot.
Once the others had shaken the salty water from their fur, Lily-Poo thought it time she broached the subject on DeDeâs behalf. âHas anyone got anything exciting planned? Everyone was quiet before Dante perked up. âWe have everything right here in Camber, why would we want to go anywhere else? In fact only yesterday I received a positive thought from my brother BooBoo asking if weâd all like to go and visit him at his holiday villa near Barcelona.
All that foreign food?
“As much as Iâd love to see my brother, I didnât have to think twice, because I knew none of us would want to go all that way, with the hot weather and all that foreign food. Anyway we can see him in London or Camber whenever we want, so I messaged him back with a polite âNo thank youââ
When Dante finished an awkward silence fell over the group. DeDe took a slow deep breath before quietly, but determinedly saying, âAre you telling us, Dante, weâve been invited to Spain and youâve said, âNo thank youâ on our behalf?â Dante knows when DeDeâs being serious because her lip curls to the left when sheâs talking. Right now her lip was curling more than it had done in a long while. Not wanting to look directly at her he whispered, âYes, thatâs about the top and bottom of itâ.
âHmmmâ, said Lily-Poo, âIâm not sure youâve made the right collective decision there, Dante. I, for one, would love a week in Spain right now, and I know DeDe would tooâ. Not wanting to make Dante feel too bad, Harley and Phoebe added that they would have liked to have been asked before heâd replied for them.
By the time everyone had finished talking Dante felt alone and a little vulnerable. He hadnât wanted to upset anyone, heâd simply thought they were as happy as he was in Camber. Never liking tension, he agreed to message BooBoo saying heâd made a mistake in his last thought. Where heâd sent âNo thank youâ, heâd meant to say, âThank you very much, weâd all love to come!â In a flash BooBoo replied âGreat, looking forward to seeing everyone soon!â .
DeDe turned to Lily-Poo with a huge smile and said, âItâs funny how things turn out, isnât it?â.
To be continued next week.
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Image Credits: Vicki Batt .