Constitution Rise

On the other side of Cherry Wood, there's a small road called Constitution Rise. Some of the houses are extremely posh, some are little tatty terraces painted in very pale blues, pinks and mint greens. After my jaunts in the wood and conversation with the Lady of the Fish Pond, I decided not to have my bath, but to go down to the end of the road and leaflet for Ralik.

I had pretty much done both sides, when a black cat crossed my path. I called his name, and he turned around, expression all astonishment. We recognised each other straight away, he came over and flopped down on his side for strokings, while I checked him out. He's lost weight and looks good on it, though his fur was full of little bits of blue fabric and dust, and he was clearly suffering from hay fever. He started to yell at me in his mad hoarse way, and we began walking up the street. Then I picked him up and carried him the rest of the way, round the wood and the houses. When we saw our cats, sitting outside in the sunshine, I put him on the pavement, and Dervish instantly came over and brushed against him, it was very touching. Out came Mismatch too, and then we were inside the house, where Soraya turned up, wrinkling her nose at his trampish pong. I fed him and we sat together, his purrs so deep and contented. He reached over and touched my nose with his.

And all is right, all is absolutely fine with my world X