A Long, Long Way

Ever since Mango, Mr Noah’s faithful hound, can remember there has been a routine at dinner time at the Ark, which goes a bit like this:

Mr Noah to Mrs Noah, ”What would you like for dinner tonight, dear?”

“Oh, I don’t mind. You choose, because whatever you cook I know it will be delicious.”

“Alright then, I’ll cook something nice.”

At that point, Mango comes and lays down at the kitchen door watching Mr Noah cutting and slicing and stirring. Then, as the food is being cooked, a delicious smell wafts around her nose.

Eventually, the food is placed on the plates and, if the weather is right, Mr and Mrs Noah will sit outside and eat their meal on the stoep, watching the waves of the sea and the colourful sunset.

Mango, of course, has moved outside with them just to check that the food is still on the plates. She will rest her nose on the very corner of the table, watching every mouthful disappearing.

After that, Mr and Mrs Noah may have a little pot of yoghurt each. Mango is allowed to take the ‘empty’ pots and wash them up - yummy!

She knows that Mr and Mrs Noah then go and wash up the plates after that in the kitchen, so she will sit quietly watching until the tea towel is placed on the rack and the last pot is put away. Then, it is time to get excited...

Jumping about, rushing to her lead, looking at Mr Noah with pleading eyes, more jumping about, until he takes notice that it is time to take Mango for her evening walk!

So, it’s outside to the braai area, where Mango keeps her large collection of sticks, so she can choose just the right one for that evening, and carry it out of the Ark on to the road for their evening stroll.

Mr Noah takes his piece of fruit with him and can be heard muttering something like “five portions a day, bah!”

Off the two of them go for their evening ‘bonding session’.

This little routine has been going on for almost two years now, and it’s always been a strictly ‘Mango and Mr Noah’ time.

That was, until Mrs Noah decided to take Mango for her evening stroll one day. She was given instructions on how to ‘do’ the walk by Mr Noah, and Mango was to look after Mrs Noah whilst they were out!

Off they set…

All was going well, until Mr Noah looked out of the window about twenty min utes later and saw them coming around the corner. There was Mrs Noah and Mango ambling along the road, and right behind them was ... Sid!

A few minutes later, Mango burst into the Ark, followed by Mrs Noah and bouncing behind them was an excited Sid!

“You’ll never guess what?” said Mrs Noah.

“What, Mrs Noah?”

Sid saw us go out for our evening walk and she decided to come as well.

“What? She went all the way? It’s a long, long way for a little cat, and there are many dangers out there in the bush!”

“Yes, she did. She came with us all the way. She scampered about with Mango and she loved it. Mango showed her lots of new ‘sniffs’.”

“Well, well, what a clever little cat, aren’t you, Sid?” He turned to Sid, but she was not listening. She was already fast asleep on Mango’s cushion ... with Mango.

“Ah,” said Mr Noah. “I told you it was long, long way for a little cat!”