The young mother stopped her washing up and smiled as she breathed deeply the fresh scented air that entered the open window. Reassured by the happy giggles of her baby, she plunged her
hands back into the bowl of soapy water, and humming a nameless tune to herself she continued to do the dishes. Outside on the patio, in the shade of the large Honeysuckle that cascaded over the fence, her young baby was in her pushchair enjoying the summer’s warmth. The buzz of insects as they motored past the pushchair, left to right, then right to left was accompanied by the chirp of Sparrows and the occasional car door slamming shut, followed by a toot toot of farewell. But most of all Baby Chloe was enjoying the attention of Crippler, next door’s Pitbull. Baby Chloe kicked her chubby legs and waved her tiny arms, making the string of plastic toys that stretched in front of her rattle each time Crippler’s cold nose touched her bare skin. She gurgled and laughed as Crippler licked her face, but the mood changed when Chloe, in her excitement, grabbed hold of Crippler’s ear. The Dog flinched, and then snapped at the small hand, the teeth inside the vice like jaws clunked together with a loud chock, he’d missed. The garden gate swung open, and full of panic, in came Sue. “There you are, you nightmare you, you’ve had me worried sick; come here.” She said, reaching down and fussing Crippler, who was now wagging his tail and letting his tongue flop out of his mouth as he panted playfully. She put him on his lead and took him inside.
The foot Tappin’ Man watched from across the street as Sue invited herself into her friend’s kitchen for coffee, then, already excited by the thought of being a Cannibal, out looking for his first kill, he walked across to the gate.
The Bees buzzed, the Sparrows chirped and Chloe laughed. What could possibly go wrong on a summer’s day?
Storkwrite 