Cox and Box and suchlike....

Henry.......

The boy Bing is generally a light-hearted sort of cove, and full of bonhomie.  There are however, occasions when the lad will suddenly peer at something or someone with a definite frown and the sunny disposition momentarily disappears behind a cloud.

One such moment appears when Henry does.  Henry is not the sort of critter that Bing is anxious to befriend.  We try our best at ‘Lyons’ to make sure, rather like Mr Bouncer and his tenants Box and Cox that, as Mr Kipling (not the cake man) wrote, ne’er the twain shall meet! 

‘He’s a noisy sort of fellow-me-lad guv, a right windy bloater if ever there was one…and so forth.’

‘I understand old chap, but he is a necessity I’m afraid.’

‘G’rrrrrr.’

Sadly the comings and goings at number 67 are not the stuff of clockwork, and there are moments when the inevitable will come to pass.

Recently I was given instructions to chivvy up the cushions and shift the dust about a bit, so events that coming evening could take place without a display of the usual chaos!  In short we were expecting guests!

My mate eyed me suspiciously as soon as I entered the lounge armed with a duster and proprietary can of instant shine from ‘Mr Sheen.’

‘Having a bit of a do guv?’

‘Apparently.’

‘Will there be cake & such?’

‘Oh I would have thought so, or something of that sort or other.’

'M'mmm .'

Having completed that part of the operations, it was now time to tackle the floors, both wooden and carpeted.  It's now that a frown appears and Bing sidles out of the room and takes the air in the garden.

Words are not spoken, but a look is sufficent to denote that the lad is ‘not amused.’

Vacuuming commences and a face appears at the garden door window, one great furrow over his brow….and believe me the lad can really furrow when required!

Finally I’m done, and life can return to normal….well as normal as it ever can be around here.

I settle at the piano and trundle over the keys and peace decends.

‘PAFF! PAFF!’  the noise of a hooter hitting the window!

‘Has he gone guv?’

‘Who?’

‘Oh you know who……….’

'The coast is clear Bingo.'

'Hurrah!'