Letter From The Other Side; from Cynthia

Dear Del,
Trying to do a kind deed can lead one into all sorts of difficulties Teddy discovered this week.

I think I have said previously that he is quite deaf. Well, to be really honest he is very deaf and it results in some most peculiar conversations in our house at times that can then accelerate into robust debates and a state of huffiness on one side or the other between us.
For instance last week on a day we were walking about in light clothing because of the mild weather, I asked him as he walked up to our study to turn on my printer.

An hour later when I eventually had time to go to my computer in the study I entered to find the printer not on as requested but the heater pumping out stiflingly hot air.

“Why did he not question my wanting a heater on when I was obviously not feeling the cold?” I asked. No answer for a while and then after he had time to think.
“Because I’m not the sort of husband who questions your motives for anything am I? I just do as you ask knowing you would have a good reason.”
Very cunning reply I had to grant him.

Well later in the week we were shopping or, I should say, I was shopping and Teddy was sitting in the car waiting in the car park.
He looked up and saw an echidna making it way across the asphalt toward a car parked in the line of vehicles in front of us. There it stayed underneath to rest in the shade. Thinking it would be killed if the driver returned to his car Teddy decided to rescue the small animal and put it back over into the trees and grass which shade the shopping centre. He was sure it was confused by its unfamiliar surroundings and since it is spring it would probably have young and was resting while out on food foraging jaunt. Taking a short cut through the car park was a very dangerous decision on its part.
He told me of the results of his decision to save it later on after he had recovered from his embarrassment.

He left our car and knelt down on the asphalt to look under the car that the echidna was hiding beneath. He could see it nestled hard up against the driver’s side wheel. Not having anything of much use to put it in or grab it with he tried to use a shopping bag but the little thing held onto the rough surface with a surprisingly strong grip. Its needles were far too sharp and difficult to grab so he thought he would try nudging it backwards into a bag and returned to our car for an umbrella to help extend his reach.

Once again he crawled under the chassis leaving only his bottom and legs poking out from under the car. He heard footsteps and then a woman’s voice asking what he was doing. Thinking it was me he replied he was saving a life.

The woman asked ‘Who’s life?’
“This little fellow,” he called back.
“I want to get in the car and I think you had better get out.’
“Don’t be daft woman, he’ll get killed if I leave him here. Have some patience will you?’
“Will you please get out from under there? I want to go home.”
“Don’t just stand there then do something useful’ he called back, “have a look to see if you can find anything I can use to get hold of him.”
“I’m not getting anything and I don’t think this is funny, so get out.”
“What? You think I’m comfortable lying under here do you? It’s bloody uncomfortable and the dam thing won’t let me grab it.”
He felt a sharp nudge to his leg. “If you don’t get out from under my car, I’ll go across the road and get the police.”

He froze realizing his assumption it was me speaking was incorrect.
A second female voice asked the first one what was going on.
“This person is under my car and won’t get out.”
“What’s he doing under there? Is he mad do you think?” the second woman asked somewhat hopefully.
“I don’t know if he’s mad.” The first replied, “but he’s making me mad.”
“He might be one of them terrorists they keep talking about” The second mused.
“Don’t be silly, he’s probably drunk which is disgusting this time of the day.” The first woman answered angrily.

Teddy stopped the rescue attempt and turned his head enough to see two pairs of ankles he didn’t recognise.

Crab-like he crawled backwards, dislodging his glasses so that when he sat up they hung from one ear across his scarlet face as he tried to peer through the one closest to his eyes.
Although the sun was behind her, he recognised the formidable outline of one of the district’s leading matrons.
Fortunately she recognised him. ‘Teddy! What on earth do you think you are doing down there?”
He sat on the asphalt at her feet like a supplicant explaining his actions and this is how I found the three of them when I came out of the supermarket.

Eventually the echidna was prodded out of harm’s way, Teddy was brushed down and after numerous apologies for calling her daft and swearing at her and various other abeyances, we left for home.
The second woman wandered off rather disappointed there was not to be any further excitement.
We presume the echidna went home oblivious to the trouble it had caused us and not at all grateful for having its life saved.

Teddy is not looking forward to sitting near the grand matron at the next art gallery meeting.

So Del, if you intend to do a kind deed this week, think carefully and listen well,
Your ‘flower child’ friend
Cynthia.