Howard,’ said Purvis, rummaging for tea bags. ‘But what do you think caused it? The Nervous Exhaustion, I mean.’
‘I don’t know,’ said Howard, ‘but I expect I shall get the blame, as usual.’
‘Maybe we should make him a get well card,’ suggested Mickey Thompson.
‘Maybe we shouldn’t,’ said Howard. ‘I’ve been given strict instructions to leave him alone, in peace and quiet.’
Purvis handed Howard a cup of tea, and Howard brightened.
‘And I’ll tell you what,’ he continued. ‘While Mr Bullerton’s away, I intend to enjoy some peace and quiet of my own.’
‘TRUMPET!’
trumpeted Ortrud, crashing into a rubber plant.
‘Tut,’ said Howard, as the rubber plant narrowly missed him. ‘What’s wrong with Ortrud? Why’s she hurtling?’
‘I’m not sure,’ said Purvis.
‘Why are you hurtling, Ortrud?’
Ortrud tooted , and hurtled faster.
‘LOOK OUT, HOW– Whoops, too late,’ said Mickey Thompson, as Ortrud smashed into a cupboard, and the cupboard landed on Howard.
‘Harrumph,’ said Howard, extricating himself. ‘What this elephant needs is fresh air and exercise.’
‘Shall I open the window?’ offered Purvis.
‘That won’t be nearly airy enough for this situation,’ said Howard, taking a gulp of tea. ‘I think we’d better take the day off and go out somewhere.’
‘HURRAY!’ cheered Mickey Thompson, bouncing.
‘Where shall we go?’ said Purvis, hopping. ‘Where? Where?’
‘Where do you fancy?’ said Howard.
‘Seaside?’ suggested Purvis.
‘Too salty,’ said Howard.
‘Countryside?’ suggested Purvis.
‘Too muddy,’ said Howard.
‘A woodland walk?’ suggested Purvis.
‘Too woody,’ said Howard.
‘Ooh. Ooh,’ said Mickey Thompson, waving his hand in the air.
‘Yes, Mickey Thompson?’ said Howard.
‘CRISP FACTORY,’ shouted Mickey Thompson.
‘Too… What do you mean, crisp factory?’ said Howard.
‘They conduct guided tours, and provide free samples. It says so, here,’ said Mickey Thompson, j a b b i n g the back of his crisp packet.
‘No,’ said Howard.
‘But, Howard,’ said Mickey Thompson.
‘No crisp factories,’ said Howard.
Mickey Thompson sighed, and ate another crisp, dejectedly.
‘I wonder what Ortrud would like to do,’ said Purvis. Everyone looked at Ortrud, as she started on another circuit of the room.
‘It’s difficult to tell,’ said Howard.
‘If only we could speak elephant,’ said Mickey Thompson.
‘THAT’S IT!’shouted Purvis, leaping up. ‘I’VE GOT IT!’
He shot under the desk and shot back out again clutching a green leaflet, decorated all over with pictures of happy-looking animals. ‘This is where we should go,’ he said, flapping it.
‘The
‘T O O T !’
trumpeted Ortrud.
‘HURRAY!’ cheered Mickey Thompson.
‘Too many animals,’ said Howard.
The mice gasped, and Ortrud skidded to a halt.
‘But you like animals, Howard,’ said Purvis.
‘Yes, Howard,’ said Mickey Thompson. ‘Animals are lovely.’ He batted his eyelashes at Howard, energetically.
‘One can go off a thing, you know,’ said Howard.
‘But, Howard,’ said Purvis, looking a little upset.
‘Oh, go on then,’ said Howard. ‘The
‘TOOT!’
trumpeted Ortrud,
‘HURRAY!’ cheered Mickey Thompson.
‘There’ll be other elephants there, you see,’ explained Purvis. ‘I was thinking it might be good for Ortrud to meet them.’
‘It certainly can’t do any harm,’ agreed Howard.
‘Off we go, then,’ said Mickey Thompson, rushing towards the door.
‘Wait!’ said Purvis.
‘What?’ said Mickey Thompson.
‘We need to prepare,’ said Purvis.
‘Eh?’ said Mickey Thompson.
‘For the outing,’ said Purvis.
‘He’s right,’ said Howard, putting
