As soon as the alarm went off, Jim was up and into the clothes his wife Ellen had left out for him the previous evening.

Alby was waiting in the sunroom, with a good morning lick and a wagging tail that Jim felt as soon as he put his hands to Alby’s body. In no time at all he had Alby harnessed and ready for their first walk to the shop together to collect bread, milk and the newspaper for Ellen.

They could get the paper delivered if they wanted, but they chose not to. Jim preferred to walk to the shop every morning. That way, he was forced to go out into the world to do everyday things, and this gave him a sense of normality.

Moments later Jim and Alby were out front and just about ready to go, when Jim realised he’d forgotten his talking clock. Jim liked to have this with him to keep track of the time.

‘Alby – stay,’ he instructed the dog. And then he went inside to find it.

Alby waited patiently, enjoying the perfect stillness of the morning, when a familiar voice broke the tranquillity.

‘Well, if it isn’t Alby the Wonder Dog. I mean guide dog,’ said the cat, who was sitting on the wall in front of Number 26.

‘Go away,’ said Alby sternly. ‘I’m busy.’

‘It’s a free world,’ said the cat. ‘I can do what I like.’

‘Can’t you see I’m in my harness?’ said Alby. ‘That means I’m working and I have to concentrate. Jim and I are off to the shop.’ He frowned. ‘Don’t you have something to do?’

‘Actually,’ sighed the cat, ‘I happen to be going walking myself. It would be a shame to waste such a beautiful morning.’

‘Well, don’t let me stop you,’
said Alby.

Just then, Jim made his way out of the garage door and stopped.

‘Alby – come,’ he said, and the dog obeyed.

Jim gripped the handles of the harness and waited until he was sure Alby was ready. Then he
said, ‘Alby, forward and to the shop.’ And off they went.

They walked straight past the cat on the wall as if it wasn’t even there.

The cat scowled. Then it jumped off the wall and followed straight along behind, its tail twitching and waving in the air.