Snakes' Elbows Read Online Free PDF Page A

wheeled into the room was a pot of tea, toast (cut into triangles and not burnt), pats of butter and lemon marmalade. There were bread rolls and two kinds of jam, raspberry and apricot. There was freshly squeezed orange juice and undera round silver dome there were crisp rashers, plump sausages and two perfectly fried eggs.
    â€˜This looks delicious!’ Barney said happily as he poured his tea.
    â€˜I hope you enjoy it.’ Wilf looked extremely glum this morning. His eyes had lost their sparkle and his hair was completely flat. ‘I made a special effort because it’s the last meal I’ll be making for you. I’m leaving.’
    â€˜What?!!’ Barney was so shocked he almost dropped the teapot. ‘Why, Wilf? What’s the matter? Aren’t you happy here with me?’
    â€˜I love it. Never been happier in my life, but I have to go. You won’t want me to stay after you’ve read this.’ Wilf held out a copy of the Woodford Trumpet to Barney, who took it and unfolded it.
    â€˜MAD MILLIONAIRE HIRES HOMELESS HOOLIGAN!’
    Below this were two odd photographs. One showed a face covered by an outspread hand and framed by wild, spiky hair. The other showed twosmall bright eyes peeping through a letterbox. ‘The Woodford Trumpet has DISCOVERED and can reveal exclusively to our readers that BATTY Barney Barrington’s new butler is a ROOFLESS RUFFIAN and a JAILBIRD! Before moving in with the mean millionaire, Wilf Wilson had NO JOB and NO HOUSE. He slept under BRIDGES and on PARK BENCHES. Wicked Wilf is no stranger to Woodford PRISON either where the violent villain was once locked up for a WHOLE YEAR.’
    â€˜Is this true, Wilf?’ Barney asked.
    Wilf was staring at his shoes. ‘Sort of. I was in jail, but only for a month, not for a whole year. I punched a fellow on the nose. He said something horrible about my mum. It was a long time ago.’
    â€˜No, no, I don’t mean about your being in jail. Is it true that before you came to live with me you had no home?’
    Wilf looked up, surprised. ‘Yes,’ he said.
    â€˜And did you really sleep under bridgesand on park benches?’
    â€˜I did.’
    â€˜That must have been awful.’
    â€˜Yes Barney, it was horrible.’
    â€˜So if you left me, where would you go?’
    Wilf scratched his nose. ‘Dunno. Back to the park, I suppose. Or down to the river.’
    â€˜How can you think of leaving me then? How can you even think of it?’
    â€˜I was sure you’d throw me out as soon as you saw the newspaper.’
    â€˜This is your home now,’ Barney said firmly, even sternly, which surprised Wilf for he was usually so timid and hesitant.
    â€˜I really was in jail,’ Wilf reminded him.
    â€˜It was a long time ago,’ said Barney.
    â€˜I did punch someone. It’s true, you know.’
    â€˜He said something horrible about your mum,’ replied Barney, and he added, ‘Let me hear no more talk of leaving. Now tell me, what are you planning for lunch?’
    And that was the end of that.

    *
    Two days later, Barney was out for a walk when he saw a little cat playing with some dandelions, patting their fluffy heads with her paw and then watching the seeds float off into the sky.
    â€˜Puss puss!’ he called to her.
    The cat mewed, ran over to him, and started to rub against his ankles. Barney bent down and picked her up. She was a small thin cat and she was cold. ‘Poor little thing,’ he said. ‘Poor little Dandelion cat.’ He put her into the front of his cardigan to keep her warm, and fastened the buttons up so that her face peeped out above them. The cat started to purr and Barney could feel the heat of her fur now against his tummy. ‘Let’s go home, shall we?’ he said. ‘Let’s go and have something to eat.’
    And from that day on the cat was called Dandelion and she was Barney’s cat.
    Now when