Good evening!
My goodness, what beautiful weather we're having!
It's quite enjoyable, but it gets quite stuffy in this big fur coat sometimes.
Today, in celebration of the weather, Laura's family came around for a BBQ.
With BBQing, from what I understand, they all gather around the table whilst 1or 2 humans go and cook a lot of meat in a big, smokey silver box; It goes in pink and squidgy, and when they take it out it's all crunchy and black. Like a delicious sort of magic trick, I guess.
Because of the beautiful weather, we sat outside in the wonderful sunshine to eat our meal.
Whilst the food was magically burning, we sat in our deckchairs and chatted about life, whilst sipping some rather tasty Pimms that Laura's brother had brewed. The ice, apples and strawberries in the drink tickled my snout as I drank, leaving small, fruity remnants on my nose - but I don't think anybody noticed; I just put my sunglasses on, kicked back and bathed in the heat of this fine summer's day, listening to the peaceful sounds of chattering humans.
With a twitch of the nose and a call from the cook, the food was ready to go - so we all collected some meat along with the occasional piece of lettuce and the odd olive, sat around the table and began to eat.
It was rather lovely to be sat as a family - nattering and laughing and eating together... So, I don't particularly know what overcame me - I usually practice my manners with the utmost of care. Nobody appreciates a loud, rude and impolite fox, now do they?
But I took one look at that plate full of glistening, succulent, crispy meat and started to lose my cool.
The rich smell was wafting up and winding around my snout like a dream; it was calling to me:
"Look at me, Fox, you know you want to... I know you want to... I know I'm amazing: I look amazing, I smell amazing. But d'you know what?"
I shook my head.
"I don't taste amazing..."
I gasped.
"I taste... sensational."
I couldn't help it, egotistical or not, that barbecued goodness was getting in my belly...
My manners skipped merrily away into the sunset as I quite literally plunged my face into my plate of food.
I blissfully devoured any shred of lettuce, olive, beef, sausage and chicken that neared my mouth. I hoovered them up like they were about to spring from the plate in fury and attack me with their own juices.
Feeling a need for a quick intermission to quench my thirst, I flicked my gaze upwards to ask Laura to pass the lemonade... and subsequently found that the entire table was staring at me.
Just staring.
Wide eyed, shocked, cutlery-poised staring.
I flicked my tongue out to the side of my mouth to catch a dangling piece of stray vegetable, clearing any remnants of sauce on route, and crunched the broccoli loudly in the crisp silence of the summer evening.
I cleared my throat. "I... um... ahem... I am ever so sorry about that."
I straightened my back, picked up my knife and fork, and began cutting my steak into fine pieces whilst attempting to conjure up a subtle conversation about the stick exchange.
Soon enough, the conversation was buzzing, the food was eaten and the sun was falling.
I padded over to Laura and hopped up on her lap, stretching out my jaws in a big yawn before cuddling into her jumper and curling up, head resting on my tail.
The happy sounds of laughter drifted through the delicate summer breeze, and as the night set in so did my smile. I fell into the comfort of a soft, peaceful slumber, dreaming of ninja olives and dancing pieces of lettuce...
Quite a nice day actually.
Lots of love,
Fox
