A good job of pretending to be brave.

''

'The font' heads off at six thirty for the first flight to London. At seven the local French teacher shows up at the front gate with Max. Angus has agreed to dog sit Max while she drives across the frontier to Andorra for duty free wine and cigarettes. It's a school day and the new term has only just started but it's her turn to do this weekly chore on behalf of all the teachers at the lycee. It seems some things cannot be put off.

Max is a twenty month old golden. He has never been left on his own before. He is doing a valiant job at trying to be brave or at least pretend he's brave. He's been here an hour and is still sitting , staring, at the front door willing his mistress to return. It's still dark out so his bravery doesn't extend to going outside to look for her.