9 Santa Claude

SANTA CLAUDE

In a rather festive house on Waggy Avenue, there lives a dog. A small, plump dog. A small, plump dog called Claude, who wears a jaunty jumper and a very snazzy beret. Claude lives with Mr and Mrs Shinyshoes and his best friend Sir Bobblysock, who is a very bobbly sock. Whenever Mr and Mrs Shinyshoes are out of the house, Claude and Sir Bobblysock go on an adventure. What adventure will they have today?

'Twas the night before Christmas and Mr and Mrs Shinyshoes were off to a party in the city. They were looking terribly glamorous. 'See you later!' said Mrs Shinyshoes, slipping into her slingbacks. 'We'll be back at midnight!' cried Mr Shinyshoes, straightening his dickie bow. Then they both blew kisses towards Claude, who was fast asleep, and clattered out of the front door into the snowy night.

Claude waited a few moments... listening... When he was absolutely sure that he and Sir Bobblysock were alone in the house, he pinged open his eyes and sat up in bed Then he flung everything out of his beret and had a jolly good root around in it. jmkfho. Gosh! He was ever so excited!

'AHA!' he cried eventually (in his Outdoor Voice), and from the depths of his hat he produced an enormous hardback book. He'd been really looking forward to reading it since his friend and favourite police person, PC Anne Cuffs, had presented it to him with his very own pair of special police handcuffs to say thank you for rescuing her earlier that afternoon.

Claude and Sir Bobblysock had discovered her dangling from her utility belt, her legs waggling and the keys on her key ring jangling. She'd been decorating the police station when the ladder slipped and left her hanging in midair. Claude had quickly righted the ladder and spent the day helping Anne with the tree. Sir Bobblysock thought he looked lovely draped in tinsel, but that's another story...