The Angry Tortoise and the Jack Russell

In the garden of No. 14, Glenbury Avenue, if you look very carefully you will find Tomo the Tortoise. Tomo is a much loved family pet, and on the days when the weather is nice you will find him wandering slowly up and down, exploring in the undergrowth, stretching his legs and looking for tasty things to eat. In fact, life is very easy and peaceful for Tomo. Well, when I say peaceful I am neglecting to mention another much loved family pet! Let me introduce Jase, a very naughty, very disobedient but very lovable Jack Russell dog!

Now, Jase the Jack Russell is quite fond of Tomo. He treats him like an older brother, but as most of us are aware, brothers and sisters can sometimes be quite spiteful to each other.

Anyway, it was on a Thursday morning that it finally happened. Jase was up to his usual trick – flipping Tomo over onto his back. Jase barked with laughter, ran over to the back door and disappeared indoors.

Tomo lay there rocking on his shell. “Jase, get your furry legs out here straight away and put me back the right way or you’ll be sorry!” Tomo yelled.

Tomo waited and waited and waited, but there was no sign of Jase. Tomo could feel himself getting angrier and angrier. So angry, in fact, that when Jase reappeared three hours later to turn Tomo over again, Tomo was fuming and started to chase Jase around the garden. Well, what a sight: Jase the Jack Russell being chased by Tomo the Tortoise. Jase got the giggles, lay down on the garden and laughed until he cried, but what he didn’t realise was that Tomo had arrived at his destination. With one almighty chomp, Tomo bit Jase’s back leg! “YELP!” barked Jase, and he scampered off as quickly as he could before Tomo could bite him again.

Tomo wandered off to get a drink and to cool down. Tomo was hardly ever angry, but lying helpless, upside down under that hot sun for three hours really made him see red.

A bit later on, Jase came outside looking very sorry for himself. “I’m sorry Tomo; I know I shouldn’t have left you outside like that. I promise I won’t do it again,” said Jase.

Tomo nodded and said “Good, I’m glad to hear that. Besides, it took ages to get all those dog hairs out of my mouth.”

Tomo and Jase both started to laugh. “Friends again?” said Jase.

“Yes, friends again,” said Tomo.

If you ever watch a Jack Russell when it’s walking, you’ll notice that it often carries its back leg. It’s just an endearing thing that they do and I can confirm that it has nothing to do with Tomo the Tortoise!