The Primpoles live next door in the 6th toadstool from the left. Severity Primpole is a rather stout figure with a round unsmiling face. The clothes she wears fail to distinguish any feminine assets she may have.Trousers and gilet,gilet and trousers seem to be her style. She is mistress of her little domain next door,sharing it with her husband,Weedy Primpole,and two massive familiars we choose to call the "Wildebeests". Weedy is equally unmuscular, with a red face and glasses, and a penchant for the "Daily Scandal". It has been difficult to get to know the denizens of no.6 ,because they seem to be so reluctant to forge any friendship.They live behind the beech hedge,occasionally venturing out for a journey in their two wheeled carriage,sometimes taking the "wildebeests " for a walk and once a week to wheel out the rubbish cart. Other family members seem to visit bytimes - we have worked out that they have two sons - but in the main they seem to be a very solitary pair.They have a small garden to the front and to the rear of their toadstool.The back has been clothed in cement ,with a small shed added,little glowworms draped round the fence, and a small patriotic flag flying from the roof of the shed. A tidy spot where they can occasionally be seen sitting out on their wooden seats,taking the air.Not that we can see them too well.The fence between our toadstool and theirs is very high. The slats of wood do offer a slight viewpoint through which to see the daily comings and goings but I would not want to stay there too long watching events, lest the Primpoles or the wildebeests sensed my presence. My careful snoopings have picked up that they seldom seem to converse with each other when they sit outside.Perhaps they are so content with each other's company that they feel no need to exchange thoughts; perhaps they are practising the simple art of telepathy and the pathways in the garden are particularly conducive ; or perhaps they have lived together so long in their unsmiling state that words are a stage too far. Perish the thought, my money is on the telepathy theory. Weedy Primpole does not seem to smile much either. He will sometimes venture a brave hello to me, when I pass the gate,or am feeding the birds. but hello is as far as we get. He seems afraid to say more. Severity has also ventured the very rare hello,but then makes it clear that she will say no more.I have been subjected to a great many "heads turned away,just as I reply",leaving my cheery greetings hanging in the cold air. Maybe they think I can operate on the telepathy principle too. They seem to love their wildebeests more than people. The large black beast seems very unhappy to be caged behind the beech hedge,and I fear he will ultimately break free,eating everything in sight as he charges up the cul-de-sac.He has a restless nature,barking frequently if you pass the gate,sometimes barking wildly,even when no one is there. The tubby gold beast just lumbers around, but is equally disturbed by the presence of oncoming interlopers,and is quick to respond to the barking of the other beast. Leaving the house to find both of them at the gate,is a terrifying expereience from which it has taken me days to recover. I now cross the road on the way to my two wheeled carriage holder, rather than risk possible mastication. I once witnessed Gumble,the next door gnome, have an altercation with Severity Primpole on the subject of the two scary wildebeests jumping out at him. The air was blue,as they verbally scratched and clawed at each other. I stood on the sidelines,watering my perennial pansies,secretly smiling at Gumble's courage to say what I have never dared.Suffice it to say,they have not spoken since. The beasts continue their assault upon the passing community,but Severity and Weedy seem to keep themselves more and more behind the hedge.The one thing we seem to have in common with them is our daily feeding of the Birds.Yet I fear that Severity sees this a more os an act of competition and suspicion than a mutual sharing of hobbies.I often emerge into the front garden with peanuts and fat balls in hand,a lilting tune on my lips,to feed the local dunnocks and robins who pass our way.We have encouraged a great many species to the garden and delight in watching their daily quest for grub. I suspect Severity had total domain of the wild bird community before our arrival.Now the birds come to us first to forage for delicacies,leaving the Primpole peanut bags hanging for days.Even their small wooden bird nesting box in the back garden is empty. I rather suspect that even the bird population prefers not to be barked at, or chased,while it breakfasts of a morning, and likes to be be in a garden where everyone smiles.I wonder how Weedy feels about the "wildebeests". Pendragon,whose instincts are impeccable in these matters,detects an air of melancholy about Weedy.Just like the wildebeests,he secretly would like to be free. Love to my friends and a "Sunday Smile " from the Rainbow Faery.
