They named me Tangledown Mungojerrie, but my new Mum just calls me Sam. Every time she smiles I feel warm inside. When I cried for my other Mum last night, she lay on my mat beside me and stroked me gently till I fell asleep.
I think I’ll like living with her!
Today we’re going to the beach. I don’t know what that is, but soon will because we’re on our way there now. Mum’s carrying me, as I haven’t had all my jabs yet. What jabs are is anyone’s guess. Being carried isn’t a bad thing. I can see more from up here than down on the ground.
I’ve just seen a herd of wild ponies. Mum said that that’s what they are. They’re very big – bigger than I’ll ever be, Mum tells me. She also says I must treat them with respect. I'm not sure yet what respect is. We don’t seem to speak the same language, although I think I get her general drift.
There’s quite a wind blowing and there are some birds above us. They’re seagulls, apparently. I’d like to fly like them. Maybe I’ll grow wings somewhen.
We’re going downhill now and I’m told the tide is on its way out. Mum seems pleased as it means that when we reach the cove she can put me down. What a cove is I’ve yet to discover.
I can hear something. Pricking up my ears, I wonder what this ‘something’ is.
It’s getting louder. I snuggle down. There must be a very big something making such a scary sound.
“It’s only the sea,” Mum says reassuringly. “I expect you’ll want to swim in it when you’re bigger.”
Swim? Risking a glance over to where she’s looking I can see more water than I could ever imagine. It’s swirling and roaring … and coming to get me! Whatever swimming is, I doubt I’ll want to do it.
Mum is smiling at me now. “Don’t tell me you’re a coward! You won’t be, once you get used to the sea. There’ll probably be no keeping you out of it. Well, here we are at the cove I told you about. The sand’s damp because until just now it was under water. We’re the first to step on to it so no germs will be lurking. You’ll love the feel of sand under your paws.”
I’m not so sure. It feels funny to me – sort of squishy. And, now that Mum has put me down, the sea seems endless; it doesn’t stay still, either, even for a minute.
I turn till it’s behind me. That’s better. I can’t see it, so it isn’t there. Instead of the sea, I now have some rocks in front of me – and what’s this? I dip a tentative paw in, discovering more water.
“Don’t drink it!” warns Mum, as if she knows what I’m thinking. “It’s salty, same as the sea, and will only make you thirsty.”
She didn’t warn me not to fall in – and that’s what I did, feeling a bit silly until I find that I’m enjoying myself. It’s such fun splashing about that I don’t want to come out. But once I’m on the sand again, there’s extra fun waiting!
I find that lying on my back and kicking my legs in the air is simply great. The more I wriggle around, the better I feel. And Mum’s expression says she wishes she could do as I’m doing. I expect she wishes she had four legs and fur too.
“Just look at you!” she says, when I finally stand up and shake myself. “Your fur was soft and silky when we reached the beach. Now it’s so matted with sand that I can hardly believe it’s really you underneath.
Of course it’s me! Who else would it be? I shake some more – and suddenly see great big creatures coming towards me. Mum sees them too and picks me up quickly, saying: “The ponies are early today. They don’t usually drink from the river till later.”
Where did the river suddenly spring from, winding across the beach to the sea? I never noticed it on our way here.
“It’s deep in places,” Mum cautions me. “So if you fall in, it won’t be like falling into the rock pool and you’ll need to swim. There are often strong currents, too, and people as well as animals have drowned before now. Be careful when down here, whatever you do. I’d be heartbroken to lose you.”
As she holds me tight the look in her eyes makes me feel warm and sort of special. I try to tell her that I have no intention of ever breaking her heart. Then, as she carries me home, I fall asleep in her arms.
