The tail of Mr Fox and his work shoes

Today I spent over an hour searching the house from bottom to top for my missing work shoe (I work from home on Tuesdays so didn’t notice it missing till Michelle pointed it out). Michelle and I were 80% certain Isabelle had nabbed it and hidden it somewhere, but blimey! my shoes aren’t small. I looked in every cupboard, draw, under the sofas, beds to no avail. Daniel spoke a couple of times about the fox at the gate that we see outside the house frequently and was even spotted with a little shoe a few weeks ago. Eventually I realised that Isabelle must have got my shoe into the rubbish bin before I took the bin out this morning, and so my shoe is lost. I don’t have any backups so I’ll be hopping to work tomorrow.

…

I took the bin out this morning.

Daniel came with me to put the bin out. But he didn’t go to the end of the drive, and I saw him facing the other way. When I got back to the house, which took all of 2 minutes, I turned and there was the cat sat on top of the outside cupboard. And the fox between me and the cat checking me out. As I walked towards the fox he dashed off under the bushes next to the house. I followed him and we exchanged stares briefly before he escaped under the fence to the fallow land next door.

…

Is it possible my shoe disappeared while I was out? Michelle had an inkling. Did the fox come and steal my shoe while the door was open and I was taking the bin to the top of the drive? So out I go into the wet bushes next to the outside cupboard with the spiders where I saw the fox take the last shoe to see if there’s any evidence. It’s quite interesting behind the bushes – there’s a lot of space and some holes under the fence leading to the neighbour’s garden; but no shoe.

…

Until I look under the bushes next to the house and there’s my shoe shining in the damp torchlight.

Should listen to Daniel more often. Need a shower now to wash off all these spiderwebs and bush bugs. At least I once again have 2 shoes for work tomorrow.

R