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304 pages, ebook
Published February 1, 2026
Millicent stirred her tea, contemplating the big secret her friend Irene had just revealed. Irene had arrived half an hour ago in a fluster.
“Shall I put the kettle on?” Millicent had said.
Irene had hung up her coat. “Good idea,” she had replied.
Millicent had boiled the kettle while Irene had talked about the weather. Finally, Irene had spilled her big secret.
“Flopsy, my gorgeous Dachshund,” Irene had sobbed, “does not have the pedigree I claimed she had!”
Millicent had hugged her. “Oh my poor dear,” she had said. She had instantly forgiven her friend for the lie.
Irene had had had had had and Millicent had had had had had had had had until…
And now, looking at her friend over the rim of her teacup, Millicent decided the time was right.
“Let’s go for a walk, dear,” she said. “I have a big secret of my own.”
END SCENE
NEXT SCENE
Irene sat on the bench with Millicent, still absorbing Millicent’s revelation.
The women had walked around the lake chatting about the ducks, who had relished the bread Millicent had brought along.
When it had started to drizzle, they had sought refuge in the bus stop shelter. It was then that Millicent had drawn a deep breath and had said: “I knew all along that Flopsy’s dad was Bozo the Beagle. In fact, I’m the one who faked her papers.”
Irene’s jaw had dropped. Millicent had looked so ashamed that Irene had instantly forgiven her for the deception.
Millicent had had had had had and Irene had had had had had had had had until…
The women hugged it out and decided to meet on this date, at this very bus stop, every year hereafter to celebrate Bozo the Beagle and his genetically polluted offspring.