Read Online Scruffy - A Diversion by Paul Gallico - Free Book Online

revealed the latest blow-up of the Brigadier which had sent him along up to the apes’ village to do some soul-searching, concluding with, “I suppose the Brig. has got more to worry about than monkeys—and old Scruff did tear up the town. Wait until the C.R.A. gets the list of damage he did up here before starting below.”
    Tim ran down a bit at that point, and in the hiatus Felicity said firmly, “I think he’s horrid. You’re not appreciated.”
    “Oh, it isn’t that,” Tim said, “I don’t mind—I’ve never had quite so much fun or been so interested in anything—it’s for them , don’t you see, that I get discouraged and a little low sometimes. Nobody seems to care about them really but Gunner Lovejoy and myself.”
    “I do!” Felicity heard herself cry with a fierceness that astonished her. “I do now, since you’ve told me about them. I think they’re sweet.” She was rewarded by a look of gratitude and worship combined that poured from Tim’s eyes. “And you’re not to become discouraged,” Felicity added firmly. “Supposing something happened and they all went away—they’d change their tune then soon enough.”
    “Yes,” Tim said eagerly, “do you think so? Well, of course, there’d never be any chance of that happening.”
    “What we ought to do,” Felicity said, and now she was frowning again from the intensity of her concentration on the subject, “is think up something which would call everybody’s attention to the wonderful work you’re doing.” Her face became suddenly exquisitely illuminated with the idea that had smitten her. “I’ve got it!” she cried. “You wouldn’t have one without a name, would you?”
    Tim reflected. “Well, yes, as a matter of fact we have. There’s one just about the age of that little creature there that Lovejoy and I were going to name—but it’s a she.”
    The two aquamarines in Felicity’s countenance were now lustrous with excitement. “Splendid!” she said. “You write to the King and tell him you’d like to name the new apelet Elizabeth after the Princess.”
    Shock went through Captain Bailey in waves. “What?” he cried. “Write to the King? Why, I’d be court mar—”
    “Nonsense,” said Felicity. “Anyone can write to the King as long as they don’t threaten him. It’s not as though you were going over anyone’s head. After all, you are O.I.C. Apes, aren’t you—and they’re in your charge, aren’t they—and you do have to find names for them, don’t you—and he is your King, isn’t he? Then why can’t you tell him what you’d like to do?”
    “Do you know what,” said Tim, “that’s absolutely brilliant! Do you think the Princess would like it?”
    “Certainly,” Felicity replied firmly, “she’d be thrilled. She may be a princess, but don’t forget she’s a thirteen-year-old girl, too—and she’d want a picture of it to put in her room.”
    “I could send one along.”
    “That’s a good idea,” said Felicity. “And what’s more, you must do it at once. Then perhaps you won’t be bullied by that nasty Brigadier any longer.”
    She looked at her watch and said, “Goodness, I’ve kept you too long from your work. I had no idea it was so late. It’s been so nice meeting you. Do let me know what happens after you’ve written to the King.” She rose from the railing, offered him a cool hand and firm pressure, and said, “Good-bye then,” went to her car and drove off.
    Tim stood looking after her, filled with the wonderful sensation of having found an ally. “What a funny kid,” he said to himself. Scruffy appeared on the concrete platform, bounced up and down on all fours, coughed and cursed. “What a jolly good kid,” Captain Bailey said aloud. And then, addressing the big Macaque: “You wouldn’t care to take a bite out of the other hand, would you, chum?”
    One might consider it not exactly fair to suggest that the fate of the British Empire, which meant the fate of