Mood:  irritated

Hello everyone.

I'm at my cousin's house. Belinda is being very hard on me. Daddy didn't sound too sad when we were parting at the airport. In fact, he sounded rather happy and relieved!

Belinda is making me do chores everyday. She lives on a farm and she has several animals for me to take care of. She's making me feed the pack of vicious dogs,  clean the horse stall and wash the pigs! Can you believe it?! 

I called Daddy last night, but he didn't sound sympathetic. I begged him to come and get me, but he said that all this work was good for me.

And then just this morning, Belinda had me go with her on a trip to the neighbors. They have 5 children and when they saw me, "the little cutie", they squealed with delight. I tried to run, but Belinda's foot was on my tail. Whether she did it on purpose or not, I was nearly mauled to death by those filthy children! Belinda sat with the mother and had tea, while the children threw me to each other. I cried, I sobbed, I begged, I screamed, but it was all to no avail.  Belinda didn't seem to hear me. It was as if we weren't even there.

The mother, however, told them to go outside and play. I sighed in relief and waggled my tongue at the youngest. Belinda saw my gesture and asked the mother if the children would mind taking me along. I was horrified and shook my head, but the monsters dragged me outside in the rain. 

By the time Belinda came out, I was covered in mud. I glared at her, but she took no notice. "Come along, Bongo," she said. "You can't play all day. Thank Mrs. Harriot for her hospitality."

Through clenched teeth, I said, "Thanks." 

When we got home, Belinda told me to take a shower with the hose out back. She didn't want to have "to waste good stove space heating up a bath, when you're just going to get dirty again before tonight."

Cheerio,

Bongo K. Monkey