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      ‘It isn’t oh dear: it’s a Very Important event. In a Very Important place.’

      ‘Yes of course,’ said Howard, ‘I—’

      ‘And,’ continued Mr Bullerton, ‘it’s Very, Very Important that it goes extremely well. A lot of Very Important people are going to be there.’

      ‘Oh?’ said Howard. ‘Who?’

      ‘ME,’ said Mr Bullerton, ‘and I’ll be watching you, Howard

      Armitage, so you’d better make sure you don’t mess anything up this time.’

      ‘I’ll try not to,’ said Howard.

      ‘You will if you know what’s good for you,’ said Mr Bullerton.

      ‘The only thing is…’ said Howard.

      Mr Bullerton made a growling noise in his throat.

      ‘The only thing is, I haven’t made any arrangements for my dog. I’ll have to get him, and bring him.’

      ‘You most certainly won’t,’ said Mr Bullerton.

      ‘But I can’t leave Allen at home alone all night,’ said Howard. ‘I’m sure the organisers would understand.’

      ‘I am the organiser,’ said Mr Bullerton, ‘and I say no dogs are allowed. Especially not yours.’ He stomped out of the room and slammed the door.

      Howard sat down with a groan and the Clumsies came out from under the desk.

      ‘What’s going on, Howard?’ asked Purvis. ‘What’s a conference?’

      ‘It’s a kind of large meeting,’ said Howard, ‘in a smart hotel by the sea. We’re supposed to go there by train this morning and stay overnight.’

      Purvis and Mickey Thompson started squeaking and jumping about.

      ‘Now what?’ said Howard.

      ‘HURRAY!’ shouted Purvis.

      ‘WE’RE GOING ON HOLIDAY!’

      ‘No,’ began Howard, ‘it isn’t a—’

      ‘WE’RE GOING TO

      THE SEASIDE!’ shouted Mickey Thompson.

      ‘No, not y—’ began Howard.

      ‘Oh I can’t wait, I can’t wait,’ said Mickey Thompson. ‘I’ve never been on holiday before.’

      ‘Quick, we’d better start packing,’ said Purvis, rummaging.

      ‘It’s just what you need, Howard. Look!’ He handed Howard Flossy Has Fun at the Sea.

      ‘Delightful,’ said Howard, ‘but listen, I’m afraid you can’t c—’

      ‘Howard,’ said Purvis, ‘hadn’t you better go and get Allen? We don’t want to miss the train.’

      ‘Well yes but how can I?’ said Howard. ‘You heard what Mr Bullerton said.’

      The mice gazed up at Howard, and Howard gazed down at the mice.

      ‘We can’t go on holiday without Allen,’ said Purvis.

      ‘We can’t leave Allen behind,’ said Mickey Thompson.

      ‘No,’ sighed Howard. ‘You’re right. Of course we can’t.’

      So the Clumsies began to pack and Howard set off to collect Allen. He walked up the long corridor to the lift and was just about to press the button when there was a booming voice behind him.

      ‘Hoy,’ said Mr Bullerton, advancing.

      ‘Quick,’ said Howard, pressing.

      ‘YOU!’ said Mr Bullerton, approaching.

      ‘QUICK!’ said Howard, j-a-b-b-i-n-g.

      ‘STOP!’ said Mr Bullerton, arriving.

      ‘PING!’ went the lift doors, opening and Howard rushed inside.

      ‘PING! PING! PING!’ went the lift doors closing and opening and closing again as Mr Bullerton grabbed hold of Howard and pulled him out.

      ‘And where do you think you’re going?’ said Mr Bullerton.

      ‘Well,’ said Howard, ‘I forgot to bring my overnight things, so I thought I’d better just pop home and—’

      ‘Oh no you don’t,’ said Mr Bullerton. ‘You’ll pop nowhere.’

      ‘But—’ began Howard.

      ‘No popping,’ said Mr Bullerton. ‘AND NO DOGS.

      Get back to your office.’

      Howard got back to his office.

      ‘That was quick,’ said Purvis.

      ‘I haven’t been anywhere yet,’ said Howard. ‘Mr Bullerton’s lurking. He won’t let me leave. And what’s all this… everything… everywhere?’

      ‘The packing,’ said Purvis.

      ‘There’s too much,’ said Howard.

      ‘We haven’t finished yet,’ said Mickey Thompson.

      ‘Yes,’ said Howard, ‘that’s what I’m worried about.’

      ‘It’ll be better soon,’ said Purvis.

      ‘Why don’t you climb out of the window, Howard?’

      ‘I beg your pardon?’ said Howard.

      ‘To avoid Mr Bullerton,’ explained Purvis.

      ‘We’re on the fifth floor,’ said Howard.

      ‘Well let’s see,’ said Purvis, peering. ‘There might be a ladder or something.’

      ‘We’re on the fifth floor,’ said Howard.

      ‘There,’ said Purvis, pointing.

      ‘You can climb down that scaffolding.’

      ‘Oh thank you,’ said Howard. ‘So very much.’

      ‘Eek,’ said Mickey Thompson. ‘It makes me feel just looking at it.’

      ‘You and me both,’ said Howard. ‘I think I’ll try the normal way once more, if you don’t mind.’ He opened the door a crack, peeped out and shut it again, quickly.

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