The mostly functional parents sat having a drink with Crap Dad’s parents at the end of a long day
It had started early, as usual. Grumpy Mum had spent the previous evening packing so they were organised and proceeded through the morning routine without much of a hitch.
The taxi to the train station arrived a few minutes late but they had plenty of time. As they were almost at the station Crap Dad realised that he hadn’t picked up the train tickets. “Turn the taxi around please, we need to go back” said Crap Dad laughing at his stupidity. The taxi driver laughed “Two things you can’t leave without,” he says “the tickets and the kids.”
Despite travelling during their morning nap time both LML and Lolly are on their best behaviour. Which isn’t to say that they are the best behaved kids travelling on the busy train, just that for them they were reasonably well behaved.
Crap Dad’s parents meet them at the station. LML shouts out ‘Nanny’, ‘Granddad’ runs towards them and gives them big hugs. Lolly follows behind arms stretched out, beaming her big smile.
The mostly functional parents exchange a look and smile.
LML asks instantly, “Where Pippa?” Pippa is Nan and Granddad’s dog. It is a refrain they will hear repeatedly over the next half hour as the travel to the grandparents home.
For the rest of the afternoon “Pippa” is just about the most exciting thing in the world. Chased, stroked, patted. The dog is in constant demand. Both kids are beside themselves when the dog licks them or comes to sits beside them.
After the kids have gone to bed, LML asking to go to bed early, hardly touching her snack or milk, the dog collapses in a heap exhausted from an afternoon with Lolly and LML. The mostly functional parents know how she feels.
Mostly Functional 
Lovely! Well done Pippa.
Do you have a picture of her?