Page 97 of Shhh…It’s A Killer Story

I couldn't stop laughing.

"Don't worry."

Neither of them looked reassured.

"It's a soft-bristle toothbrush."

Gerald sighed dramatically.

"She says that every time."

"And every time," Frank muttered,

"I lose another layer of dignity."

"You'll survive."

"I survived the Great Moss Incident of last autumn."

Gerald shuddered.

"We don't talk about the moss."

"You looked fuzzy."

"I looked distinguished."

"You looked mouldy."

I dipped the toothbrush into the warm, soapy water before gently scrubbing around Gerald's tiny ceramic beard.

"There you see, it isn't so bad."

Gerald narrowed his painted eyes.

"I've changed my mind."

"About?"

"I preferred being dirty."

Frank groaned as I reached for him next.

"I knew I should've hidden behind the hydrangeas."

"You say that every cleaning day."

"And one day I'll actually do it."

I laughed, carefully rinsing the soap away before setting both of them on a clean tea towel beside the open kitchen window.

"There now you two can spend the afternoon drying in the sunshine."

Frank stretched dramatically.

"I do enjoy the sunshine."

Gerald nodded in agreement.