Autumn 1999

Dear Diary . . .

Well, I didn't think anything could top the excitement of the summer, what with the Pets Pets Pets Show and everything, but, boy, was I wrong . . .

It felt like I had been queuing forever, but despite the boiling sunshine I knew it would be worth the wait. I was getting so excited, that my paws were getting sweaty. Suddenly, the children in front of me moved away, and there she was - Wendy Turner Webster: Wendy from Pet Rescue! She looked down at me and smiled. I could hardly get the words out. I gulped. I could feel my fur standing up on end.

"Hello. It's l-l-l-lovely to meet you. P-p-p-please may I have your autograph?"

Her eyes were so blue. Bells started ringing in my head.

"Hello yourself. And who might you be?"

"I'm M-m-m-marty, M-m-marty M-m-mole."

The bells in my head kept ringing, drowning out the sound of Wendy's voice. I looked around, and realised that I wasn't at the Pets Pets Pets Show any more; I was tucked up in my little bed. It wasn't bells I could hear. It was the phone. I stretched out and lifted the receiver.

"Hello? Wendy?" I murmured.

"Wendy, who's Wendy? No, never mind. Thank goodness you're up. Listen. We need you over here. Right now. It's very important. How soon can you get here?"

"Who is this?" I asked, confused by so much rapid chatter before I was really awake.

"It's me, Gerty Guinea Pig, silly! Are you alright Marty? You sound, well, strange."

"Well, actually Gerty, I was asleep, and having a lovely dream."

"Never mind that now, we've got work to do and lots of it. So, how soon can you get here?"

"What's going on?"

"No time for all that now . . . we'll explain when you get here."

In the Supreme office, everyone was gathered round a large table. I sat down in the empty chair next to Charlie Chinchilla. "Hi Charlie. What's going on?"

"Oh, there you are Marty. We've got to do something about locust beans. That's what's going on."

"Why? What's wrong with locust beans?"

"They're dangerous."

Russel Rabbit rose to his back paws.

"Right everyone, now Marty's here we can begin. Firstly I'd like to thank you all for coming at such short notice. This meeting is to plan Operation: Ban The Bean! We've had some important information and we must act quickly."

Gerty Guinea leapt to her paws. "Oh yes, we must act very quickly. Very quickly indeed." She was very excited and talking faster than ever.

"As I was saying," Russel looked slightly put out at this sudden interruption.

"Oops. Sorry Russel." Gerty flushed and sat back down.

Russel continued. "It has just come to our attention that there is a potential problem with locust beans."

I always felt uncomfortable when long words started creeping into the conversation. I turned to Charlie and whispered, "What's potential mean?"

"Well, it's sort of something that hasn't happened but may well happen."

"Oh, right, I see. Thanks."

"The problem is that some locust bean husks still have the seeds inside - you know, those dark, hard shiny bits - and we've just learned that they can get stuck in rabbits' and guinea pigs' insides and make them really ill - even kill them. So, we've decided the only safe thing to do is to stop using locust bean husks as an ingredient in the foods they named after Gerty and me. As soon as possible. In the meantime, we want to make sure that the humans who buy their Small Animals' food are aware of the potential danger. So, we need to organise some leaflets. Over to you, Gerty."

"Right, " said Gerty, standing up. "Listen carefully, everyone. Harry, we want you to get your camera and take some photos of locust bean husks and the seeds for the leaflets, then Gerri Gerbil and Reggie Rat, your job is to send the finished leaflets to all the pet shops.

Whilst the conversation had been going on, I had been sitting thinking. "Can I ask something?" I still felt a bit nervous speaking in meetings.

"You just have Marty! Ha ha!" Harry blurted. Like all hamsters, Harry is very fond of his own jokes. He laughed so hard at this one that he fell off his chair. Reggie and Gerri started to giggle.

"Yes, thank you, Harry," said Russel, calling the meeting to order. "Yes, of course, Marty. What is it?"

"Well," I stood up and cleared my throat. "If we take out the locust beans, then they'll be some nutrition missing, won't there?"

"Great minds think alike, Marty." said Russel. I flushed with pride. "That's where you come in. We thought that with all your contacts and knowledge as webmaster, that you'd be able to come up an ingredient we can use instead of locust beans."

I thought for a minute, then remembered an article I'd come across a few days earlier. "I've got it! Linseed lozenges. That's what you need. Linseed's wonderful stuff - and so good for you. It's got lots of protein and it keeps you healthy and it makes your skin and fur all soft and lovely. It's perfect."

Everybody approved and said what a good idea it was. I smiled. It still feels a bit like a dream, working for Supreme, but it isn't - it's real, and I love it - especially moments like that, when I really feel part of the team.

Gerty carried on, "Now, Charlie, we need you to make us a really big "Ban the Bean!" banner.

"Oh, great, I'll have fun doing that." said Charlie, happily.

"Hang on a minute, Russel," said Harry, looking a bit puzzled. "I'm taking the photos, Reggie and Charlie are mailing the leaflets, Charlie's making a banner, and Marty is sorting out the linseed lozenges and doubtless, putting all the information on the website. What about you and Gerty? What are you going to do?"

Russel slowly lifted his head, and underneath one of his long ears, I could see a gleam in his eye. He rose slowly. "We're going to London, Harry."

Everybody fell silent. "London?" said Charlie, softly. "But, but why? Is that wise? I mean, it's such a big place, and so noisy and crowded and . . . aren't you scared?"

"Not at all! I can't wait!" said Russel reassuringly. "Besides, some of the humans at Supreme are going to come along and help us. After all, banning the bean is vital. We could be saving animal's lives. It's very important that we do this. It's called "promoting the well-being of Small Animals".

Can you believe it? The two of them went all the way to the Houses of Parliament in London, to "promote the well-being of Small Animals" (I know it's a very nice thing to do but I still don't understand exactly what that means. I must get Charlie to explain it to me . . . ) Russel and Gerty took some humans from Supreme, and Charlie's banner, and some of the leaflets which Harry, Reggie and Gerri had made. They had to have lots of photos taken and were very brave. I don't think I'd be brave enough to go, but I'm very proud of them. I just hope that all their hard work pays off and that people really will "Ban the Bean!"

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