Snapshots from each episode, described from Isis' perspective. This one is based vaguely on Episode 1 (I wrote it while watching the episode).
I'm a lucky dog. Not many dogs have a thousand acres to roam in. Not that I roam a thousand acres all at once, but William always take me to different places on our morning walks. My favourite is the fishing lakes. I love the smell of the fishing lakes - a delicious cocktail of water, fish, plants and mud. I especially like being in the water. William always chuckles when I try catching the big slivery fish in my paws. I can never manage to catch any. Robert tries catching fish as well, but he has a rod with a hook at the end. I try telling him when the fish are close but he says it scares them away. He can never seem to catch any fish either. After a while, he puts the fishing rod down and throws sticks for me instead. He always laughs when I leap into the water to fetch them and tells me I'm a good dog when I bring them back. I know he's proud of me.
My second favourite place is the rose garden. It's a common fallacy that dogs don't like flowers. I love the sweet smell of flowers. I like it when humans wear flowers in their hair or rub the scent on their skin. I tried digging up the flowers once to bring to Cora but she just got angry with me and told me I was a "bad dog". The next time, I decided to bring just the heads of the flowers instead. I carefully pulled the roses off their stalks and brought them in. I thought she would like it better because they were cleaner and smelt nicer. She got even angrier and called for Robert: "Look what your dog has done!" He just laughed and called me a romantic. I don't understand.
Today, William doesn't take me to the fishing lake or the rose garden. We just walk on the paths round the house. I don't mind. William is worried about the "war." I know something about the war. Robert reads me bits from his newspaper, so I know it started because an Austrian Archduke was killed in Serbia. I don't understand why that means all the men need to go to war and get killed as well. Every day, Robert reads out the "casualty list" and shakes his head sadly. So why does William want to go as well?
He tries explaining it to me. "I want to enlist, Isis. I want to fight for my country." I tell him that the country is alright here without him going to war, but I know he doesn't understand. I wish I could talk to him sometimes.
We stroll back to the big house. William has to work, so I go in search of Robert. Everything is being changed round for the "concert". There's too many people and all the furniture is in the wrong place so I don't know where I am. I spot a comfy chair and decide to rest and watch what's going on from a safe place. I climb up and try to make myself comfortable. I'm just relaxing into the chair and can feel my eyes closing...a sharp tap on my bottom wakes me up with a start. I sit up suddenly. What's wrong? Carson is standing over me looking very cross. "Down," he says sternly. I jump down and stretch out each of my legs before moving off. Now if I could just find somewhere else to curl up...but all my usual spots have been moved.
Ah! I spot Robert at last. He's smiling indulgently at me. I trot over to him. He pats my flank reassuringly and gives me a treat. He understands I am a bit lost today. "Stay with me." Don't worry, I say, I intend to. I follow him into the Library. Robert's Mama is arranging a big bunch of cut flowers. Sometimes I don't understand humans.
I trot to my cushion in the corner and pretend to sleep, keeping one ear out for the conversation. They are talking about Matthew. I like Matthew. He's kind to me, although I don't think he's really a dog person. Matthew is at war, but Matthew's mother is asking if he can come back and bring "Lavinia" with him. Robert looks at me. I know he's worried about Matthew being killed and he doesn't want to share him with this "Lavinia". I thump my tail to tell him I understand and that it will be alright. He turns round: "We can't know if Matthew will come through it. Either way, I want to see him and I want to wish him luck."
When everyone's gone, I nuzzle up to him under the desk, telling him he's made the right decision. He rubs behind my ears, knowing just the right spot and I growl happily. "I'm off to war, Isis. I got the letter from Haig this morning."
No - not you as well!
"What will you do while I'm gone?" Exactly - who would look after me if Robert and William go? Can dogs go to war, I wonder -maybe I could protect both of them and stop them getting killed? I lean into to him and close my eyes, making sure he can't move without waking me up. I tell him to stay here forever...
"Sorry, Isis." I open one eye and look up at him. "You'll need to go down to the kitchen while the concert's on." The kitchen! The kitchen is my favourite place in the whole house - just the thought of it makes my mouth water. I wag my tail happily and head off downstairs.
Mrs Patmore and I have an arrangement in the kitchen. I'm not allowed to take food from the table or the oven, but anything that falls on the floor is mine. Mrs Patmore and Daisy always make sure plenty of food falls off the table for me, and I'm not fussy - I'll try anything. Sweet pancake tonight - not my favourite (I'd much prefer the beef!) but I wolf it down anyway. It's important to show Mrs Patmore her food is appreciated!
What do you think? Does it work or is it too silly/OTT? Should I carry on?