The manservant and I are sent out to fetch drinks for the dinner (I think the hotel management see me as a guiding influence on him - a mentor, someone he can look up to and learn from).
First we stop in a bin shop, it seemed an odd place to get drinks, but I suppose the name did describe it as such. Whilst the manservant paid and carried, I accepted the proffered treat sample offered from behind the shopkeepers counter.
Then we pass the previous night's den of iniquity. I feel I must enter and make my apologies but am deterred by my companion. I suppose that is sensible, he strikes me as the type to be unable to resist the siren call and being quite a heavy fiend, I would be unable to drag him back unaided.
Finally, we stop at another merchants store to complete our order. Upon exit, the manservant finds attempting to co-ordinate carrying two bags of glassen containers while maintaining a hand on my lead to guide him, was too much. With a sudden crash, one of the bottles falls and smashes on the road.
I must confess the sound of a beverage being broken on a hard surface bought back memories of my early days, learning to fight amongst the coarser social elements where any weapon was fair game.. I reacted instinctively, casting around for something with which to "tool up", but luckily my Sensei's words came back to me - "The wise pup seeks not confrontation, but rather looks for the discarded bone whilst others fight, and is the real victor".
With discretion as my guardian angel, I conducted my clumsy but well meaning friend back to the hotel and vowed not to say a word.
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