I don't know where Righty has ended up. All I know is that I have been in the dark in the bottom of this wardrobe for weeks now. It's so lonely. Back in the day myself and Righty had a great time. Long walks on the beach. I loved the feeling of sand underneath me even if it did get inside sometimes and itch my insteps. It was well worth it.

And kicking leaves, I loved that too. All the different shapes and colours. I even loved walking in the rain. I didn't mind getting wet. It was refreshing somehow. I know I smelt a bit when I was drying out but there was nothing quite like being perched on the windowsill in the yard. Feeling the sun belt down on me and seeing the steam rise into the air.

Righty loved that as well. God I miss her. I have a horrible feeling that the dog might have got her. She got me a few times, clenched me in her teeth and chewed on my laces. But I was always saved by The Lady. She would snatch me from the dogs mouth and say “bold dog! But it kept happening.

And then one morning I woke at the foot of the ladys bed and Righty was gone. The lady kicked me under the bed and I stayed there for days. Then The Man came into the room with the big machine that sucks up all of the dust and dog hairs from the floor.

We were both very scared of this machine, particularly Righty. It used to terrify her. Sometimes our laces got sucked up into it.Very frightening. The Man reached under the bed and grabbed me roughly. He threw me into the bottom of the wardrobe. In the dark, on my own!

And over the next few weeks I got covered by other shoes and trainers. All who had their partners with them. Happy couples together. But me here all on my own.

Where has Righty gone I wondered. Was she lying somewhere in the garden, chewed and eaten. Was she in the house somewhere? Under the sofa, behind a chair? I feel very sad today.

At least one thing I do know is that she won't be out walking on the sand, or kicking leaves in the park She couldn't do any of these things without me. We were inseperable – until she left me that is.

Then suddenly the door of the wardrobe slid open. I could just about see through the mountain of footwear. The Lady was standing there. As I looked up I couldn't believe my eyes. In her hand she was holding Righty!

She got down on her knees and rumaged through the mountain of shoes until she found me. She picked me up and placed me beside Righty by her bedside locker. Then she put on her running jacket. We were both so overcome with delight that we could hardly bare it. Would it be the beach or the park?

We didn't care. We were back together at last. Later today Righty could tell me of her adventures during her time away from me. And we would try to hatch a plan to try to stop the dog or anyone else from ever seperating us again. But for now we welcomed the stripey feet that were approaching us, Together again at last. . 

Larry woke and blinked his eyes. He stretched and stood up shakily. Most of the other guys were still asleep but a few of them were awake, walking around aimlessly, following each other and not one of them seeming to have a clue what to be doing with themselves.

He knew that they were going to do it again today. He'd heard the men talking about it last night just before it got dark after they had moved them into the field. He didn't mind it really. He was used to it at this stage, it had happened a few times before. He just wondered what they did with it, he'd love to know.

He watched as the others all gathered in the corner. They always seemed to exclude him, just because he was a black sheep. It was so unfair. He really had woken up on the wrong side of the field this morning. And as for that stupid nursery rhyme! He was sick of it at this stage.

Hundreds of kids came to visit the petting farm every summer and sometimes at weekends and without fail they would chant it at him “Ba ba black sheep la la la.................... They even made up the answer to their own question! Yes Sir, yes Sir three bags full .

What did that even mean he wondered. And as for the little boy who lived down the lane – who was he? And what did he need a bag of wool for and what was wool anyway. So many questions and such a stupid rhyme.

Larry heard the noise of the big machine with the huge black wheels trundling up the hill. That pesky dog was sitting beside the driver surveying the fields around him. Larry hated that dog. He was so full of himself, appearing almost regal in his front seat throne. And it was obvious that the farmer loved him and gave him special attention. The dog was the same colour as him but no one ever recited stupid nursery rhymes to him. They just called him 'Blackie'. Larry wished he could be Blackie, even for a day.

Meanwhile in a little village playschool a few hundred yards from the farm Miss O Rielly was at the front of her classroom. Twelve pairs of three year old eyes looked back at her. She clicked onto You Tube and selected 'Nursery Rhymes for toddlers' “Ok kids, let's go!

Larry would have been horrified if he'd known.