Dot’s Mum was very strict about illness. If you were too ill to go to school, you stayed in bed until you were better. Dot was full of frustration. She wanted to get up and speak to Dad before he went to work, but Mum refused to let her even sit up.

“You stay right where you are madam,” said Mum. “You have a temperature and a head cold and the last thing we want is Dad catching it. He has an important week ahead.”

Dot looked tragic as she lay in bed and wondered how she was ever going to help Dad win the vegetarian biscuits contract. Wizard hopped up onto the bed beside her and snuggled up. He could always make his mistress feel better with a dog cuddle.

Mister Mouse appeared after Wizard nudged him hard with his nose. He looked sleepy as usual, but Wizard insisted that he go and check on Dad and report back to Dot.

Mister Mouse was back in a second and was pleased to report that Dot’s plan seemed to be working. “I saw him having breakfast and he kept taking deep lungfuls of air and saying he felt very hungry. He had two bowls of Honey Nut Loops and a big mug of drinking chocolate and left telling your mother he could murder a curry for dinner!”

Dot lay back against the pillows feeling weak, but she told herself she had to go to Doggydos to see the rest of her plan through and make sure that Dad made the right vegetarian biscuit samples to show Mr Elms and the Americans.
“Come on Widdie,” she said, “let’s go to Doggydos and dee what’s going on.”

She hopped out of bed and took two steps towards the laptop before falling over as the whole room spun before her eyes.

“Oh Widdie I’m so diddy,” she said in despair.

Mister Mouse looked at Wizard in alarm. “Why is she talking gibberish and falling over?” he said.

Wizard looked cross as he helped Dot up. He told Dot to hold on to her collar as he guided her back to the bed and he flashed Mister Mouse a cross look. “Can’t you see she’s sick,” he said.

Mister Mouse didn’t do illness, he was no help at all, so Wizard took charge.

“Right Mouse,” he said. “We’ll go to Doggydos and make sure Mr Com is alright and on the right track with the biscuits.”

Mister Mouse looked alarmed. Travelling alone with a dog, who in his opinion was stuck up, was not something he looked forward to. But Wizard was not taking no for an answer.

“Come on Mouse, it’s only a hop, skip and a jump away, we’ll be home in no time.” So, still muttering and complaining, Mister Mouse disappeared into the screen with Wizard close behind him.

Dot couldn’t help but smile. It was funny seeing Mister Mouse’s face when he found out he was going along with Wizard. But once they were gone it felt strange. She was all alone in her bedroom and the room felt empty and cold. She crawled under her duvet and prepared to wait. She felt very sorry for herself – being ill was soooo boring. She was missing all the fun…