Lenny thought for a moment and enquired why Henrietta had not visited his salon before. Henrietta vaguely mumbled something about vanity and then sheepishly said that it was only by necessity and not for a luxurious whim that she was here at all. The poor hippo gradually began to realise that she had only herself to blame for her present predicament. If only she hadn’t lost all sense of time in contemplation none of this would be have happened. It also struck poor Henrietta that even being here was against her principles - after all she had not been brought up to be pampered and waited on.
Henrietta voiced her doubts about the whole thing and was just about to clamber off the bed again in preparation for a hasty exit. Lenny read her mind and very firmly but gently laid a restraining trunk on her ample belly.
“Darling,” he said, “This is not a ‘pamper or panda’ parlour nor is it an exclusive establishment for the elite. Our most humble clients are Nigel the Nectar Collector and Beryl Buzzington-Beezwax – the latter only comes in for a gentle wash and brush up.”
The elephant was now miles away and had a distant look in his eyes. In a dreamy voice he said, “Oh, what gossamer wings they both have and the beautiful soft down on their abdomens is,” and he lapsed into a transient trance. Lenny suddenly realised he was going off track and coughed himself back to his present company. “If you had visited just once a month it would be so much easier for me to treat you now. As it is I will have to get my best body work therapist to give you the works,” and he bellowed out, "Edgar."
