Doc Barbara and Copernicus, the sheep

 In our last tumultuous episode we left Doc Barbara's worms in revolt under her lawn. She was unaware of this, however, and was devoting her mental energies to solving the question of the snickering sheep, when she became aware of Darwin, the dog, peering meaningfully at her over the sofa arm.

Walkies, please.

Darwin was of the opinion that they needed to visit the field again and question directly why there was snickering when the sheep, Copernicus, was mentioned by name. 

Erasmus, the leading ovine, was embarrassed when addressed but Doc Barbara spoke in her most magisterial fashion - she is VERY scary when she's in this mode - and he ordered Copernicus to turn round.

Even the worm is giggling.

Copernicus was revealed to have a glowing, bronze-coloured rear end of which he was completely oblivious. The other sheep could barely contain their mirth and snickered more obnoxiously than ever. This fundamental (get that pun!) aberration of hue was because of a strange genetic mutation that caused his hind quarters to be similar to those of the ancestral moufflon. "All Darwin's fault," said one sheep and our poor dog was humiliated. 

Why do I always get the blame?

"When we had the meeting to choose our official names, we voted for Copernicus as his nomenclature, claiming it was because he understands the workings of the universe," explained Erasmus, "but really it's so that we can call him, behind his back, because that's where the humour lies ..."

His voice tailed (not that metaphor, please) away but there was a joyous shout from the entire flock: COPPER KNICKERS. 

Darwin guffawed and several passers-by paused to see what was happening but Doc Barbara was in supercilious, regal mood and was NOT amused.

"That is very lambish and hurtful," she scolded them "and you will desist forthwith." 

Things suddenly don't feel very bright.

The sheep looked - there's only one word for it yet again - sheepish and agreed, apart from one who had to have the word 'desist' explained several times. And 'forthwith'. 

Doc Barbara and Darwin went on their way home and she, as usual, summarised this exploit with an old proverb: Two swallows do not cry over spilt milk. The canine was no wiser and looked forward to his bed.