“Last week Ludo the lion had to have all his teeth out - imagine it - a lion with no teeth. It was a tragedy. But Sandro - he’s very clever with his hands - managed to make him a new set in wood. But - Dio Mio! - they fell out just as Vittorio put his head in his mouth. You should have heard the crowd!” I tried to look understanding, but I couldn’t help feeling sorry for the lion. Still, false teeth were useful. Auntie Vi always used to say that she could leave her teeth to get on with the dinner on their own, but I never actually saw them do it. “And then there was Gertie the chimp. She was sitting, good as anything, when this tall lady comes along with a hat like a fruit basket, and swoop! - all the fruit disappears inside Gertie. Poor thing!” Did he mean the lady or the chimp? Very ill-mannered things I always thought - banging their mugs on the table when they had tea parties, and always using their fingers.
