This morning Mr. Chips and I went on our daily constitutional. Well, truth be told, this was our first constitutional. Mr. Chips believed we had to begin exercising sometime, might has well be today. He can't fool me though. He was watching Richard Simmons last night.

The walk was rather pleasant. We chatted and strolled through the neighborhood, occasionally wishing a passing tree "Good day." Funny, Maples are always quite friendly when you talk with them, but Oaks? They always seem so bitter.

After Mr. Chips worked up a good sweat we stopped at Franco's pawnshop. Mr. Chips opted to introduce himself to some chipmunks congregating nearby, rather than go inside. I went in the store and began to browse through the used microwaves and pool tables. I had moved on to the gold medallions when Franco entered.

He deposited Mr. Chips rather gruffly into my arms and bade me farewell before I even had a chance to inquire on the prices of a few of his trinkets. I suppose he was closing up early for the day. Mr. Chips and I voted on where to go next. I presented a strong case for fountain downtown, but Mr. Chips' suggestion of returning home eventually won 2-0.

On the way home Mr. Chips commented on the soft dirt in Franco's garden behind the shop. I apologized for the clay soil that dominated the area around our flat, but Mr. Chips was generally amiable about the whole situation. He said that I needn't bother worrying and that we should just visit Franco more often, a suggestion to which I readily agreed.

We arrived home shortly, quite tuckered out. Mr. Chips took his favorite spot on the green armchair. I opened a pack of club crackers and sat down in the rocker across the room. Mr. Chips mentioned that he might not take the constitutional tomorrow. I approved of his decision, noting that Richard Simmons seemed too perky and most likely didn't even like green armchairs.