A day with Pheonix in early July

On Saturday, after lunch, a lady came to get the bed I was giving away. She
turned up without anyone to help. I went and asked Dave and Mandy if they
would mind helping me.  The bed was half way out by the time we realised
that it was Phoenix coming out from the drawer space. He was so freaked out
he rang out and down the drain. There was nothing I could do. Nothing
anyone could do. I kept going back to the drain and calling him but there
was nothing. At 2.30 I thought I would go and see Allison and thought I
would check the drain before I left. There he was. I sat there calling him
hoping he would jump out but he either didn't want to or couldn't. Mandy
saw me and came over with another neighbour, Anne from the cul-de-sac. She
is very butch looking. Phoenix ran back into the drain when they came over
and wouldn't come back out. Anne was able to pick up the drain and open it.
She hopped in it and tried to look. Mandy did too. Finally, Mandy went and
got her torch. I jumped into the drain and here was Phoenix sitting in the
middle of the drain (probably about the middle of the road). He wouldn't
come. I even through in some chicken and he wouldn't budge. So Anne and I
decided to wait and hoped he would come out but after 45mins but he didn't.
I finally got an idea to put Gypsy in and see if he would come out to her.
He still wouldn't come out. Gypsy could smell the chicken and went in and
ate it. That helped her overcome the fear I guess. I didn't think she would
go back in all on her own. Off she went and sniffed Phoenix and licked him.
He stood up and started to follow her out. He got to the entrance and
wouldn't come out any further. I played with a lead to coax him out.
Finally he came close enough so I could grab him. He was so freaked out
though, he scratched me. Reuben took him in the house and he has been so
quiet ever since. So, there you go. Gypsy saved Phoenix! She is our hero!!!
I bet Phoenix thinks that too!