Today is like any other day in the life of Dotti Thistlewig. Days, weeks, months went by and still Dotti wasn’t taken on any of the couple’s little weekends away. Dotti felt they had forgotten she was around. She even thought about running away. You are just bored Dotti Thistlewig, she told herself. Be grateful Gem and Tate decided to even take you with them to Paris. How many other gnomes did you see while travelling around Paris? Tate was due home from Canberra this evening, Dotti was excited for Gem because that was all Gem talked about during her garden visits today. Dotti heard Gem squeal and then the familiar male voice, Tate is home. The two humans were having dinner, talking and laughing. Dotti heard Gem say, “what sort of a surprise Tate?” “Oh, just a little surprise no biggy,” he said. Another squeal, then silence. “We are going to China!!!” The day of departure arrived; Dotti was still in the garden. Guess I’m not going, well, that’s settled. I’ll leave tonight to find mum and dad. Suddenly, Gem appeared in the garden, she reached down, scooped up Dotti and gave her a little squeeze. “You didn’t think I would leave you behind, did you?”