8‘Now, Toby, let’s just have a look in the other ear and we’ll see … s**t, Toby!’
An unexpected kick to the scrotum at close range is enough to put any Geep off his game. Toby was a wild little tacker, so Vince had sat him on his mum’s knee and told her to hold him tight. Then he got up close and personal, pinning the thrashing legs with his body as he did the business. He examined one ear then squatted back on his heels to allow room for her to swing Toby around, when the kid lashed out with one flailing boot and scored a direct hit.
Vince dropped his auriscope and went down like a sack of spuds. After a minute of silent but genuine suffering he was able to complete the examination.
‘Toby just has a virus, Geraldine,’ he muttered to the embarrassed mother, breathing deeply. ‘Keep his f
