A Close Shave

So, Bertie nearly cashed his chips today...
He almost bought the farm, croaked, kicked the bucket, snuffed it, turned up his toes, shuffled off this mortal coil. He was a hair's breadth from crossing the rainbow bridge to that great dog-run in the sky.
On our walk back from school this morning he spotted his friend Poppy-Belle the Jack Russell across the street and decided to run straight into the road in front of a Hilary's Wholesale van. The poor driver slammed on the brakes and I yanked Bertie back as hard as I could.
I was sure the van had clipped him but apart from being a bit shaky, he seemed ok.
I bought him a lovely Christmas jumper to cheer him up and am now sorting out 2 early Christmas presents: A non-retractable lead and lifetime membership to The Tufty Club.