Nell: Try not to disturb Harriet, please.
Me: Why?
Nell: She is thinking thoughts.
Me: Oh.
Nell: Everyone needs time alone to think.
Me: Except Dave.
Nell: Yes, David doesn’t do a lot of thinking.
Me: Or The Cat.
Nell: Don’t get me started on The Cat.
Me: Or Gladys.
Nell: We don’t know how much Gladys thinks. It’s difficult to tell.
Me: Because she lives in a handbag, or is it too much fluffy hair?
Nell: What do you mean? You can’t measure someone by the length of their hair.
Me: What about Afghans then?
Nell: If you are talking about David’s friend AJ you can stop right now. He is just not of this world. His vegetables are wonderful, though. Have you seen his allotment?
Me: Yes. I wonder sometimes what else he is growing, if you get my drift.
Nell: Why are you tapping your nose like that? Are your sinuses playing up again?
Me: Never mind.
Nell: Anyway, last night’s enactment was a great success.
Me: Was Dominic Simmons okay?
Nell: Yes. We doused him down with water. Some of his sequins had melted. I said to The Cat that he was supposed to be playing Spot, not Sparkle.
Me: Those Welsh corgis can certainly sing.
Nell: I like the fact that they knit at the same time. Such multitaskers. We’ve all got warm socks now.
Me: Lucky you.
Nell: I think they made you a scarf. Myfanwy said so and she should know.
Me: Do I know Myfanwy?
Nell: Of course you do. Everyone raved about her performance in “The Merry Widow”.
Me: Oh. Do you think we could go and get Harriet now? Only I don’t think she should be overthinking.
Nell: That’s rich coming from you. Leave her be. She will come downstairs when she is ready. And when she is ready, we will be there.
Me: Yes. Sorry.
