Me: There is something magical about a dog running into the sea.
Nell: Yes, I do enjoy a good swim.
Me: You will look after yourself while I am away, won’t you?
Nell: Don’t start. I shall be keeping an eye on everyone as usual. Now, have you packed?
Me: Not yet.
Nell: Well, you are flying to Berlin tomorrow so you had better start.
Me: Any sign of the Beefies?
Nell: There was an attack at first light but we fought back with stale scones and water pistols.
Me: You are all so brave.
Nell: As I said to that polite young Jack Russell from the Daily Growl ‘We are not going to have our home threatened by delinquent seagulls. The Beefies can jolly well back off. We are the Martins and we never run out of scones.’
Me: Fighting talk. Although we did run out of scones once, if you remember?
Nell: David ate them by mistake.
Me: Do you think they will be back?
Nell: Probably, but we have a secret weapon.
Me: Owl Pacino?
Nell: No, but the Royal Owl Force is waiting in the wings.
Me: I see what you did there.
Nell: Thank you.
Me: So what’s the secret weapon?
Nell: The Cat.
Me: The Cat?
Nell: You’re doing that repeating thing again. Do stop. The Cat has made an incredible sequinned cloak.
Me: I don’t think the Beefies are going to be blinded by fashion.
Nell: No, but when the sun hits the cloak they are going to be blinded by the light. Nothing puts a Beefy off more than light in their eyes. Why do you think they all wear sunglasses?
Me: I did wonder.
Nell: Don’t worry. We can do this. Your home will be there when you get back.
Me: Yes. Thank you. Sorry.
