Nell: Just to warn you. Poppy is bouncing people again.
Me: What?
Nell: She just bounced Harriet on the sofa. Harriet thought she was a cushion. It frightened the life out of her.
Me: She certainly livens up a rainy Monday morning.
Nell: Yes. Malcolm is terrified. He doesn’t like being bounced at the best of times.
Me: Did it go well with that pelican by the way?
Nell: You mean Peter? Yes. Very well. He is happy to conduct the wedding ceremony if he can get away.
Me: What do you mean?
Nell: I’m afraid he is locked in.
Me: Prison?
Nell: No, not prison, a zoo. You didn’t think pelicans roamed around the countryside here in Devon did you?
Me: I did wonder.
Nell: Owl Pacino and Count Bingo are on the case. They are going to break Peter out. The Count has some flamingoes on the inside.
Me: Good for them.
Nell: Susan has brought us some disturbing news.
Me: Oh dear.
Nell: She and The Cat were having an ice cream on the quay and discussing bridesmaid dresses.
Me: That’s not disturbing at all. Although, I hope The Cat isn’t going too glitzy. Susan is such a discreet seagull it’s hard to believe she’s Stephen Seagull’s daughter.
Nell: Will you let me finish?
Me: Yes.
Nell: Susan had just taken a peck of her ice cream when a Beefy flew past shouting: ‘I scream for ice cream.’
Me: Silly creature.
Nell: And then Gelato Spinone raised his hat and said: ‘Esattamente, mio amico’. Which means ‘exactly my friend’ in Italian.
Me: What was Gelato doing there?
Nell: He was selling the ice cream. But that’s not the point.
Me: It sort of is.
Nell: No. He was friendly to a Beefy. The question is why.
Me: I see. Sorry.
