Nell: That incessant honking has to stop. Those Canadians are driving me mad.
Me: They are just cheerful geese.
Nell: There’s no such thing.
Me: It’s a holiday weekend in Canada and it’s Thanksgiving on Monday so they’re bound to be excited.
Nell: Yes, I am aware. Little Marvin is exhausted just thinking about it.
Me: Dear little pup. He is growing up so quickly. You know he is actually from Texas.
Nell: Yes. I knew that.
Me: I expect he speaks with that lovely Texan drawl.
Nell: He has a slight Southern accent but nothing too pronounced. I noticed it the last time we FaceTimed on WoofsApp.
Me: I bet he would love to be here with the family
Nell: Yes. Talking of family it’s Alice’s birthday tomorrow so Poppy is baking two cakes.
Me: Two?
Nell: Yes. Chocolate is Alice’s favourite but it is an Absolute No Go with us dogs so she decided on a Victoria Sandwich as the second one.
Me: You can’t go wrong with a sponge.
Nell: Well, actually Malcolm did. His came out quite wrong so Poppy is having to bake one.
Me: How odd. Malcolm’s sponges are normally perfect.
Nell: Yes. He’s a little out of sorts. He was quite short with Timothy.
Me: How unlike him. He’s such a polite flamingo.
Nell: Yes, and he knows we are coming up to a sensitive time of year for Timothy with Thanksgiving and Christmas around the corner.
Me: I’ve had an awful thought.
Nell: Here we go.
Me: What if the Black Claw have got to him and Malcolm is turning bad?
Nell: Malcolm is sick of the rain like everyone else and his sponge had a soggy bottom. Stop that nonsense right now we have a birthday to organise.
Me: Yes. Sorry.
