Me: You are not going to believe this.
Nell: I probably will.
Me: My bedroom is full of animals.
Nell: Where else were we going to put them?
Me: What about downstairs?
Nell: It’s full. Once word got round during the evacuation that we were providing shelter for the wet and homeless, they all came here.
Me: What evacuation?
Nell: Have you noticed there is a storm going on?
Me: Of course. But I don’t think there were any animals in the bedroom when I went to bed, apart from the usual ones.
Nell: We only started moving them upstairs when it became too full downstairs.
Me: I see. How did I sleep through it?
Nell: Camomile tea. Poppy made your evening cup extra strong. And the larger animals wore slippers.
Me: Do we know how many animals we are sheltering?
Nell: Harriet is making a list.
Me: Good.
Nell: David has worked tirelessly all night providing warmth and security.
Me: My Big Brave Beautiful Boy.
Nell: Poppy and Malcolm haven’t stopped in the kitchen.
Me: Is there enough food?
Nell: Lunch will have to be soup and a sandwich.
Me: Bacon?
Nell: No. Cheese. The bacon sandwiches went during the night shift.
Me: Understandable.
Nell: Henry and Horst have organised a quiet space for the insects in the downstairs facilities.
Me: Thanks for the warning.
Nell: The Welsh corgi choir are performing Morning Songs from the living room. The fire is lit and there are plenty of blankets courtesy of Knitwear Wolf.
Me: Wonderful.
Nell: We are hoping it will raise spirits as some animals have lost their homes.
Me: Oh no.
Nell: Once the storm has passed the rebuilding will begin. All will be well. We’ve weathered storms before and we can do it again.
Me: Yes. Sorry.
