Me: Dave looks worried.
Nell: Well, that’s hardly surprising after what happened yesterday.
Me: Do you mean with the mediation?
Nell: Yes, it didn’t go well at all.
Me: Was Stephen Seagull very rude?
Nell: He arrived with two thuggish looking Beefies armed with mackerel.
Me: Not a good start.
Nell: When asked politely by Poppy to leave the mackerel at the door they threw them at her.
Me: That’s not a very nice thing to do.
Nell: Fortunately she was armed with her sword so she sliced them in two.
Me: The thuggish Beefies? That might have been a little too forceful of her, Nell. Bloodshed on arrival.
Nell: No. She sliced the mackerel. Good grief.
Me: Oh, I see.
Nell: Benjamin was already inside with Henry and Horst on his hat.
Me: Good idea.
Nell: Poppy had provided a plate of scones but unfortunately David had eaten most of them by mistake so he was feeling a little sick by the time Stephen arrived.
Me: My poor Big Brave Beautiful Boy.
Nell: Benjamin quietly and politely stated his case and asked if he might be allowed to leave the Beefies due to General Unsuitability.
Me: Nice phrasing.
Nell: I thought so. Anyway, Stephen was furious. He started ranting and raving and called Benjamin a lot of really unpleasant names.
Me: How rude.
Nell: Yes. David was most unhappy. So he intervened.
Me: How?
Nell: He sat on him.
Me: Who?
Nell: Stephen Seagull.
Me: Gosh. Was he squashed?
Nell: Very.
Me: Not permanently though? He still survived?
Nell: Of course he did, minus a few feathers.
Me: Thank goodness. I was worried for a moment that Dave’s career as a mediator might be over.
Nell: I don’t think squashing a client is a good beginning.
Me: No. Sorry.
