Me: Dave can’t stop smiling.
Nell: I know. Sally is here and Tony is finally back from his holiday.
Me: Yes. All’s well with the world.
Nell: Now, that is a silly thing to say.
Me: Yes, isn’t it?
Nell: I noticed Poppy looking a little warily at Babycakes Gillespie, however, so she may be starting to lose those mud splattered spectacles.
Me: You mean rose tinted. You see everything in a better light.
Nell: I mean mud splattered. You don’t see anything at all.
Me: Oh, I see.
Nell: No, you don’t. Anyway, Tony has offered us his help.
Me: What can he do?
Nell: Sometimes the offer of help is as reassuring as the help itself.
Me: True.
Nell: So, I happen to know that John will be walking through the fields this afternoon with Knitwear Wolf in a very attractive conker brown cardigan.
Me: Knitwear Wolf always looks smart.
Nell: No, John is wearing the conker brown cardigan. Rupert is in a forest green one.
Me: Oh, well that’s good to know. Although I’m not sure why.
Nell: I will be at my hydrotherapy session so you have been trusted to take my place.
Me: Gosh. How exciting.
Nell: You need to make sure Poppy is outside with you.
Me: How?
Nell: Sit on your lounger and write. You know Poppy likes to join you.
Me: But it’s quite chilly.
Nell: Get a blanket. When you see John, give the signal, and Sally and Harriet will nonchalantly wander to the gate and comment on John’s attractive appearance.
Me: Why?
Nell: So Poppy sees him in a new light.
Me: What’s the signal? A cough, or a sneeze?
Nell: Not in these Covid times. You’ll have everybody running for the hills. Just say ‘Lovely view.’
Me: Ok. Sorry.
