Me: Where have you all been?
Nell: Busy with Kev downstairs.
Me: Why?
Nell: It just arrived.
Me: What did?
Nell: The new bed from Fifi la Beefy. Knitwear Wolf found it in front of the door when he was delivering the morning papers.
Me: How exciting.
Nell: It was addressed to Ms Nell Martin from The Boutique of Madame Fifi la Beefy.
Me: Very posh.
Nell: It was so securely wrapped that we couldn’t open it.
Me: Oh dear.
Nell: Don’t worry. David went and asked Kev to help and he dealt with it swiftly.
Me: You could have asked me.
Nell: It takes you half an hour to get downstairs, let alone open a great big parcel. You’re injured. Remember?
Me: True. So what’s the new bed like?
Nell: Poppy is investigating it now.
Me: With her sword?
Nell: No. Paws and nose.
Me: I hope it isn’t bugged.
Nell: Henry and Horst and their associates are going to do a thorough check later. Never fear.
Me: Well, make sure you keep me posted.
Nell: I don’t have time for letters. I shall simply come upstairs and tell you.
Me: Never mind.
Nell: Talking of telling, I have something very important to share with you.
Me: Go ahead I’m all ears.
Nell: Don’t be silly. I received a disturbing message from one of my WoofsApp groups yesterday.
Me: Pilates?
Nell: No. Book Club. Squawk was spotted enjoying an evening stroll along the quay with another Beefy.
Me: That’s not disturbing.
Nell: It was Terry.
Me: Terry? I thought he hated Squawk.
Nell: He does.
Me: I suppose they are brothers and seagulls and members of the same wicked gang, so they have a lot in common.
Nell: They do not. Terry is nothing like Squawk.
Me: No. Sorry.
