Me: Nell, could I have a word?
Nell: Can’t it wait? Poppy and I are in the middle of an important discussion.
Me: What about?
Nell: The yellow chair.
Me: The yellow chair?
Nell: Yes. It’s startling. Look at Poppy’s face.
Me: I wouldn’t call it startling, but it does have a strong colour.
Nell: Where has it come from and why is it here?
Me: My sister Charlotte gave it to us. Kev’s been struggling with his back on the old chair.
Nell: That’s all well and good but you can’t just plonk a yellow chair in the middle of the living room.
Me: Nobody plonked anything. Kev carried it in.
Nell: No wonder he has a bad back. Carrying yellow chairs all over the place.
Me: It’s a statement chair. You’ll get used to it.
Nell: I very much doubt it. I’m going to have to ask Knitwear Wolf for a throw to cover it.
Me: I think you are being very unfair.
Nell: It doesn’t go with anything.
Me: If Kev is comfortable in it then that’s fine with me.
Nell: I’m living in the midst of chaos.
Me: Welcome to my world. Anyway, have you got time now?
Nell: I might have.
Me: I’ve been talking to my editor.
Nell: I know you have. I barely saw you yesterday.
Me: I had my Wednesday Writers in the morning and meetings all afternoon.
Nell: So, what is this about?
Me: You know the next book?
Nell: I do.
Me: Do you think people will be happy if it’s a bit longer than the last one?
Nell: Of course. How many of them told you it was over too soon?
Me: Lots.
Nell: Well then. Can I get back to discussing the yellow chair now?
Me: Yes. Sorry.
