Me: I know it’s Monday morning but you and Harriet look awfully serious.
Nell: We’ve just finished a Zoom call with Sally.
Me: How is she?
Nell: Concerned.
Me: Oh dear. Is it Dave?
Nell: Why would you say that?
Me: I have no idea.
Nell: Yes, you have. What has David done now?
Me: It will be fine when the ladder gets here.
Nell: Why do we need a ladder?
Me: Dave is stuck in the tree house with Oliver and Beauregard.
Nell: Good grief.
Me: I told him not to go up there but he thought it would be fun and now he can’t get down.
Nell: How did he get up there in the first place?
Me: Monty helped.
Nell: Monty the Moose?
Me: Yes. Dave stood on his back and then Beauregard sort of reached down and grabbed Dave under his armpits and dragged him up.
Nell: What a ridiculous idea.
Me: And now he doesn’t like it up there at all. In fact we think he might have a fear of heights.
Nell: He should have thought about that before he went up there.
Me: Manuel is throwing him pancakes which is helping enormously
Nell: David is already enormous.
Me: They’re only plain ones, Nell. No maple syrup.
Nell: I should think not. Nobody wants a sticky tree house.
Me: So, what did Sally want?
Nell: She’s heard about recent events and she is coming to visit.
Me: Oh good.
Nell: But not in an official capacity.
Me: In disguise?
Nell: No. She will be here simply as David’s girlfriend.
Me: Not as the Head of MI5 and a super spy?
Nell: No. You mustn’t mention that. Sally is just a normal Golden Retriever.
Me: Except she isn’t.
Nell: Stop winking at me.
Me: Sorry.
