Me: Can I say something, please?
Nell: Why are you out of bed?
Me: There’s not a lot of bed left, Nell. It’s full of Labradors.
Nell: I think you will find Poppy is in there somewhere too.
Me: It’s not that I don’t appreciate the attention.
Nell: Good.
Me: It’s just that I could do with a little more space.
Nell: I’m surprised you’ve got any space left after yesterday.
Me: What do you mean?
Nell: I know about the doughnuts.
Me: What doughnuts?
Nell: The extra sugary ones our kind neighbour Susannah brought round for you and Kev.
Me: Oh those doughnuts.
Nell: Yes. The doughnuts you ate.
Me: I couldn’t resist them, Nell.
Nell: Without Sharing.
Me: The thing is I can’t taste anything because of Covid but somehow the gorgeously sugary loveliness of a doughnut with lots of jam inside was a huge comfort.
Nell: The gorgeously sugary loveliness?
Me: Yes.
Nell: So, that’s why you ate Kev’s doughnut too?
Me: I wasn’t going to eat it. It just happened.
Nell: Eating two doughnuts doesn’t just happen.
Me: No. I suppose it doesn’t.
Nell: But in view of the fact that you are unwell and Kev isn’t pressing charges we will agree to let it go this time.
Me: Pressing charges?
Nell: Stealing is stealing. Even when the evidence has been eaten. Ask David.
Me: It was just so nice to actually enjoy something. You don’t realise how much your sense of smell affects your taste until it’s gone.
Nell: Don’t stick your face in the fish again, please? I saw you with the sea bass.
Me: I was hoping I could smell it.
Nell: You might not be able to smell it but we can smell you. Nobody wants a fishy face.
Me: No. Sorry.
