Me: Where’s Dave?
Nell: David is downstairs having Special Time with Kev.
Me: Darling Big Brave Beautiful Boy.
Nell: He was extremely upset to miss Tony’s visit.
Me: Tony will be back again soon.
Nell: David has no concept of time. A Labrador’s lot is to silently Wait and Hope.
Me: I haven’t noticed a lot of silence. In fact you lot are constantly barking at the farm dogs.
Nell: They need barking at. And so does next door’s cat. It walks along our wall you know. It has no respect for boundaries.
Me: Cats don’t care about things like that. They do as they please. That’s what I love about them.
Nell: You wouldn’t love it if we behaved like that. Imagine David just walking along a neighbour’s wall without so much as a by-your-leave.
Me: That would be ever so dangerous, Nell. I don’t even want to think about my darling boy up on a wall.
Nell: You know what I mean. Talking of cats, The Cat saw something moving in the treehouse when it was having tea with Malcolm and Susan. It had a tail.
Me: I didn’t know Malcolm and Susan were having a tea party.
Nell: It was just The Cat and Henry. They needed a four for a game of Bridge.
Me: I didn’t know Henry played Bridge.
Nell: Henry and Horst are masters of the game. But that’s not the point. Is Beauregard back?
Me: He might be, although it isn’t really like him to keep quiet. It’s not as if he is the one hiding.
Nell: Did you say hiding?
Me: Yes.
Nell: We need to phone Sally. If it isn’t Beauregard then it might be You Know Who.
Me: But I don’t know who.
Nell: Just call Sally.
Me: Yes. Sorry.
