Me: Isn’t Toby the Puppy gorgeous? I can’t wait to meet him.
Nell: Yes. He has the family good looks. He reminds me of a younger smaller David, although David was never really small.
Me: Look at the happiness on Sue’s face. It’s especially lovely to see considering the sad time she and Tony went through after losing Ollie.
Nell: Yes. Toby is a lucky boy to have such a loving family. Happy times are ahead.
Me: They are. Did I tell you Chris is hoping to fly over from Canada soon?
Nell: No.
Me: Maybe in October and he and I are hoping to visit Alice and the children in Germany.
Nell: So, I am right. Happy times are most definitely ahead for us all.
Me: Fingers crossed. After the last two years I am not counting my chickens.
Nell: Why on earth would you do that? You don’t have any chickens. Unless there is something you haven’t told me.
Me: Don’t worry it’s just a saying.
Nell: Good. I’m only just getting used to having a tiger in the tree house.
Me: It’s actually Oliver’s house.
Nell: Oliver and Beauregard are always together now. I can’t say a tiger would have immediately sprung to mind if I was looking for a friend for an opossum but it seems to work for them.
Me: There are lots of unlikely friendships though. Malcolm and Manuel. Princess and Our Penguin.
Nell: I think seals and penguins usually get along quite well and flamingos are very sociable of course.
Me: Yes, but Malcolm is awfully shy and Manuel can be rather loud at times, even for an octopus.
Nell: He’s from Barcelona.
Me: True. Am I your best friend, Nell?
Nell: You know you are. You and me. Always.
Me: Yes. Sorry.
