Me: How lovely to see you playing.
Nell: Kev was trying to distract me from the current situation.
Me: I’ll be back on Sunday, Nell.
Nell: It’s not about you.
Me: What is it about then?
Nell: You’re not going to believe this.
Me: I just might.
Nell: Guess who’s the director of ‘The Sound of Music’.
Me: It was an awfully long time ago, Nell. I’m not sure I remember. I know Julie Andrews was excellent in it.
Nell: I’m talking about the Whippets Institute production.
Me: The one going on tour?
Nell: How many others are there?
Me: Who is the director then?
Nell: Lionel King.
Me: Lionel King?
Nell: He’s always been a huge fan of musicals, hence the cowboy hat.
Me: Has he?
Nell: Yes. So when everyone started singing he thought putting on ‘The Sound of Music’ was just the ticket.
Me: What about the hypnotism? Did you say ‘just the ticket’.
Nell: We were simply caught up in the moment. One song led to another.
Me: But you were singing songs you didn’t even know you knew.
Nell: Such is the power of song. The tortoise says singing is remarkably infectious.
Me: Are Harriet and Knitwear Wolf still going on tour?
Nell: Certainly not. As soon as they heard who was directing they pulled out.
Me: Understandable.
Nell: Lionel is awfully upset.
Me: Lionel is a bad lion. He can’t be trusted.
Nell: The Whippets Institute are furious. Now they’ve got to find another Maria.
Me: And a Baron too.
Nell: True. Anyway, I hope you are enjoying the retreat.
Me: It’s beautiful here at The Cottage Hotel, Nell, and lovely to be with other writers but I still miss you all.
Nell: Don’t be silly. We’re fine. Just enjoy yourself.
Me: Yes. Sorry.
