Nell: Are you wearing a cardigan?
Me: Yes, the weather is a little chilly today.
Nell: No, it isn’t. That’s not the real reason, is it?
Me: Why do you ask?
Nell: Almost everyone is wearing a cardigan, including Henry and Horst.
Me: Are they?
Nell: Poppy is frying bacon in a cardigan.
Me: How odd?
Nell: David’s cardigan says ‘Wolves all the Way’ on the back.
Me: Darling Big Brave Beautiful Boy. He wears his heart on his knitwear.
Nell: I’m not surprised at the Whippets Institute, or the Welsh Corgi Choir, as cardigans are part of life to them.
Me: True.
Nell: But when The Cat appears at breakfast in a cardigan, I know something is up. It never eats breakfast and it certainly doesn’t wear cardigans. Ever.
Me: Was it sequinned?
Nell: That’s not the point. Even PC Panda is wearing a cardigan under his jacket so it’s clear there’s more to this than meets the eye.
Me: Well, actually it’s all about ‘meeting the eye’, to be honest.
Nell: You know what I mean. You have been Meddling.
Me: I just asked people to make a choice.
Nell: It isn’t their choice to make though, is it?
Me: I thought you might need pointing in the right direction.
Nell: Rupert isn’t going to like you interfering.
Me: He said he’s incredibly touched by all the support, if you must know.
Nell: And?
Me: He might have added ‘Nellie must be allowed to make up her own mind with no pressure from anyone else.’
Nell: Exactly.
Me: But I know he didn’t mean it.
Nell: I think you will find he did.
Me: Anyway, I have a lovely cardigan here for you, in case you’re feeling the cold.
Nell: Stop Meddling and listen to Rupert.
Me: Sorry.
