Me: Look at Harriet’s dear little face.
Nell: Yes.
Me: I think Harriet might be as beautiful as Dave is handsome, especially when she gives me that soft eyed look.
Nell: Harriet is a lovely Chocolate Labrador.
Me: She is perfectly adorable. Just like her brother.
Nell: Please don’t bring perfection into this.
Me: Why not?
Nell: It is impossible to achieve. Striving for perfection can only result in disappointment.
Me: Well, I think you’re all perfect already so no striving is needed.
Nell: Kind of you to say so but please don’t.
Me: Why?
Nell: Well rounded animals need imperfections too.
Me: What about Whippets?
Nell: I beg your pardon?
Me: Speaking as a well rounded person I feel the slimmer community should be included.
Nell: That is not what I was saying and you know it.
Me: I was only joking. You’re right. It would be a boring old world without imperfections.
Nell: It would.
Me: Imagine Poppy as an easy going chef with neatly brushed hair and nothing but a whisk in her paw.
Nell: You can do a lot with a whisk.
Me: Or Dave only ever eating what he’s given and never sitting on visitors or offering spontaneous affection.
Nell: Hard to imagine.
Me: Or Harriet only putting her paws in the sea instead of rushing into the waves with her whole self.
Nell: How else can you rush into the waves?
Me: You know what I mean.
Nell: I do.
Me: Or you never thinking you’re right all the time and telling everyone what to do.
Nell: I am right all the time so that’s never going to happen.
Me: You’re not right about Lionel King, Nell. He’s a bad lion.
Nell: Didn’t we just say imperfections are necessary?
Me: Not that many. Sorry.
