Me: All in all it was a lovely walk.
Nell: The beginning was. I became a little tired towards the end.
Me: You and I just pace ourselves. The others can wait.
Nell: Except some of them don’t.
Me: No. We should probably address the elephant in the room.
Nell: I certainly hope not. I’m too tired for elephants.
Me: I’m talking about Poppy and her escape.
Nell: I had no idea she had concealed the cutlass in her harness.
Me: Or that she could wriggle out of it so quickly.
Nell: One minute she was there.
Me: And the next Kev was left with a Poppyless lead.
Nell: And an empty harness dangling on the end of it.
Me: We should start calling her Poudini.
Nell: Please don’t. I blame the young collie.
Me: It was just having fun.
Nell: It ran through the middle of our pack.
Me: It was a mistake.
Nell: If it had been a mature animal it would never have done that.
Me: Really?
Nell: No. Everyone knows you must never run through a pack of dogs. It is reckless and foolish.
Me: Poppy overreacted massively. She chased it all over the beach.
Nell: With a cutlass in her mouth.
Me: One minute they were on the rocks, the next they were on the beach.
Nell: Dangerously close to the No Dogs Allowed notice.
Me: Yes, I saw that.
Nell: I’m afraid there is no stopping Poppy when she is provoked.
Me: I have to say, Nell, it looked like they were both having enormous fun.
Nell: Don’t be ridiculous.
Me: They were quite a match for each other with their speed and windswept hair. It was exciting to watch.
Nell: That is not the point. It never should have happened.
Me: No. Sorry.
