Me: Tony and Dave are the best of friends.
Nell: They are. Talking of friends tell me about your afternoon tea yesterday.
Me: It was delightful, Nell. I love being with other writers and it was wonderful to actually see them in the flesh again and not just on zoom.
Nell: Was I mentioned?
Me: You were. Annette and Brian were there and he remembers how you followed him into the kitchen for a biscuit when we visited them.
Nell: I was just being helpful.
Me: You climbed onto their sofa.
Nell: Of course I did. Is Anne happy in her new house?
Me: Very.
Nell: Good. What about the sandwiches? Crusts on, or crusts off?
Me: Crusts on, and lots of delicious fishy fillings.
Nell: Fishy fillings?
Me: Yes.
Nell: No Coronation chicken?
Me: You’ve never eaten Coronation chicken in your life.
Nell: Anything sweet?
Me: Delicate little lemon cup cakes and a selection of fresh fruit. It was the perfect tea for this hot weather.
Nell: I wouldn’t know.
Me: Just because you weren’t invited doesn’t mean you were forgotten. You were mentioned several times.
Nell: At least I provided a topic of conversation, I suppose.
Me: I’ll tell you what else we talked about.
Nell: Please do.
Me: Harry was chased by a seal.
Nell: What was he doing?
Me: Just swimming.
Nell: Was the seal alone?
Me: Yes.
Nell: Did Harry feel it wanted to be his friend?
Me: Harry didn’t even realise it was there until people started pointing at it from the beach.
Nell: Did it have a name?
Me: Harry thinks it might be called Roger.
Nell: That’ll be Roger Blubbery then. He’s a little bit needy.
Me: Do you know him?
Nell: Everyone knows Roger Blubbery. Do keep up.
Me: Yes. Sorry.
