Me: There’s an awful lot of Waiting involved in the life of a dog.
Nell: Waiting is one of the first things we dogs learn to do.
Me: It must be ever so tiring. Waiting for food. Waiting for a walk. Waiting for Tony the Postman.
Nell: Waiting for Tony is a genuine pleasure. His visits are a joy.
Me: I expect last week was particularly hard then because Tony was on holiday.
Nell: Yes. Fruitless Waiting is the worst.
Me: Poppy hates Waiting.
Nell: I know.
Me: She’s an Impatient Waiter.
Nell: Terriers are.
Me: Harriet is quite good at it. She’s a Fairly Patient Waiter.
Nell: Harriet’s a trained spy. She has to be good at Waiting.
Me: Dave is an Optimistic Waiter. Darling Big Brave Beautiful Boy.
Nell: David likes to look on the Bright Side.
Me: If Waiting for something takes too long he just waits for something else.
Nell: Yes. David finds Focused Waiting rather difficult.
Me: This morning he and the girls were waiting at the window for ages.
Nell: That was Anxious Waiting.
Me: Why?
Nell: We’re expecting a thunderstorm.
Me: It’s not due until later.
Nell: It’s still in the air. We can smell it.
Me: Anyway, Harriet and Poppy went to sleep but Dave started Waiting for Me.
Nell: To finish writing?
Me: Yes.
Nell: Brave boy. It’s one of the most frustrating kinds of Waiting.
Me: Why?
Nell: You look like you’ve finished and then you start again.
Me: That’s because I get another idea.
Nell: You never notice anyone.
Me: I’m in my own world.
Nell: I know.
Me: You’re the best at Waiting, Nell.
Nell: I’ll always be Waiting for You.
Me: Will you really?
Nell: You know I will. It’s what we dogs do.
Me: Yes. Sorry.
