Me: I’d like to make an observation.
Nell: Here we go.
Me: When we were all down on the beach.
Nell: Yes?
Me: We all had fun despite the grey weather.
Nell: Especially Harriet.
Me: Yes. Harriet comes alive by the sea. Bless her.
Nell: I know. I think she would live on the beach if she could.
Me: I agree, but back to my observation.
Nell: Oh dear.
Me: While we were having fun all you did was gaze at the island.
Nell: We all gaze at the island. It encourages contemplation. Kev does it all the time.
Me: Your gaze seemed a little bit like longing to me.
Nell: Longing?
Me: Yes. Longing for a lion. Gosh, that sounds like a song, doesn’t it?
Nell: Longing for a lion? I’m not longing for anyone.
Me: I really hope not. He’s bad news, Nell.
Nell: I am aware of that, thank you. On another note, I know why Poppy was so low yesterday.
Me: She was angry with that wretched lion of yours.
Nell: It was not about Lionel and he’s not mine.
Me: What was it about then?
Nell: John the Doberman.
Me: John is nothing but kind. It was so sweet of him to bring puppuccinos for everyone.
Nell: Yes, but Miss Maple’s puppuccino had a heart drawn in the foam.
Me: Did it really?
Nell: Why are you smiling?
Me: So Poppy thinks John might have taken a shine to Maple?
Nell: She does.
Me: And it’s made her realise how much she cares about John?
Nell: It has.
Me: Job done then.
Nell: What’s that supposed to mean?
Me: I told him he might need to make her jealous.
Nell: Yes, and now Poppy’s challenged Miss Maple to a sword fight.
Me: Oh no. Sorry.
