Me: Have you ever heard of the Princess and the Pea?
Nell: I’m far too busy to discuss a newly married seal’s choice of vegetable.
Me: I’m not talking about our Princess. I’m talking about the story where the princess is so sensitive she can feel a pea under the mattresses.
Nell: Why?
Me: Poppy reminds me of the princess when she sits on all those cushions.
Nell: Poppy is not to be disturbed. She’s very busy, as am I.
Me: No, you’re not. You’re just sitting around looking at nothing.
Nell: Poppy and I are engaged in a very tense game of Disinterested with the Stuffed Tiger, if you must know.
Me: How do you play Disinterested?
Nell: The trick is not to show any interest at all even though you’re actually keeping a close eye on everything.
Me: Dave does that sometimes with bacon sandwiches.
Nell: Yes. But David is an erratic player, sometimes he forgets he’s not supposed to care.
Me: Darling Big Brave Beautiful Boy. Does the Stuffed Tiger know it’s playing?
Nell: Of course it does. You will notice that it has taken up an extremely provoking pose.
Me: It looks like it’s wearing the same vacant expression to me.
Nell: Not its expression. We know it’s extremely clever at not caring at all. It’s about where it’s sitting.
Me: On Poppy’s Palace?
Nell: Exactly. It’s making it almost impossible for Poppy to enter her Palace without losing the game.
Me: Couldn’t she just wander over in a disinterested way?
Nell: Possibly, but it’s risky.
Me: Do you think I could play?
Nell; No. Do not even try and get into that Palace.
Me: I meant I could look like I didn’t care.
Nell: You are taking photos and making notes.
Me: Oh yes. Sorry.
