Me: Are you waiting for Tony?
Nell: No. I’m expecting a Very Important Guest for lunch.
Me: If it’s that Jack Russell terrier don’t bother. I saw him out in the field interviewing the llamas.
Nell: It’s not that Jack Russell. He’s not important and besides one should never invite reporters for lunch.
Me: I wouldn’t mind talking to him.
Nell: Don’t you dare.
Me: There’s a lot I could tell him about that lion.
Nell: Lionel is determined to be a good lion. He’s out in the kitchen right now making pasta for lunch with Poppy.
Me: Lionel is making pasta? With Poppy?
Nell: Yes. Our guest has a passion for pappardelle.
Me: Goodness me. Is it your friend Dorothy?
Nell: Dorothy doesn’t eat pasta. She’s a quiche and salad kind of animal.
Me: You enjoy a salad too, don’t you?
Nell: Yes, it’s part of my new regime.
Me: So, are you going to tell me who the mystery guest is?
Nell: Miss Maple, if you must know. Sally heard she was in the area.
Me: How delightful. No wonder Poppy is busy making a special lunch. She and Maple are best friends.
Nell: Yes. They are now that the misunderstanding over John the Doberman’s affections have been cleared up.
Me: Hang on a minute. Miss Maple can’t stand Lionel King.
Nell: I know.
Me: She and Poppy were imprisoned in the crow’s nest on his ship.
Nell: Yes, I remember. I was there.
Me: She won’t want him making her lunch.
Nell: She has decided to give him A Second Chance.
Me: Why on earth would she do that?
Nell: Sally asked her to.
Me: I can’t believe it. There’s more to this than meets the eye.
Nell: Nonsense. It’s just a simple lunch.
Me: Okay. Sorry.
