Me: What on earth is going on here? I heard lots of barking and thought something had happened.
Nell: Keep your distance, please. We’re in the middle of an important game.
Me: You just bit Dave in the bottom.
Nell: I did nothing of the sort. It was a little nip.
Me: You were like a wild animal.
Nell: Nonsense.
Me: And then Poppy picked on Dave too.
Nell: Of course she did. We’re playing Shenanigans and David is ‘It’.
Me: Harriet looks scared.
Nell: That’s just a cover. She’s very good at looking innocent and then ‘woof’ she’s got you.
Me: How do you play?
Nell: Someone is ‘It’ and they have to catch you before you catch them.
Me: I don’t understand.
Nell: That’s because you’ve never played. Well, not knowingly, anyway.
Me: What do you mean?
Nell: Sometimes we involve you in the game without you realising.
Me: How?
Nell: Only with the odd lick, or an occasional gentle bounce, but not recently.
Me: I see.
Nell: Kev is an excellent player.
Me: He is?
Nell: Oh yes. Just when you think you’re safe he strikes.
Me: It sounds awfully violent.
Nell: It’s just play fighting.
Me: Why can’t I play then?
Nell: You don’t like rough and tumble and you can’t be jumped on at the moment.
Me: That’s true. I don’t expect The Cat likes it either.
Nell: The Cat is an amazing player. It comes out of nowhere and boxes your ears.
Me: Gosh.
Nell; The llamas are dreadfully dramatic. At the slightest growl they fall over.
Me: I don’t blame them.
Nell: Henry and Horst are unbeaten. We never see them coming.
Me: I’m quite glad you don’t let me play.
Nell: I knew you would be. Best just watching
Me: Yes. Sorry.
