Nell: You sound worse.
Me: It’s only a cold, Nell. I’m spending today in bed as it’s Jonathan’s big starting school celebration tomorrow and I have to be there.
Nell: Try and be sensible, please.
Me: I didn’t do much yesterday. We went to Faye’s kindergarten and she cycled home. Darling little thing.
Nell: Clever girl.
Me: Then we played board games with Jonathan Sky and Andre cooked us dinner. It was a lovely family time.
Nell: Poppy and the puppies spent most of their time at the window waiting for you.
Me: Oh dear.
Nell: I’ve told them there’s no point until Sunday but they won’t listen.
Me: Bless them.
Nell: Now, I’ve noticed you’ve stopped talking about that bear.
Me: You mean the one in the fetching hat?
Nell: I do. Did he come to your Berlin Breakfast?
Me: Herr Hoffmann joins us every morning. He brings fresh rolls from the bakery.
Nell: Herr Hoffmann?
Me: Yes.
Nell: Don’t you know his first name?
Me: We’re still on formal terms. He’s a very traditional bear with excellent manners. He reminds me of you.
Nell: I’m nothing like a bear.
Me: No, that’s more Dave’s thing. Darling Big Brave Beautiful Boy. But your manners are impeccable.
Nell: Thank you.
Me: You and Herr Hoffmann would get along very well indeed.
Nell: You’re not bringing him home with you.
Me: I never said I was.
Nell: I know what you’re like.
Me: I don’t even know if Herr Hoffmann has a passport.
Nell: Here we go.
Me: Or if there are any seats available on the plane.
Nell: Good grief.
Me: Because he would need extra leg room. Being a bear and all that.
Nell: All what?
Me: The fluffiness and the big paws.
Nell: I give up.
Me: Sorry.
