Nell: The sea is rather frothy again. Look at my paws.
Me: Stop sending me photos from the island. I need you and Dave to come home now.
Nell: We can’t come back yet. We still haven’t seen any sign of Sally, Harriet or a lion,
Me: I know.
Nell: The only thing of any interest at afternoon tea was a hairy seal with some stuffed animals. It reminded me of Bumper.
Me: Now, that is a coincidence.
Nell: Not really. If Bumper were here he would have taken the Stuffed Tiger to tea.
Me: Bumper is here.
Nell: What? Bumper’s supposed to be in the US.
Me: Harriet and Bumper are still pen pals and he was particularly sad to hear about Poppy.
Nell: Her loss is felt across the world.
Me: When Bumper said he wished he could visit us again, Harriet said he should come for Thanksgiving and they arranged a surprise visit.
Nell: So that’s where Harriet has been?
Me: Yes, she took Poppy’s helicopter and flew up to London to collect Bumper and Sally too, as a surprise for Dave.
Nell: David won’t believe this.
Me: I know. My darling Big Brave Beautiful Boy is going to be over the moon.
Nell: He’s going to be on the first sea tractor over to the mainland. But wait a minute. What about the supposed sightings of a beautiful Golden Retriever and a pretty Chocolate Labrador having dinner with a lion?
Me: That hairy seal you mentioned doesn’t have ears, does it?
Nell: It does.
Me: And can it walk around on all fours?
Nell: Yes, in a rather ungainly fashion.
Me: It’s not a seal. It’s a sea lion.
Nell: Those wretched deceiving Beefies. I’m presuming the stuffed animals are dogs.
Me: I expect so. Sorry.
