Me: It’s lucky we went on our river walk when we did.
Nell: Why?
Me: There’s a raging storm out there today. Tornados and everything.
Nell: There hasn’t been a tornado. Stop exaggerating.
Me: Not here, maybe, but in other parts of Devon and the UK. Trees have fallen down and there’s been a lot of damage.
Nell: Oh dear.
Me: I hope Beauregard, Mrs King and Roary are safe in the Tree House.
Nell: They’re fine. Lionel asked me to check on them earlier.
Me: Lionel did?
Nell: Yes.
Me: Has that lion been visiting you here again?
Nell: No, he would have checked on them himself if he’d been here. He’s on the island. He texted me on WoofsApp.
Me: You shouldn’t be texting with him at all.
Nell: And you should mind your own business.
Me: Harriet’s becoming wilful too. Kev told her not to go in the river and she did. Twice.
Nell: She stayed near the edge.
Me: At least she was sorry. You’re not sorry about texting with that lion at all.
Nell: Kindly stop interfering in my life.
Me: Is he still trying to persuade you to go to the Fancy Dress Ball this evening at The Cat’s?
Nell: He is very sad that I won’t be there.
Me: You must do as you wish. If you want to go then go.
Nell: I’m staying here with you and Kev and so is Rupert.
Me: Knitwear Wolf isn’t going to the ball?
Nell: He’s not Cinderella and it’s not really his thing.
Me: No.
Nell: He would have gone, however, if I’d asked him to go.
Me: Would he now?
Nell: Yes. He said, ‘Wherever you are, dearest Nelly, there I will be.’
Me: Dearest Nelly?
Nell: Stop smiling like that.
Me: Sorry.
