Nell: Stop clattering around. Chris is still asleep. He’s exhausted after that long flight.
Me: I had to get up because you disappeared.
Nell: Is this a story you’re writing?
Me: No. It’s real. Your bed was empty.
Nell: Of course it was empty. Your bedroom is freezing. Why did you move my bed upstairs?
Me: After some advice from our dear friend Janet Mason we thought you might be barking at night because you weren’t sure where we were.
Nell: I know exactly where you are.
Me: It’s something that can happen with older dogs. They feel ‘locked in’ and become anxious.
Nell: I felt cold.
Me: Anyway, Kev moved your bed into our room and covered you with a blanket and I tried to keep as quiet as I could all night so as not to wake you.
Nell: You needn’t have bothered. I wasn’t there.
Me: I know that now. I had such a shock when I saw your bed was empty this morning.
Nell: As soon as you all fell asleep I went back downstairs to my other bed in the warm kitchen.
Me: Yes, I realise that now.
Nell: So, kindly let me sleep there, please.
Me: We will. And you can always come upstairs if you need us. No need to bark.
Nell: Thank you. Now, back to yesterday and Chris’s arrival at the station.
Me: It was wonderful. Having him home again is so lovely.
Nell: Yes, it is.
Me: Harriet lost her voice with happiness and my Big Brave Beautiful Boy walked around smiling with a tea towel in his mouth.
Nell: You’d better be talking about David. Remember Chris is your boy, too.
Me: Yes, he is and he’s home.
Nell: Tea and tears again I see.
Me: Happy ones. Sorry.
