Nell: You’re not going to believe this.
Me: I just might.
Nell: Have you ever heard of John Mane?
Me: I think you mean Wayne.
Nell: No, his name’s John. Although he wants me to call him Marion for some reason.
Me: Are we talking about a cowboy?
Nell: He’s more of a sheriff. He has one of those sheriff star badges on his hat.
Me: Isn’t it usually worn on the shirt?
Nell: Horses don’t wear shirts. They wear coats now and again, but never shirts.
Me: Is John Mane a horse?
Nell: Of course he’s a horse. Didn’t you see his huge head sticking through the stable door when you walked through the kitchen?
Me: I didn’t notice.
Nell: Good grief.
Me: What’s John Mane doing in the back garden?
Nell: He’s come to see Roary.
Me: Roary King the lion cub? Lionel’s son?
Nell: Roary isn’t a cub anymore. He hasn’t been one for years.
Me: Is John Mane a friend of his?
Nell: No. Roary wants him to look into what’s going on with Lionel.
Me: This might be a silly question, but why choose a sheriff horse?
Nell: He was researching manes on the internet and stumbled across John.
Me: Manes?
Nell: Lionel was spotted on the island by Sir Roger Blubbery and Princess with a matted mane. Do keep up.
Me: Oh yes. It all makes sense now.
Nell: Does it?
Me: Not really.
Nell: Roary’s worried about his father. So he’s asked John Mane to do some investigating.
Me: Let me get this right. You’re telling me a large horse in a cowboy hat is going to the island undercover to track down a lion with a matted mane?
Nell: Nobody mentioned undercover. John Mane wears his badge with pride.
Me: Yes. Sorry.
