Nell: Is that Faye?
Me: Yes, we just waved Jonathan off to school and she’s going to Kindergarten in a minute.
Nell: It’s half term here, so no school.
Me: None of you go to school anyway.
Nell: Roary does and Walter Pigeon’s children, not to mention Henry and Horst’s nephews and nieces, of which there are many.
Me: Is Harriet waiting for me?
Nell: Yes. She does that at first when you go away.
Me: Oh dear.
Nell: How was your journey?
Me: Let’s just say travelling with a bear isn’t straightforward.
Nell: What do you mean?
Me: Herr Hoffmann didn’t want to remove his hat at security.
Nell: I’m on his side.
Me: He was most upset when they suggested he might be hiding something under it.
Nell: Was he?
Me: It wasn’t a marmalade sandwich, if that’s what you’re thinking.
Nell: I never said it was.
Me: It was a buttered roll for later.
Nell: How was the flight?
Me: Well, Herr Hoffmann wanted to sit by the window so we had to move to the front because he couldn’t squish in anywhere else.
Nell: Is ‘squish’ a word?
Me: I didn’t think the other passengers would move but when he asked them politely in fluent German they agreed.
Nell: I think the fact that he’s a large bear played more of a role than the fluent German.
Me: You might be right.
Nell: But now you’ve finally arrived.
Me: Yes and I’m so happy to be with Alice again.
Nell: I expect the grandchildren are delighted to see you, too.
Me: They were fast asleep when we got home but I saw them this morning and there were cuddles all round.
Nell: And a few bear hugs, no doubt. Don’t forget Herr Hoffmann.
Me: Yes. Sorry.
