Me: You and Dave seem to be having a rather intense conversation.
Nell: I wish he’d take that horrible green toy out of his mouth. I can’t hear a word he’s saying.
Me: It’s his favourite green chew.
Nell: It’s a menace. He nearly knocked Manuel off the kitchen table with that wretched thing.
Me: What was Manuel doing on the kitchen table?
Nell: Making scones, if you must know.
Me: Manuel doesn’t usually make the scones. He’s more of a pancake-making, vegetable-peeling sort of octopus.
Nell: Everyone’s making scones. Even Lionel.
Me: Why?
Nell: Talk to Herr Hoffmann. He’s the one behind it.
Me: He always seemed more concerned about fresh rolls.
Nell: Not anymore. And the worst of it is, the majority of them have cheese.
Me: Cheese?
Nell: Poppy wouldn’t have allowed it.
Me: No. She was never a fan of the cheese scone. I wonder why Herr Hoffmann made this shocking decision?
Nell: And in such quantities.
Me: What do you mean?
Nell: There are hundreds of scones on the go.
Me: Gosh.
Nell: He told David he doesn’t have time to make lunch and he’d best grab a sandwich in town.
Me: Herr Hoffmann suggested a shop-bought sandwich?
Nell: I know. In fact, that’s what we were discussing when you came in.
Me: Dave seems strangely relaxed about it.
Nell: That’s because Malcolm and Manuel have made him a couple of quiches to keep him going and a Victoria sponge for later.
Me: When did they do that?
Nell: When Herr Hoffmann was outside in the back garden with the Beefies.
Me: He must have been out there a long time.
Nell: He had a lot of scones to distribute.
Me: Are the Beefies eating the scones?
Nell: Yes. Didn’t you realise?
Me: No. Sorry.
