Nell: You’re up early.
Me: I have a doctor’s appointment.
Nell: Why?
Me: I’m finally having my shingles and pneumonia vaccinations.
Nell: That’s good, I suppose.
Me: Yes. You didn’t feel much like paddling in the river yesterday, did you?
Nell: No. I was a little tired, so I decided to watch the other two from the river bank.
Me: Dave had a swim and a good long drink.
Nell: There’s nothing like the taste of fresh cool water.
Me: I sometimes wonder if Harriet is part otter. She loves the water so much.
Nell: She does.
Me: Do we know who took the biscuits?
Nell: The Stuffed Tiger is looking rather shifty.
Me: You always say that.
Nell: And crumbs were found on the top of the wardrobe.
Me: By whom?
Nell: The Cat, if you must know.
Me: What was The Cat doing on the wardrobe?
Nell: A question many have asked.
Me: Well? Do you know why it was up there?
Nell: It probably wanted a word with the Stuffed Tiger.
Me: The Stuffed Tiger doesn’t speak.
Nell: That doesn’t mean it can’t listen.
Me: True. Have there been any birds in the house, recently?
Nell: Apart from flamingos?
Me: Obviously.
Nell: I think Owl Pacino and Tawny Tim might have popped in to see Harriet about something, but they didn’t fly upstairs.
Me: Owls wouldn’t steal biscuits.
Nell: Probably not.
Me: I was thinking more of Beefies.
Nell: Beefies aren’t allowed in the house. I don’t even like them in the garden.
Me: But stealing biscuits is a Beefy sort of thing to do.
Nell: Yes, it is.
Me: It’s a mystery.
Nell: Never mind all that now. Go and get some breakfast. You can’t be vaccinated on an empty stomach.
Me: No. You’re right. Sorry.
