Nell: You look absolutely dreadful.
Me: Thank you. I’ve hardly slept.
Nell: Why?
Me: I was tracking Alice’s flight and it was delayed so she didn’t leave Chicago until gone midnight here.
Nell: Is she safely in Toronto now?
Me: Yes. She sent me a photo of her and Chris together on the train home. It was so lovely to see them together.
Nell: Well, that’s a relief.
Me: Yes, but then I couldn’t sleep.
Nell: That’s not good.
Me: And I started looking at the US election results.
Nell: That was very foolish.
Me: And I couldn’t stop.
Nell: You shouldn’t have started.
Me: I know that now.
Nell: What about Harriet? Why is she sitting by the window?
Me: Harriet and I watched the sun coming up together and then she saw Jim the Farm Dog walking the fields.
Nell: Oh dear.
Me: And she’s stayed by the window since then.
Nell: Why don’t you both go back to sleep?
Me: I can’t. I have my Wednesday Writers workshop.
Nell: You’re not going to be much use to anyone like this.
Me: I know.
Nell: I’ll go and organise a pot of Earl Grey and a bowl of porridge.
Me: Can’t I have hot buttered toast and jam?
Nell: No. Porridge is necessary if you’re going to get through the day. It’s slow release.
Me: But I fancy some toast.
Nell: What you fancy and what you need are two different things.
Me: You’re so bossy.
Nell: You’ll thank me later. Harriet can have toast and a boiled egg.
Me: Why is she allowed a boiled egg and I’m not?
Nell: Because her heart is broken. Now, finish your writing while I organise breakfast and stop watching the election results. There’s nothing you can do.
Me: Okay. Sorry.
