Me: Why are you hiding under the kitchen table?
Nell: I’m exasperated.
Me: Isn’t it too early for exasperation?
Nell: No.
Me: Have you had any breakfast?
Nell: Half a boiled egg and a few soldiers.
Me: Couldn’t you manage a whole egg?
Nell: David ate the other half by mistake.
Me: That is exasperating.
Nell: I didn’t care. Manuel offered to make me another.
Me: I expect Dave was very sorry.
Nell: He didn’t even notice.
Me: Oh dear.
Nell: I showed him the empty egg and he turned it over and cracked the top with his spoon.
Me: We used to do that as children. We’d pretend to our mother we hadn’t eaten our eggs.
Nell: She knew.
Me: She always acted like she didn’t.
Nell: David just moved on to the next egg. Harriet’s, I think.
Me: It’s an easy mistake to make.
Nell: He doesn’t think.
Me: Or he thinks too much?
Nell: No. It’s definitely the first one.
Me: You’re right. Is he still wearing a moustache?
Nell: Yes, and dark glasses and a trilby hat. Inside. I told him no hats at the table but he didn’t listen.
Me: Naughty boy.
Nell: He can’t see anything with dark glasses on.
Me: He managed to see the egg.
Nell: He had yolk all over his moustache.
Me: It won’t be there for long.
Nell: Nobody listens to me.
Me: We do.
Nell: I might as well stay under this table.
Me: What about a walk on the beach?
Nell: I’m not sure.
Me: We could have tea by the fire together? Just you and me.
Nell: It’s never just you and me.
Me: It’s always you and me, Nell.
Nell: Tell that to the llamas standing behind you queuing for more toast.
Me: Yes. Sorry.
