Me: Look at my darling Big Brave Beautiful Boy. He’s finding all this packing exhausting.
Nell: You won’t believe what he did last night.
Me: What did he do?
Nell: Didn’t you hear the kerfuffle?
Me: I was so tired I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. Did Dave eat something by mistake?
Nell: Just after the Ten O’Clock News David started to walk around the living room with something very small in his mouth.
Me: How did you know it was very small?
Nell: We knew. There was no chewing, and he has a proud way of walking when he’s taken something.
Me: He does. Bless him.
Nell: He also remained tight-lipped even when asked a question.
Me: Oh yes. I’ve seen him do that.
Nell: After repeated requests to spit out whatever he was hiding, Kev had to actually remove it by force.
Me: By force?
Nell: He opened David’s mouth.
Me: And what was it?
Nell: A peanut.
Me: A peanut?
Nell: Yes. David must have found it somewhere.
Me: Why didn’t he tell you?
Nell: He was tight-lipped. He’s always like that when he’s concealing something.
Me: Thank goodness it was a peanut.
Nell: Yes. We were worried it was something dangerous.
Me: I bet you were. Is he sorry?
Nell: Not really. I think he rather enjoyed the whole episode.
Me: Naughty boy.
Nell: All birds and squirrels have been asked to keep their nuts out of the house to avoid repercussions.
Me: What about me? I love a few peanuts with a long cool drink in the evening.
Nell: Are you trying to tell me it was you eating peanuts in the living room yesterday?
Me: It’s my little treat, Nell.
Nell: Well, don’t drop any again.
Me: No. Sorry.
