Nell: I need you to keep an open mind.
Me: I can do that.
Nell: I was talking to Lionel yesterday and he had a really good idea.
Me: Lionel King?
Nell: Yes.
Me: You were talking to that dreadful lion?
Nell: Yes. He was at Sunday Songs and wanted to say how much he enjoyed my duet with Nigel.
Me: It was good.
Nell: Thank you.
Me: ‘That’s Amore’ is one of my favourites.
Nell: Mine too.
Me: Well, nice chat but I’d better get on.
Nell: Hold on a minute, I haven’t even told you about Lionel’s idea yet.
Me: Oh, is there more?
Nell: Lionel thinks we should hire an Italian sous chef.
Me: What?
Nell: A chef to help Herr Hoffmann with the Italian food.
Me: Herr Hoffmann doesn’t need any help.
Nell: But it’s not the same.
Me: It’s fine.
Nell: And that’s not all.
Me: Are we hiring a Chinese chef now? Or an Indian one?
Nell: Don’t be silly. Lionel thinks we should hire Stanley Smoochy.
Me: Stanley Smoochy?
Nell: Yes. Isn’t that a wonderful idea?
Me: But Stanley’s gone.
Nell: No, he hasn’t. Lionel happens to know those pizzas were made by him.
Me: How does he know all this?
Nell: Because Stanley is staying with him.
Me: Really?
Nell: Yes. Apparently he and Stephen Seagull had a falling out so Stanley left.
Me: He didn’t go very far.
Nell: No. Lionel found him at the Bus Stop and took him home. Wasn’t that kind of him?
Me: I don’t trust that lion.
Nell: Stanley was so pleased to be staying in the village he made pizzas for us all.
Me: I knew it was him.
Nell: So, what do you think?
Me: I think that lion is up to something. Sorry.
