Nell: You’re up early.
Me: I couldn’t sleep so I thought I’d write.
Nell: And chat to me.
Me: Yes. Can you spot the cat?
Nell: What cat?
Me: The Farmer’s Cat.
Nell: I don’t know The Farmer’s Cat.
Me: It’s black and it likes walking through the fields.
Nell: Don’t we all.
Me: Dave and Harriet love looking for it on their walks.
Nell: I expect they do.
Me: Can you see it?
Nell: No, I can’t.
Me: Get your reading glasses.
Nell: I don’t need them anymore.
Me: Then look properly.
Nell: Oh yes. There it is. Showing off.
Me: It’s not Showing Off.
Nell: No. It’s playing Cowardy Custard.
Me: Do you think so?
Nell: Yes. Who looked away first?
Me: I don’t know.
Nell: Cats like to win. They’re terrible losers.
Me: So are you.
Nell: I am not.
Me: Do you remember that game of Monopoly?
Nell: David cheated. He moved six places instead of five.
Me: He has trouble with numbers.
Nell: Not when he’s counting sausages.
Me: Anyway, you definitely don’t like to lose.
Nell: Poppy’s worse. She threw Buckaroo in the bin.
Me: Do you still play Bridge?
Nell: Yes.
Me: You must miss Dorothy and The Cat.
Nell: I do, but Mutley is an excellent player and the Portly Sisters are usually up for a game.
Me: The Portly Sisters?
Nell: Janet and Joan. They’re royal corgis so they’ve played a lot of Bridge in their time.
Me: I don’t think you should call them the Portly Sisters, Nell.
Nell: They don’t mind.
Me: Are you sure? You used to be extremely sensitive about your weight. Remember Pamela the Pyrenean Mountain Dog?
Nell: Don’t remind me.
Me: Just saying.
Nell: The Portly Sisters is their team name.
Me: I see. Sorry.
