Cow Island

'Extra what?' Annie asked. 'Well,' Norma thought about how to explain, 'it's a type of acting, only you just stand in the background and don't say anything.' 'Acting?' Annie asked. 'It's when you dress up and pretend to be someone else.' 'Like a tree?' 'Possibly,' Norma replied. 'I suppose that must happen.' 'Or a cloud or a halibut?' 'Again, possible,' Norma agreed, 'but more commonly it's another person...but it's only pretend.' 'Pretend?' Annie queried. 'Well, it's not reality.' 'Reality?' Annie asked. In her head Norma conceded to herself that the conversation was drifting off in a direction that she had been hoping to avoid.  'Well, for most people, there is a reasonably common set of truths that can be agree upon...that we call reality.' Annie looked confused and came dangerously close to toppling over. ...

'Ah, no!' Cyril sighed. 'See, you tiddled when you should have winked.' The croupier looked decidedly nervous. 'Fluffy forfeit?' Annie mooed. 'Indeed!' Cyril agreed. 'Let's see.....I think you're going to owe us a great big pile of chips.' 'With bread and butter?' Annie asked. 'You can't have chips without,' Cyril said. The croupier looked extra more nervous. Annie waved her tail. 'Princess Annie?' Cyril smiled. 'Permission to dance?' Annie sang. 'I doubt there's ever been a better time,' Cyril replied. So Annie climbed onto the table and did a most dainty dance and everyone applauded...and then Cyril got onto the table and they danced together and everyone applauded some more. 'Sorry about the table,' Cyril said when they had finished. 'Do you have another?' And the visibly shaken croupier pointed towards another table. 'That'll do!...

'Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh!' Annie mooed. 'Couldn't have put it better myself,' Cyril said. 'Now, would you like some chips?' 'Yes, please!' Annie replied. '.............Wiv salt and vinegar.' 'Two lots of chips please,' Cyril asked the cashier. 'One with salt and vinegar, one with mayonnaise...shaken not stirred.'  'And a wally!' Annie added. 'He's behind you,' Cyril replied. 'WHAT!!!!' Captain Bill mooed. 'Who are you again?' Annie asked. 'I'm leaving!' Captain Bill announced. 'Pleased to meet you,' Annie said. 'I meant I'm going,' Captain Bill replied. 'Oh, do stay,' Annie continued, 'we've only just met.' 'Yes, you must stay,' Cyril agreed and he took Captain Bill by his knitted compass and dragged him toward the nearest gaming table. 'Afternoon,' he announced to the cro...