Ghosts Enigmas And Lies

Dinner is over.

Kong Fu-Zi rubs his belly.

All right? says Katherine.

Mm, replies Kong Fu-Zi.

Good, says Katherine. I was worried about those potatoes.

Was it wise to say nothing till after we'd eaten? says Kong Fu-Zi.

There are four ways to learn wisdom, says Katherine.

Enigmatic.

Kong Fu-Zi has always maintained there are three.

Reflection, imitation and experience. 

What else is there?

It occurs to him to wonder if Katherine ate any potatoes.

.......

Baby Pierre zooms up on his bicycle and does a spectacular wheelie. Shwerrrr!

There you are, Baby Pierre, says Freud. Did you find Mrs Burr?

No, says Baby Pierre. But I found Terence. He gave me this torch.

Baby Pierre flashes the torch at the dinner plates. Empty!

Where are the kippers?

We ate them, says Rosamunda. You don't eat kippers. And where exactly is Terence?

Still looking, says Baby Pierre.

Then why have you brought the torch back? asks Rosamunda.

He didn't need it, says Baby Pierre.

Give it here! says Rosamunda. I'm going to find him.

She grabs the torch, and walks off down the dirt track into the shadowy bushland.

Hoot hoot!

Sarah!

Rustle, rustle.

Mrs Burrrrrrrrrr!

Something is moving in a bush by the side of the track.

She shines the torch in.

........

What's this about Mrs Burr? asks Katherine.

No idea, says Freud. 

........

Terence is hiding in a scratchy Silver Banksia bush.

He will NEVER come out!

Everyone is mean, everyone is cruel. Birds shit on you. They won't give you feathers then they drop them anyway and the wind blows them away, then an interfering person mends your wrecked shorts with the feathers and makes you look like an aztec, what's an aztec? and a chicken, what's that? probably some sort of pigeon....... and owls hoot -hoot and scary old women haunt the bushes, sarah, mrs burr........ Terence is NEVER coming out.....NEVER.

.....

It's you! says Rosamunda.

It isn't, says Terence.

What is it? asks Rosamunda.

An Aztec, says Terence.

How wonderful! says Rosamunda.

And a chicken, says Terence, with more confidence.

Brilliant! says Rosamunda. I love chickens.Want to come back now? There's herrings!

Yes, says Terence, not knowing that this is a lie.

Of course, there are five ways to learn wisdom.