Kicked Out For Singing A Verb

Sunrise, Lucky Bay.

This is the morning that Ferdy will be driving the Perth Scuba van back to Perth.

But he is still sleeping. So is Arthur.

Gaius stirs. He opens his eyes. He pokes Sweezus awake.

Wha.....? says Sweezus.

Have you seen Ageless? says Gaius.

He came back last night, mumbles Sweezus.

I mean this morning, says Gaius.

Sweezus sits up. Looks around.

He gets up and pokes his head through the tent flaps.

There on the ground is a skewer, bearing telltale tatters of flesh, one black eye, one red snout end.

Not wanting to be the one to tell Gaius, he leaves the tent and starts walking.

The sun is shining, the beach is heaped with things that washed up in last night's storm.

He sits down on a pile of wet seaweed and looks out to sea.

He is not alone on the seaweed.

Kobo and Brianna are sitting at the periphery.

Hi, says Brianna. Are you looking for Baby Pierre?

No, says Sweezus. But shit! I should be!

He's in Ted and Sylvia's tent, says Brianna. WE got kicked out.

YOU got kicked out, says Kobo.

I know, says Brianna.

What for? asks Sweezus.

Just for singing. Is spaz a bad word? says Brianna.

Spaz? says Sweezus. Depends.

On what? asks Kobo.

Context, says Sweezus. How's the song go?

Hold me back I'm 'bout to spaz, says Brianna. La la la. It's by Rihanna.

Spaz is okay there, says Sweezus. It's used as a verb in that context.

Kobo looks doubtful.

Footsteps are heard crunching.

It's Mary Emily, out for a breath of fresh air.

Hello, says Mary Emily. Not packed up yet?

I don't reckon we'll be going, says Sweezus.

Good, says Mary Emily. Because I was going to ask you if you'd like to come out with us this morning.

Me? says Sweezus. On the Georgette, with you guys?

Yes, says Mary Emily. You're the only one who hasn't. And you seem like a really nice chap with no hang ups.

Sweezus is flattered. A nice chap with no hang ups.

That's not what people think normally.

Thanks, says Sweezus. I'll just go back and tell Gaius.

He heads back to where the tent was. But the tent isn't there. Nor is Perth Scuba.