Graffiti Ambush

The parrot gang of cousins arrives at the harbour.

Hey! says Terence. Let's hide in there!

It looks like a fort, but it isn't. It's the MuCEM.

They sneak inside. No one stops them.

The MuCEM is the Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations.

There are several exhibitions running concurrently.

Terence heads for 'Graffiti In The Mediterranean'. The gang follows.

Everything looks like rubbish. Scribbled and painted. Posters, panels, stickers magazines, sketches, photos...

Superb! says a woman. She is wearing a painted jacket. There are spots of red paint on her boots.

Terence whispers something to Tiny.

They start walking backwards.

Where are you going? asks Baldy. We just got here.

Out, says Terence. You guys stay here.

Baldy, Stew and Dark Knight sit on the floor.

Copy! says Baldy. He wiggles his own pointing finger.

Stew tries to copy. But his fingers remain all fanned out.

I had a weapon, says Dark Knight. But I dropped it.

So what? says Baldy.

Schwack! I'd cut off three of his fingers with my weapon! says Dark Knight.

Four, says Baldy. And you couldn't, says Baldy. It was flat on the top and the bottom.

And the sides, says Stew. You couldn't cut anything with it.

Dark Knight always knew there was something wrong with his weapon.

Terence and Tiny come back.

Belle is behind them.

Crikey! says Belle. How many more are there?

I was wondering who they belonged to, says the woman in the jacket, and paint-spotted boots.

Violetta! says Belle. What are YOU doing here?

Belle! says Violetta. Just getting some pointers. And Splosh is my street name, remember?

Splosh! Of course, says Belle. How lovely! This is Terence.

My street name, says Terence.

Terence. An excellent street name, says Splosh. And the others?

Baldy, says Belle. He's with us. I don't know these two.

They look familiar, says Splosh. Yes, I know! This gold one's from the top of the Basilique. And this one's from inside. Mother holds a bouquet of flowers. He had a little silver cross he was waving.

Weapon, says Dark Knight.

Ha ha, laughs Stew. It wasn't a weapon!

Come on guys, says Belle. You're going back right now.

Stew and Dark Knight look doubtful.

Our mothers don't want us.

Splosh knows all about that.

How would you guys like a paint job? says Splosh. Then we'll see if they want you!

She opens her back pack and whips out her spray paints.

Street names?

Stew and Dark Knight.

She spays and squirts deftly. Serifs and force fields. A cracked fill. Gunfire and dripping topline.  Irridescent flash points. Reminiscent of cuttlefish dances.

They look pretty awesome.

Off you go now, says Splosh.

Me next, says Terence.

No way, says Belle. You're coming to Paris. So is Baldy. Off you go, Dark Knight and Stew.

Dark Knight and Stew head out of the MuCEM with confidence.

Out into the street, where Grimaldi and Pickelherring are waiting