Doha airport.
How long have we got? asks David.
Four hours, says Vello.
Can we get my shoes now? asks Terence.
They are sitting at a table inside Harrod's Tea Rooms.
Tea first, says Gaius.
You could have had tea on the plane, says Pierre-Louis.
Vello looks at the tea menu.
Silver Needle, says Vello. That sounds like me.
Gunpowder Supreme sounds more like you, says David. It's 15 riyals cheaper than Silver Needle.
I think I'll try English Rose Wedding, says Gaius.
So will I, says Pierre-Louis. What an evocative title!
They order their teas and drink them in the elegant Harrod's surroundings.
How's your English Rose Wedding? asks Vello.
Aromatic, says Gaius.
Full-bodied, says Pierre-Louis.
Can we go now? asks Terence.
We might linger, says Vello. I see they have pastries.
I'll take him, says Gaius.
Off they go to look for a shoe store.
Aha! Inplay Sports Store. They go in.
May I help you? asks a sports store assistant. Shoes for the infant? We have a vast array here. I observe he has very small feet and a bandage on his ankle. This should pose no problem.
Excellent, says Gaius.
The assistant directs them to sit down on a couch and goes off to find samples.
He didn't measure your foot, says Gaius. Either he is incompetent or has the ability to judge a foot size by looking.
Or both, says Terence.
The assistant returns with a small pair of shoes.
These ones have wheels underneath, says the assistant. And they light up and flash different colours when you move. Children like them.
Try them on, Terence, says Gaius.
Terence tries on the shoes. He stands up, lunges forward, and falls over.
No good, says Gaius.
I wasn't ready, says Terence.
You should have normal shoes, says Gaius. Remember, you have wheels already.
Oh yes! He has wheels already. And a parrot coach, whose advice would be useful. Where is he?
Cwaca is in the Harrod's Tea Shop, hobnobbing, and nibbling on extravagant pastries.
For a parrot this may be normal, but for a coach, it bodes ill.
No comments:
Post a Comment