Heartfelt Errors

Do cuttlefish have ears? asks Denis.

I think not, says Gaius. Why are you asking?

They were cheering, says Denis.

Were they listening? asks Terence.

Well, no, says Gaius. Not without ears.

But Denis said, says Terence.

They sense and respond to vibrations, says Gaius. So, are we done here?

No, says Terence. We haven't done Two Botomists Have Died.

My version of history, says Ageless.

You're not in it, says Terence.

Get on with it, says Denis. 

Continue! says Gaius.

TWO BOTOMISTS HAVE DIED.

( faint wailing sounds arise from the ocean )

Roo-kai: Jean-Botomist wanted to do mapping

Terence: Jean-Botomist wanted to do mapping

Ageless: Count me out

Terence: Shut up then.

Roo-kai: But mapping is hard

Terence: But mapping is hard

Roo-kai: So he did botany

Terence: Botomy

Roo-kai : No, botany

Terence: No botany

Roo-kai: But botany is hard.

Terence: But botomy is hard.

Roo-kai: So he did underwater botomy in a Nachoo

Terence: You said botomy! 

Roo-kai: But he forgot to eat, so he starved.

Terence: But he forgot to eat so he starved.

Roo-kai: Do we need to do it again? We made several errors

I think not, says Gaius. What do you think Denis?

It's better with errors, says Denis. 

More heartfelt, says Gaius. I agree.

Now we say it for Carl-Botomist, says Terence.

I hope I won't run out of battery, says Gaius.

We'll speak fast, says Roo-kai. And it's shorter now that Ageles is sulking.

I'm not sulking, says Ageless.

So, Roo-kai and Terence say the Carl-poem fast but not too fast, and with fewer errors.

At the end of which a heartfelt sobbing arises from the water. 

Now, says Terence. We bury the Nachoos.

THE BURIAL OF THE NACHOOS

Denis steps forward with a Nachoo

Terence steps forward with his.

Wait, says Terence. We didn't make holes yet.

Gaius turns his phone off, and digs two shallow holes with his hands.

It's done.

He turns his phone on again and films the burial of the Nachoos.

Soon only two sprigs of saltbush mark the spot where the Nachoos are buried.

Ageless feels he ought to contribute something

He sings: titi lariti ton ton.

A wave of faint laughter arises from the ocean and quickly subsides.

Perhaps it was heartfelt and not meant to be funny.