We Will Remember

Are we doing it now? asks Roo-kai.

I'm not ready, says Terence.

But Roo-kai remembers your poems, says Gaius. Why aren't you ready?

We have to march here, says Terence. Then do it.

But we're already here, points out Gaius.

Walk away a bit, says Roo-kai. Then march back.

AND, says Terence. I want to go and get the Nachoos.

What for? asks Gaius.

To float them away, says Terence. While I say the poems.

I'll be saying the poems, says Roo-kai.

I'll be saying them after you say them, says Terence.

Line by line? asks Roo-kai.

Yes, says Terence. Or the botomists will think they're your poems.

Fair enough says Roo-kai. We don't want them to think that. 

As for the Nachoos, says Gaius. You can't float them away. It would be littering.

Wah! says Terence. What then?

Bury them, says Roo-kai.

That's just as bad, says Gaius. They should be recycled.

Bury them and then dig them up and recycle them, suggests Roo-kai.

Are you happy with that, Terence? asks Gaius.

 How long will they stay buried? asks Terence.

It matters not, says Gaius. Let's say half an hour. 

Okay, says Terence. I'll get the Nachoos.

He runs back to the campsite.

I hope he can find them, says Roo-kai.

Denis will know where they are,  says Gaius.

Ten minutes later, Denis and Terence appear, with the Nachoos.

Sprigs of saltbush have been placed in each of the Nachoos.

A nice touch, says Gaius.

I suggested seagrass pods, says Denis. But Faith persuaded us not to.

 A waste of seagrass pods, I suppose, says Gaius. Does she know they're only being buried for half an hour?

No, says Denis. So it could have been seagrass pods.

Can we change it? asksTerence.

No, says Gaius. Saltbush will do. It was their first botanical specimen.

Yay! says Terence. The botomists will remember.

They won't see the Nachoos, says Gaius. But we will remember.

So now what? asks Denis.

You and Terence walk away a bit and march back, says Gaius. Then Terence will bury the Nachoos here by the water. And Roo-kai will recite Terence's poems slowly with gaps between the lines so that Terence has time to repeat them.

Very solemn, says Denis. 

Indeed, says Gaius. And I shall make a video of the ceremony, on my phone.

Terence is happy with how this is going. 

Everyone is helping.

Even the botomists, by not being here, for whatever reasons.