Be Is One Thing

Gaius and Denis are glad of the water.

I was the lookout, says Terence. That's how I got the water.

Does Stanley still need a lookout? asks Gaius.

No, says Terence. So I've got nothing to do.

Go and sit with Ageless, says Gaius.

Yes! says Terence. We can play Cannot But Be.

Good idea, says Gaius.

Terence heads to the back of the bus.

I don't believe I know Cannot But Be, says Denis.

The game was inspired by a statement I once made, says Gaius.

So how do you play it? asks Denis.

You think of a question to which the answer is a variation of Cannot But Be, says Gaius.

A variation? says Denis. Not Cannot But Be?

No, not Cannot But Be, says Gaius. I shall give you a simple example.

No, let me guess, says Denis. You ask the question.

Gaius had been wanting to get on with reading his notes, not to play Cannot But Be.

But Denis seems to want to.

It is now that Gaius realises the hard part of Cannot But Be is coming up with the question.

He ponders.

B... Be... Bee... Beetle...no, Bee.

What has a stinger? asks Gaius.

Surely not Cannot But Bee? says Denis.

Why surely not? asks Gaius. That is the answer.

But it's not a variation, sats Denis. 

It is, says Gaius. Be is one thing and Bee is another.

But they both sound the same, says Denis.

I see what you mean, says Gaius. I'll try something harder.

Cannot But Beetle? says Denis.

You have anticipated me, says Gaius.

I'm a quick thinker, says Denis.

Yes, it's not a good game for grown ups.

Let us listen in on Terence and Ageless.

What if a poo was coming out? asks Terence.

Cannot But Bottom, says Ageless.

Wrong ! says Terence. Cannot But Bumhole!

That was going to be my next answer, says Ageless.

See?