Not All About You

It's five minutes to two.

Time for the Stateliner bus to be leaving.

Stanley allows Denis to get on the bus with the stick in his backpack.

Don't take it out till Port Augusta, warns Stanley.

What out? says Denis.

He goes to find his seat without waiting for an answer.

What happened there? asks Gaius.

No sticks on the bus, says Denis. But I got round it.

Where's the rest of the horse? asks Gaius.

In my backpack, says Denis.

Can I have it? asks Terence.

No, says Denis. Not till Port Augusta.

Why? asks Terence.

It has to stay in my backpack, says Denis. Bus rules.

Can I go in your backpack? asks Terence.

It's a bit full, says Denis.

You could transfer some of your things into mine, says Gaius.

Are you sure? asks Denis.

No problem, says Gaius.

Denis takes out some things.

An orange, some sunscreen , a charger. A plastic bag containing dirty washing.

You had an orange! says Gaius.

I'd forgotten, says Denis. Shall we share it?

Very kind, says Gaius. 

He begins peeling the orange, while Denis helps Terence climb into his backpack.

Terence is in.

It smells of orange and dirty washing.

He feels around for the pieces of horse.

There is the long stick with the four short sticks attached with plasters, and the seagrass hair. 

Now where is that perfect bent stick?

Yay! there it is. Now where are the eyes?

They're supposed to be in his pocket.

He feels in his shorts pocket.

Nothing there.

His head emerges from Denis's backpack.

Has anyone seen my pebbles? asks Terence.

Don't tell me, says Gaius. 

I was ASKING, says Terence.

You lost them, says Gaius. Well, never mind. Here are two pips.

He hands Terence two orange pips that he has just picked out from his half of the orange.

I've got some spares, says Denis.

Keep them in case, says Gaius. 

Now what? asks Terence.

Have you got all the parts? asks Denis. Try sticking them together.

Theres no glue, says Terence.

This is where orange peel comes in handy, says Gaius.

He hands Terence some peel.

Terence goes back down into the backpack.

That should keep him busy, says Gaius.

Yes, says Denis. How long to Port Augusta?

Three hours, says Gaius. Plenty of time for me to update my notes.

And for me to write a long email to Henriette, says Denis. 

Don't make it all about you, says Gaius.

I won't, says Denis. 

He starts tapping. Dear Henriette, I'm on a bus to Port Augusta, but that's enough about me....

Merde! He's stuck already.