For The Fallen

That was good, says the neighbour, having swallowed his damselfly.

I know, says the one that didn't eat Prawny. 

And appropriate, too, says the neighbour.

I suppose so, says the one who didn't eat Prawny. Damselflies were to be our reward.

But the humans couldn't catch them, says the neighbour. Then Prawny stayed with us and helped us to catch them.

But only because he was dead, says the one who didn't eat Prawny.

A sad complication, says the neighbour.

What will happen when the humans come back? asks the one who didn't eat Prawny.

They'll bring us a cooked prawn, says the neighbour.

As a reward for retrieving Prawny's tail, says the one who didn't eat him.

So what's the problem, asks the neighbour. We did that.

Twice, says the one who didn't eat Prawny.

So we'll still deserve the cooked prawn, says the neighbour.

But we'll have to explain the dead Prawny, says the one who didn't eat him.

Let's cover him with something, says the neighbour. So it looks like we're sorry.

Good plan, says the one who didn't eat Prawny. Pebbles or grass?

They decide on grass, and set about picking.

.......

Meanwhile Gaius, Margaret and Terence have arrived back at Minnie's.

Minnie and Katherine are there, drinking tea.

Back already? says Minnie.

How was the War Memorial? asks Margaret.

Same as ever, says Minnie. 

Did you enjoy it, Katherine? asks Margaret.

The gift shop was nice, says Katherine. Poppies on everything. Tea towels, coffee mugs. And look what I bought.

She shows them a small  box.

What's in it? asks Terence.

A glass leaf, says Katherine. Take the lid off. Be careful.

I'm always careful, says Terence.

A leaf, says Margaret. Does it represent something?

For the fallen, says Katherine.

Is it intended to be amusing? asks Gaius.

The women look at him crossly.

No it's not.

This One Is Yours

What if he dies? asks the neighbour.

I don't think a cooked prawn can die, says the one who didn't eat Prawny.

Probably not, says the neighbour.

Do we risk it? asks the one who didn't eat Prawny.

It wouldn't hurt to dive in and check on him, says the neighbour.

Shall we both go? asks the one who didn't eat Prawny.

Okay, says the neighbour.

They dive into the mildly salty water.

And down towards Prawny.

It's not far.

The neighbour pokes Prawny, who is unresponsive.

The two bell frogs look at one another.

Prawny has died!

They lift him, and swim with him up to the surface.

They drag him to shore.

Now what? asks the neighbour.

Perhaps he'll come good, says the one who didn't eat Prawny.

Should we pump him? asks the neighbour.

They agree they should try.

The neighbour presses down on Prawny's soft parts.

Pump! Pump!

Spuuurt! A thin jet of water comes out.

That's promising, says the neighbour.

They wait to see if will Prawny will cough and splutter and say something.

Prawny doesn't.

Are we going to get blamed for this? asks the neighbour.

Prawny used his own muscles, says the one who didn't eat Prawny.

Yeah, and it was his decision to jump in, says the neighbour.

They agree that Prawny's death is not their fault.

A damselfly zooms in and hovers over Prawny.

The neighbour makes a quick move.

Snap!

No more damselfly.

You might have shared it! says the one that didn't eat Prawny.

Here comes another one, says the neighbour. 

This one is yours!

Flexing His Middle

Prawny is warm in his hole.

Phew! says Prawny.

Are you okay? asks the neighbour.

A bit warm, says Prawny. That's all.

We like it, says the bell frog that didn't eat him.

Yes we like it, says the neighbour.

Maybe it's because I've been cooked once before, says Prawny. I don't like too much heat.

Do you remember being cooked? asks the neighbour.

Not really, says Prawny. I suppose I was trying to ignore it.

That's what I'd do, says the neighbour.

No way! says the one who didn't eat Prawny. I'd have tried to escape.

Maybe I tried, says Prawny. And then I gave up. I remember hotness, and waking up inside spun potato.

What was that like? asks the neighbour.

Soft, says Prawny.

White or yellow? asks the neighbour.

I couldn't see anything, says Prawny. 

How come? asks the one who didn't eat him.

No eyes, says Prawny. And then I met Terence and I got one.

Lucky, says the neighbour.

Prawny is feeling even hotter.

Phew! says Prawny, again.

Go further into the hole, says the neighbour.

No, says Prawny. I need to jump into the water, to cool down.

Go on then, says the one who didn't eat him.

Can't, says Prawny.

Come on, you're right at the edge of the hole, says the neighbour.  Haven't you got any muscles?

I don't think so, says Prawny.

He tries flexing his middle.

Squurreee!

And it works! 

Prawny drops into the water.

Better? asks the neighbour.

No reply comes from Prawny.

Should we rescue him? asks the one who didn't eat him.

Yes, says the neighbour. We should. Before a damselfly swoops in and takes him.

It would be good if us rescuing him was on TikTok, says the one who didn't eat Prawny.

So we wait? asks the neighbour.

They peer down at Prawny, who has already sunk to the bottom. 

Time to make a decision.

Ooh Bad Memories

Now for our reward, says the bell frog that didn't eat Prawny.

But the damselfly ate it, says Terence.

So get us another one, says the neighbour.

We shall do that, says Gaius. But in order to obtain a cooked prawn we must leave you.

Can we trust you? asks the one who didn't eat Prawny.

Certainly, says Gaius.

I'll stay here with the frogs till you come back, says Prawny.

That is noble of you, says the one who didn't eat him.

Thank you, says Prawny. 

You can wait in one of our brick holes, says the neighbour. The one next to mine.

Ooh. Bad memories, says Prawny.

Better than sitting on the bank like a sitting duck, says the neighbour.

Yes, says Gaius. Those damselflies are a danger.

Okay, says Prawny. I'll wait in a hole.

The holes are good if you're facing outwards, says the one who didn't eat him.

I'll try it, says Prawny.

Wonderful, says Gaius, placing Prawny in a hole facing outwards.

It is quite nice, says Prawny.

Now we'll leave you, says Gaius, but we'll return later today.

With our reward, says the one who didn't eat Prawny.

And proof that we're famous, says the neighbour.

Hum, says Gaius. That may take a bit longer.

Post the video on TikTok, says Margaret.

Oh yes, TikTok, says Gaius. That will do it.

Bye, Prawny, says Terence. 

Bye, says Prawny.

Gaius, Margaret and Terence head for the bikes.

I wonder if Minnie has any frozen prawns in her freezer, says Margaret.

Perhaps we should ask her, says Gaius. I understand you might feel a little foolish going into Woolworths and asking for one cooked prawn when half an hour earlier you had made an identical purchase.

Yes Gaius, says Margaret. But you could do it.

It would still seem odd, says Gaius.

I could, says Terence.

He imagines himself doing it.

One cooked prawn please!

Even odder, says Gaius.

So it is decided.

They will go back to Minnie's and check out her freezer.

Only Once

Now what? ask the bell frogs.

Ask for something else, says Terence.

Not yet, says Gaius. Wait until I've filmed the return of the tail.

Yes, says Prawny. I haven't got it back yet.

Maybe you won't get it back, says the one who didn't eat Prawny.

Then you won't be famous, says Terence.

He's right, says the neighbour. What were you thinking? That we'd keep it?

It's our insurance, says the one that didn't eat Prawny.

It's my tail, says Prawny.

Yes, says Margaret. It's his tail. Get yourselves organised. We don't have all day.

Okay, say the bell frogs.

I'll hold Prawny up, says Terence.

No, hold him down, says the neighbour.

We're not jumping up with his tail, says the one who didn't eat Prawny. 

So Terence holds Prawny in a lower position, close to the water.

We'll hop out of the water with the tail, says the neighbour.

And make speeches, says Terence.

Speeches? says Gaius.

Yes, and Prawny will make a speech too, says Terence.

Very well, says Gaius. Has everyone thought of their speech?

No one has, because Terence has only just thought of it.

I'll just say thank you, says Prawny.

Short but polite, says Gaius. I like that.

Thank you, says Prawny.

Not yet! says Terence. Wait till they give you your tail.

It wasn't that thank you, says Prawny.

They have to go first, says Terence.

Ready, bell frogs? asks Gaius.

They are ready.

Gaius starts filming.

The bell frogs hop out of the water, each holding a side of the tail.

A short silence.

Then...

Here is your lost item, says the one who didn't eat Prawny. Take better care of it next time.

Yeah, says the neighbour.

Thank you, says Prawny.

Terence takes the tail from the bell frogs.

Thank you, says Terence. We'll stick it back on him with fish glue.

What is fish glue? asks the one who didn't eat Prawny.

An ancient Roman glue, says Gaius. 

Can you eat it? asks the neighbour.

Only once, says Gaius. 

That's Nature For You

Prawny's tail gleams under the water.

The two green and golden bell frogs swim towards it from opposite sides.

They each grab a uropod and swim up to the surface, emerging with the tail held up between them.

We found it! cry the bell frogs.

Yay! says Terence. You'll be famous!

Can we see the video? asks the bell frog that didn't eat Prawny.

Gaius shows them the video.

Would you like me to film you giving it back to Prawny? asks Gaius. It would be a nice touch.

Okay, says the one that didn't eat Prawny.

Okay, says the neighbour.

Where will I be? asks Prawny.

Up to you, says Gaius. Terence could prop you up next to the sauna.

But how would I receive it? asks Prawny.

Yes how? asks Terence. Prawny hasn't got hands.

True, says Gaius. Perhaps you should receive the tail on Prawny's behalf.

Then I'd look like a loser, says Prawny.

You are a loser, says Terence. But you won't be once you've got your tail back.

I'll still be a loser, says Prawny.

What's up with you? asks the bell frog who didn't eat Prawny.

I'm remembering my wings, says Prawny. I lost them, and all hopes of becoming a parrot.

You'll grow new ones, says the neighbour.

Unfortunately, he won't, says Gaius.

Nothing unfortunate about it, says Margaret. Prawny should look on the bright side.

There's a bright side? Prawny looks hopeful.

The bright side being Prawny is better off than the reward prawn, says Margaret.

Everyone looks at the reward prawn, who is waiting to be eaten at the bell frogs' discretion.

And then..

Down swoops a damselfly, snatching the reward prawn and flying away.

That was our reward! says the one who didn't eat Prawny.

They were both our rewards! cries the neighbour.

It's true. They had asked for a damselfly.

And now the damselfly has flown off with their second best option.

That's nature for you.

Willing To Part From His Tail

Are you going to eat it? asks Terence.

We might save it for later, says the bell frog that didn't eat Prawny.

It looks sad, says the neighbour.

It's a cooked one, says Margaret. How can it look sad?

I'm a cooked one, says Prawny.

And you never look sad, says Terence.

I can look sad, says Prawny, trying to look sad.

But it's doesn't make Prawny look all that different.

Do I look sad? he asks the bell frogs.

No, says the one that didn't eat him. If anything, you look glad.

And even if you didn't, you ought to, says the neighbour.

We found your tail for you, says the one that didn't eat him

Yes, says Terence. But only because Prawny let you. He'd found it already.

Okay, says the neighbour, How about the other thing?

Ah yes, says Gaius. Terence promised you'd be famous.

Did I? says Terence.

Yes, says the one that didn't eat Prawny We thought you could film us doing a reenactment.

Can we? asks Terence.

I don't see why not, says Gaius. If Prawny is willing to part from his tail for a third time.

As long as I get it back, says Prawny.

Gaius throws Prawny's tail into the pond and takes out his phone to record its recovery.

Action! says Gaius.

Wait, says the neighbour. There should be an introduction.

Yes there should, says Margaret. Otherwise we won't know what's going on.

Of course, says Gaius. Terence and Prawny, step forward.

Terence steps forward with Prawny.

Here we are at Mawson Ponds, says Gaius. We came to observe the progress of the green and golden bell frogs. But one of our party, in an excess of enthusiasm, launched himself into a hole occupied by one of the bell frogs, and lost his tail. Show them, Terence,

This is Prawny, our second main frog guy, says Terence, holding up Prawny.

Prawny tries to look like he imagines a second main frog guy who lost his tail in a freak accident would look.

And I would like it back, says Prawny.

There will be a reward, says Terence.

Excellent, says Gaius, pausing the filming. Bell frogs, are you ready?

The bell frogs are ready.

They dive into the pond.

Let us hope they have agreed beforehand who'll be the finder.