Into The Mud

Prawny suspects Terence has fallen into the pond.

But what can he do?

He can't move forward.

Then he remembers the call of the green and golden bell frog. 

He tries it,

Rr! Rr! Rr!

A green and golden bell frog hops over.

Was that you?

Yes, says Prawny. I was trying to sound like a motor bike.

Why? asks the green and golden bell frog.

To attract a green and golden bell frog, says Prawny.

Well, you did, says the green and golden bell frog. But you're bad at it.

It's my small mouth hole, says Prawny.

So it is, says the bell frog. Did you want anything in particular?

Yes! says Prawny. I think Terence has fallen into the water.

Something has, says the bell frog.

It's probably him, says Prawny.

What does he look like? asks the bell frog.

Like a boy, says Prawny. With curls and a claw.

Boys don't have claws, says the bell frog.

It's not his claw, says Prawny. Can you help him?

Why don't you help him? asks the bell frog.

Can't says Prawny. I haven't learned how to get things.

How did you get those wings then? asks the bell frog. They don't look like prawn wings.

I'm training to be a parrot, says Prawny.

Who's your trainer? asks the bell frog.

A real parrot, says Prawny.

Meanwhile, time is wasting. 

If Terence has really fallen into the pond, he'll be expecting someone to save him.

And he is.

Under the water, beyond the reeds, Terence is waiting.

And thinking.

Only Prawny knows where he went.

And Prawny can't move on his own. 

But Gaius said he'd be back in ten minutes.

Then Prawny can tell him...

and Gaius will come...

and save his main frog guy.

If he can see him.

Terence wonders if he is visible from above.

It would be good if his curls were sticking up out of the water.

He wriggles his toes.

And sinks deeper into the mud.

Main Frog Guy

Gaius and Margaret are cycling towards Mawson Ponds.

Gaius is on Minnie's good bike and Margaret is on Minnie's old one.

Terence and Prawny are in the good bike's front basket.

They are talking about what they will do when they get there.

I'm the main frog guy, says Terence. Beause I know what they look like.

I know what they look like, says Prawny.

So you're the second frog guy, says Terence. If you see one, tell me.

Okay, says Prawny. Then what?

We tell Gaius, says Terence.

And me, says Margaret, who has been listening.

And Margaret, next, says Terence.

Then what? asks Prawny.

We ask them some questions, says Gaius. 

Assuming they'll talk to us, says Margaret.

There are four of us, says Gaius. At least one of us should be able to coax them to answer.

The one they like best! says Terence.

Indeed, says Gaius. So I want you to think up some questions, and how you will ask them.

Okay, says Terence.

Okay, says Prawny.

They are at Mawson Ponds now.

They are very big ponds. The green and golden bell frogs could be anywhere.

Shall we stick together or separate? asks Margaret.

You go that way, says Gaius. I'll go this way. We'll keep in touch by phone.

Which way can we go? asks Terence.

You stay here with the bikes, says Gaius. And listen out for frog calls. I'll return in ten minutes.

What do the frog calls sound like? asks Prawny.

I was going to ask that, says Terence.

Like a motor bike, says Gaius. A motor bike revving up.

Not a bell, says Margaret.

No, says Gaius. Not a bell.

Gaius goes off that way. Margaret goes off the other way.

Terence and Prawny remain with the bikes.

Rrrr! Rrrr! Rrrr! 

Ding! 

What are those sounds? 

Wait here Prawny, says Terence. 

He leaves Prawny on his own and tiptoes to the reeds at the edge of a nearby pond.

Rustle rustle.

Splash!

Is Prawny about to become the main frog guy? 

Visions Of Dust

The superb parrot has gone.

Interesting take on the bell frogs, says Katherine.

Up themselves, says Gaius. Who would have thought?

I suppose they have been given special treatment, says Margaret.

I'm sure parrots exaggerate sometimes, says Minnie.

What's exaggerate? asks Terence.

Making something sound worse than it is, says Margaret.

Or better, says Katherine.

Parrots don't do that, says Terence.

Not your parrots, says Gaius. They have, in the main, been reliable.

Like Arthur, says Katherine.

Yes like Arthur, says Gaius.

Who's Arthur? asks Prawny.

A guy we know, says Terence. He gets things.

He obtains things, says Gaius. Things I've forgotten.

But he's not with us at present, says Katherine. 

Maybe Prawny can get things, says Terence.

Prawny wonders what things.

They would need to be small things.

What are everyone's plans for this afternoon? asks Minnie.

I should like to visit Mawson Ponds, says Gaius. Can you give me an idea of the distance?

Not far at all, says Minnie. Mawson is right next to Chifley.

Within walking distance? asks Gaius.

Yes, says Minnie. Or you could borrow my bike.

Have you got two bikes? asks Margaret. Because I'll be going with him.

Curses. Gaius hopes there is only one bike. 

But then Margaret would probably have it, and be first to arrive at the Ponds.

Yes, says Minnie. Two bikes.

So that's that, then.

What about you Katherine? asks Minnie. 

I thought I'd do some sight-seeing, says Katherine. It's ages since I was last here.

I'll come with you, says Minnie. We'll go to the War Memorial first.

The War Memorial!

Katherine has visions of khaki, artillery, and dust.

Uh Cu Su

 Minnie returns with a protein ball, covered in seeds.

That looks tempting, says the superb parrot.

Help yourself, says Minnie.

What can Prawny have? asks Terence.

I'm not hungry says Prawny.

If you eat a protein ball you cannot but bounce, says Margaret.

He's too small to eat a protein ball, says Katherine.

I'm not serious, says Margaret.

What's a bounce? asks Prawny.

It's when you go boing! says Terence.

That is not the full explanation, says Gaius. To bounce is to move up, back or away after hitting a surface.

That's what I want to do, says Prawny.

The superb parrot gives Prawny a seed.

Now what?

Prawny has a seed in his mouth hole.

But he is not bouncing up or away from the table.

What's the trouble? asks Terence.

Uh cu su, mumbles Prawny.

He can't say, says Gaius. But my guess is that he was expecting to bounce right away.

Gaius lifts Prawny and lets him drop to the table.

Boing!

Prawny bounces a little.

Whether he would have bounced anyway, is debatable.

Yay! says Terence. You bounced! Was it like flying?

I think so, says Prawny, having spat out his seed on the way

Wonderful, says Gaius. 

Well, I must be going, says the superb parrot. Thanks for the snack, lady.

You're welcome, says Minnie.

Perhaps we'll see you again, says Gaius. We're here to check on the green and golden bell frogs.

Them! says the superb parrot.

You know them? asks Gaius.

The ones at Mawson Ponds? asks the superb parrot.

Yes, I believe that's where they were released, says Gaius.

With their fancy spa, and so on? asks the superb parrot.

It appears you know them, says Gaius. 

Oh yes, says the superb parrot. You'll find them somewhat up themselves. Don't tell them I said so.

He heads for the door.

As The Wind Blows

Minnie does not look at her red-spotted windows.

She is looking at Prawny, on her doorstep.

So is Terence.

Can you fly now? asks Terence.

Only downwards, says Prawny.

And sideways, says the superb parrot. As the wind blows.

Do the wings help? asks Minnie.

Yes, says Prawny.

Come inside, and show the others, says Minnie.

Prawny? says Terence.

What? asks Prawny.

Do I have to pick you up or can you fly in sideways? asks Terence.

Pick me up, says Prawny. There's no wind in here.

Terence lifts Prawny and carries him to the dining room table where the others are eating their lunch.

The superb parrot makes his own way to the table.

They're back, says Minnie.

Prawny looks different, says Katherine.

It's the wings, says Margaret.

Feathers, says Gaius. 

You're right, says the superb parrot. These are baby feathers from my eldest, who no longer requires them.

They're stuck in, says Prawny.

Woo! says Terence. What if they fall out?

You can stick thm back in, says the superb parrot. It's quite easy.

Can we see how they work? asks Katherine.

Okay, says Prawny. Put me down on the table.

Terence puts him down on the table.

Prawny launches himself ...

And flutters gently to the floor.

Well done, Prawny, says Gaius.

Thanks, says Prawny. But I can't fly up again.

Can he have another lesson? asks Terence.

No, I've done all I can do, says the superb parrot.

Will you stay for a snack? asks Minnie.

What snacks do you have? asks the superb parrot.

I have protein balls somewhere, says Minnie. 

I'll try a peck, says the superb parrot.

Minnie goes off to find her protein balls.

Did Prawny teach you how to play Cannot But Be? asks Terence.

I think so, says the superb parrot.

Go on then, says Terence.

What if you eat a protein ball? asks the superb parrot.

I don't know, says Terence. 

Cannot but bounce! says the superb parrot.

Everyone is impressed by the degree of sophistication, shown by a beginner. 

Prawny With Wings

Back at number twenty seven, they are all having lunch.

Except Terence, who is trying to pop the top of his berry flavoured Sports Drink.

Delicious rolls, Minnie, says Katherine. What sort of ham is it?

Champagne ham, says Minnie.

Very nice cheese, too, says Gaius. 

Have you tried the brie? asks Minnie.

No, just the cheddar, says Gaius.

I'll try your brie, says Margaret.

She sticks a knife into the brie. Cuts a triangle. Soft fat brie bulges out.

Mmm, says Margaret.

So the lunch is going well. 

But Terence is not used to a sports drink with a sipper.

He has popped it. 

And sucked it. 

Which is boring.

And is now squirting the red drink straight into his mouth.

That is more fun.

He holds the top further away from his mouth.

Squirt. Oops. He has missed his mouth and squirted Minnie's curtains.

Luckily no one has noticed.

He goes across to the curtains,which now have a red stripe.

He rearranges the curtains.

Bumhole! There are also red spots on the window.

And on the other side of the window, a bright grass green parrot with a yellow forehead and throat, and a red crescent between the throat and the belly. The superb parrot!

With a prawn in its mouth, which looks like Prawny.

Prawny with wings.

Terence makes a sign to the superb parrot and Prawny, not to mention the red spots and red stripe on the curtains, when they come in.

It is unclear whether they have understood it.

The parrot and Prawny are here! says Terence.

Minnie goes to the door.

Opens it.

You found us, says Minnie.

The superb parrot drops Prawny in order to answer.

Prawny floats to the ground.

You gave us good instructions, says the superb parrot. May we come in?

Of course, says Minnie. 

By the way, says the superb parrot, do you need someone to clean your windows?

No, says Minnie. I clean them myself, every spring.

Spring is a long time off, says the superb parrot.

That's good, says Terence. 

Flying Lessons Plus

The superb parrot carries Prawny back to his tree hole.

This is nice, says Prawny.

I like to think so, says the superb parrot.

Will you teach me to fly? asks Prawny.

After you teach me how to play Cannot But Be, says the superb parrot.

Flying lesson first, says Prawny.

No, says the superb parrot. You may not survive a flying lesson.

Why not? asks Prawny.  Aren't there safety provisions?

No, says the superb parrot. It's basically standing on the edge of the hole and launching yourself.

How is that even a lesson? asks Prawny.

It works for our babies, says the superb parrot.

Because they have baby wings, says Prawny. 

Now you see why I want my lesson first, says the superb parrot.

How about this? says Prawny. I give you half a lesson, then jump.

When do I get the other half of the lesson? asks the superb parrot.

When you catch me, says Prawny.

Unless you've flown off, says the superb parrot.

We'll have to trust one another, says Prawny.

The superb parrot agrees to trust Prawny.

He places Prawny on the edge of the tree hole.

First half, says Prawny. What if there are bees in the branches?

Is that it? asks the superb parrot. What do I do?

You think of an answer, says Prawny. But first you go down there and catch me.

The superb parrot flies down, and waits to catch Prawny.

Meanwhile thinking: This is an incomprehensible game.

But then thinking: But wait, it's called Cannot But Be.

And finally: So that might be the answer.

Prawny launches himself from the edge of the hole.

The wind takes him, and he lands gently not far from the superb parrot.

Sorry, says the superb parrot. I wasn't watching. Could the answer be Cannot But Be?

That is an unimaginative answer, says Prawny. A better answer would be Cannot But Bees in the Branches.

That's almost as unimaginative, says the superb parrot.

Prawny has to admit that it is.

The thing is, I was nervous, says Prawny.

You did well with the flying, though, says the superb parrot.