Only Parts

Gaius and Margaret have had two cups of tea.

The frozen prawn has partly defrosted.

Can we go now? asks Terence.

Yes, says Gaius.

I'd like to come with you, says Katherine.

So would I, says Minnie. But I need to buy things for dinner. What would everyone like?

Tomato sauce, says Terence. And a red smoothie.

For me, anything without tomatoes, says Gaius.

Anything at all, says Katherine.

You, Margaret? asks Minnie.

Baked beans, says Margaret.

For goodness sake, says Minnie. We can do better than that. Why don't you come shopping with me?

Yes, why don't you, says Gaius.

All right, says Margaret.

Are we going now? asks Terence.

Yes, says Gaius, heading for the front door.

Don't forget the reward prawn, says Katherine.

Would you like something to put it in? asks Minnie.

More time is wasted, while Minnie looks for a small plastic container.

And more time, while she looks for a lid.

At last Gaius, Terence and Katherine are ready to go to Mawson Ponds.

Gaius leads the way on Minnie's bike.

Katherine cycles behind him on Minnie's second bike, the one Margaret used.

Terence is in the front basket.

This is fun, says Katherine. We're going to pay the ransom for a hostage.

Prawny wanted to be a hostage, says Terence.

That was brave of Prawny, says Katherine.

Yes, says Terence. Prawny is good. When he got his tail back the first time there was no video, and the frogs wanted one so they could be famous, so Prawny threw his tail back in. 

Meaning the video is fake, says Katherine.

No, says Terence. They really found it.

But it wasn't lost, says Katherine.

It could have been, says Terence. 

But it didn't need to have been, says Katherine.

When? asks Terence.

Fortunately, Katherine does not need to answer, because they are there.

Here we are, says Gaius. Leave the bikes, and we'll walk to the sauna.

Prawny will be happy! says Terence. 

So will the frogs, says Gaius.

But alas! the two bell frogs look anything but happy.

More like lugubrious.

A heap of grass stalks lies between them

covering something

 of which

can be seen 

only parts.

Beyond Impatient

It's a beautiful glass leaf, says Margaret.

And each one is different, says Katherine.

Yes, says Minnie. Katherine paid quite a bit for it.

I did, says Katherine. I must take care not to drop it.

You said it was for the fallen, says Terence. 

Indeed, says Gaius. There is something off with the concept.

I thought you once served as a soldier, says Katherine.

Long ago, says Gaius. In Germania. As a military tribune.

Woo! says Terence. Did you have a horse?

No, says Gaius.

I bet you did, says Terence. 

I didn't, says Gaius. Now, to more important things. Minnie do you by any chance keep frozen prawns in your freezer?

I may have a few, says Minnie. Are you thinking of replacing Prawny? Where is he?

Prawny remained at Mawson Ponds as a hostage, says Margaret.

Goodness me! says Minnie. 

What has happened? asks Katherine.

A long story, says Gaius. Prawny lost his tail in one of the brick holes that serve as a frog sauna. The tail fell into the pond and was retrieved by two bell frogs.

Gaius made a video, says Terence. 

Would you like to see it? asks Gaius.

Yes, says Katherine. 

Gaius takes out his phone and shows Katherine and Minnie the video.

What sweet frogs, says Minnie. I do like their speeches.

The video doesn't explain why Prawny remained as a hostage, says Katherine.

Ah, says Gaius. Terence promised them a reward.

Not another prawn surely! says Katherine.

Yes and no, says Gaius. 

They wanted to eat Prawny then they didn't, says Terence. Then Margaret went to buy a reward prawn. But a damselfly ate it. And now we need a new one.

In other words, another of your increasingly complex interventions, says Katherine.

Unusual things do tend to happen, says Gaius. But this can be easily sorted.

I'll see if I do have a prawn, says Minnie. I may well have. I like them with noodles.

She opens her freezer, and yes! There are several frozen prawns in a packet.

We just need one, says Terence. Now we can give the frogs their reward and get Prawny back.

Excellent, says Gaius. We'll go there at once,

Have a cup of tea first, says Minnie. 

Thank you, says Gaius.

So they stop for a cup of tea first.

Terence imagines Prawny becoming impatient.

But Prawny, as we know, is beyond that.

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.