Tiny Black Eye

Terence is looking for crickets.

And not finding any.

Gaius is wafting Prawny's tail in the air.

The two bell frogs are watching.

No damselflies are so far attracted.

We'd do better to catch them ourselves, says the one who didn't eat Prawny.

We can't catch our own reward, says the neighbour.

I guess not, says the one who didn't eat Prawny.

A damselfly zooms past.

There's one ! says the neighbour.

I saw it, says Gaius. But it doesn't seem interested in the prawn tail.

They prefer living things, says the one that didn't eat Prawny.

Yeah, says the neighbour. Try the crickets. They'll eat anything.

Will they? asks the one who didn't eat Prawny.

Anything, says the neighbour. Decaying matter, dead insects. You name it.

That's disgusting. Forget the crickets, says the one who didn't eat Prawny.

Terence! calls Gaius. Stop looking for crickets.

I've stopped, says Terence.

The damselfly zooms back and forth over the pond. 

Snaps up a mosquito. 

And zooms away.

You've got to be quick, says the neighbour.

So it would seem, says Gaius. Therefore I wonder if you would reconsider accepting the soft parts of a prawn.

No, we wouldn't, says the neighbour.

What if it isn't Prawny? asks Terence. 

Who is it? asks the one who didn't eat Prawny.

Another prawn, says Gaius. It should arrive soon. Our colleague has gone to get it.

Hmm, says the neighbour.

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

Think about it, says Gaius. 

They're coming! cries Terence.

He has heard Margaret approaching.

Success! says Margaret, handing Prawny to Terence and a paper-wrapped object to Gaius.

Gaius unwraps the object, which is a cooked prawn with no head or tail, and one black eye dot.

Well done, says Gaius. It looks just like Prawny, however unneccesary that has become.

What are you talking about? says Margaret.

The bell frogs have thought better of consuming Prawny, says Gaius. They are just now considereing the merits or otherwise of eating the substitute prawn.

Let's see it, says the one who didn't eat Prawny.

The two bell frogs look at the substitute prawn.

It looks back at them sadly.

A tear forms in its tiny black eye.

Don't Give It A Mouth

YOU'LL be the snack of their choice! says Terence.

Me? says Prawny. I'm what they get to eat, for finding my tail?

No, that won't happen, says Gaius. We'll see to it. 

Good, says Prawny, because where would my tail go?

Is that all you care about? asks Marggret.

It'll go back on you, because I have a plan, says Terence.

What's the plan? asks Prawny.

We give them another prawn, instead of you, says Terence.

What if they only want me? asks Prawny.

We'll make the other prawn look like you, says Terence.

Okay, says Prawny. 

Right, says Gaius. We must do things in order. First, ask the bell frogs if they've found the tail, and if they have, claim it back.

Shouldn't we have the replacement prawn ready? asks Margaret.

Good thinking, says Gaius. But we don't wan't the frogs thinking we've given up and gone home.

I'll go and tell them, says Terence.

You and I will go, says Gaius. Meanwhile, Margaret, if she's willing, can take Prawny to the shops, buy a prawn, and meet us back here.

I suppose I could, says Margaret. Do you want me to do the prawn up like Prawny?

That would be ideal, says Gaius. But don't spend too long. It's only going to be eaten.

Don't give it a mouth, says Terence.

Wise suggestion, says Gaius.

Margaret and Prawny go off to look for a shop.

Gaius and Terence make their way round the pond to the black brick sauna.

The two green and golden bell frogs are on the bank, waiting, with Prawny's tail.

We found it, says the one who didn't eat Prawny.

We know, says Terence.

Now we'll be famous, says the neighbour.

And get the snack of our choice, says the one who didn't eat Prawny.

Yes, about that, says Gaius.

We were going to ask for Prawny's soft parts, says the neighbour.

But we thought it through, says the one who didn't eat Prawny.

And we'd rather have crickets or damselflies, says the neighbour.

I'm pleased to hear it, says Gaius.

So you need to get catching, says the neighbour.

Us? says Terence.

Who else? says Gaius. Terence, you look for crickets, and I'll try to catch a few damselflies. It would help if I had something with which to attract them.

Here, try this, says the one who didn't eat Prawny. 

He holds out the tail.

NOT A Good Deed

What happened? asks Terence.

I did a good deed, says Prawny.

Why? asks Terence.

Because I'm the second main frog guy, says Prawny

What was it? asks Gaius.

Stop asking questions and I'll tell you, says Prawny.

We're listening, says Margaret. It wasn't about the reward, was it?

No more questions, says Terence.

Sorry, says Margaret, but it's rather important.

He did say he didn't want to know, says Gaius.

Shut up everyone, says Terence.

At last they shut up. 

Prawny commences the tale of his tail.

Rosalie and me went to the far side of the pond (says Prawny). And she held me up, and I looked for the torch. And I spotted it under the water. It was ON! 

I didn't turn it on, says Terence.

Prawny ignores him.

And then I spotted my tail, says Prawny. So I told Rosalie.

Excellent news, says Gaius. But why didn't she give it to us before leaving?

Because of what happened! says Prawny.

Which was what? asks Terence.

Stop asking! says Prawny.

Sorry, says Terence.

Prawny continues. Umm, where was I?

You told Rosalie, says Margaret. What did she do? No. Forget I asked that.

Right, says Prawny. She put me down and went into the water. 

We thought so! says Terence.

Prawny frowns.

And she picked up the torch and my tail, continues Prawny. But THEN!

What? asks Terence.

I'm about to tell you, says Prawny.

Terence is quiet.

The green and golden bell frogs came out of their holes and started booing, says Prwany.

Why? asks Terence.

They said we'd cheated them out of their reward, says Prawny. And I said but it's my tail . And they said so what, they were the ones who were suposed to find it. So I said to Rosalie, drop it back in so they can find it.

And they said hurrah! Now we'll get the snack of our choice thanks to you.

That was NOT a good deed, says Terence.

Oh? Why not? asks Prawny.

Not Yet The Tail

Let's go! says Terence.

We should wait here for Rosalie to come back, says Gaius.

And Prawny, says Margaret. 

What if she puts Prawny down while she looks for her torch? says Terence.

She's unlikely to do that, says Gaius. She'll be needing his help.

But if Prawny spotted the torch then she might put him down, says Terence.

I suppose she might, says Gaius. But only while she steps into the water to pick up her torch.

What if she forgets him? says Terence.

Then the bell frogs will eat him, says Margaret.

I KNOW! says Terence. That's why I'm asking.

Rosalie has arrived at the far side of the pond and is visible.

She waves at Gaius, Margaret and Terence.

Look, says Margaret. Rosalie's waving!

Is she waving Prawny or a torch? asks Terence.

Prawny, says Margaret.

You have good eyesight, says Gaius.

I know, says Margaret. 

She's going in! cries Terence. Has she still got Prawny?

I think so, says Margaret. She's now bending down.

I hope that means she's found something, says Gaius.

Maybe Prawny's tail, says Terence. 

Rosalie is standing up now, waving something. 

It's her torch, says Gaius. 

Where's Prawny? asks Terence.

Perhaps in her other hand, says Margaret.

She's bending down again, says Terence. She must have dropped him.

Or she spotted his tail, says Gaius. 

That would mean Rosalie gets the reward, says Terence.

Better her than the frogs, says Margaret. Rosalie won't want to eat Prawny.

Rosalie has disappeared again.

She's returning, says Gaius.

All we can do is wait, says Margaret.

And find out what happened, says Terence.

Not long now, says Gaius. I near footsteps.

Rosalie appears on the track, waving her torch.

Found it! says Rosalie.

Where's Prawny! asks Terence.

Here, says Rosalie. Now I really must get going, my lunch hour is well and truly over. Prawny can tell you what happened.

She hands Prawny to Terence.

But not Prawny's tail.

The Problem Is What It Is

Margaret goes back to the others.

Did you find it? asks Rosalie.

Not yet, says Margaret. I came back with bad news.

What? asks Terence.

You may not want to hear this, says Margaret.

We do, says Gaius. 

I don't, says Prawny. 

I do, says Terence. But Prawny doesn't. 

I'll take Prawny away, says Rosalie. 

Where will you take me? asks Prawny.

A quick dash to the other side of the pond, says Rosalie. I might spot my torch in the water.

I'll help you, says Prawny. 

He's good at looking, says Terence. 

With one eye? says Rosalie.

If you point him where he's supposed to be looking, says Terence.

Okay, says Rosalie.

She picks up Prawny and hurries away.

Now tell us the bad news, says Gaius.

 I heard the bell frogs discussing their snack, says Margaret.

The snack of their choice? says Gaius. Was it something that would be hard to find?

On the contrary, says Margaret.

That would be hard to find, says Terence.

What on earth are you talking about? says Margaret.

A contrary, says Terence.

Contrary means the opposite, says Gaius. Therefore something easy to find. So what's the problem?

The problem is what it is, says Margaret.

And what is it? asks Gaius. 

Prawny's soft parts! says Margaret.

They want to eat Prawny? says Terence. 

They intend to claim his soft parts as a reward, says Margaret.

Surely not, says Gaius. Have they not thought it through?

Perhaps they have, by now, says Margaret. But I thought I should tell you.

Indeed, says Gaius. It's best if we're prepared.

Wait, says Terence. They can't eat Prawny because there'd be nothing to glue his tail to.

Even Terence can think this through, says Gaius.

And I know what we can do, says Terence.

Tell us, says Gaius.

Give them another prawn and tell them it's Prawny, says Terence.

That is a clever solution, says Gaius. How would they know the difference?

Only that Prawny can speak and has feelings, says Margaret. And has two identifying holes in his sides where the feathers were.

Well yes, admittedly, those could be problems.

Soft Parts

You should get out of our water, says the bell frog who didn't eat Prawny.

We're going, says Terence.

Yes, we're going, says Gaius. Then you can start searching.

He carries Terence back to the edge of the pond, and deposits him there.

Where's my torch? asks Rosalie.

Terence has it, says Gaius.

I haven't, says Terence.

I hope you didn't drop it in the water, says Rosalie.

Me too, says Terence. But if I did, the bell frogs will find it.

Indeed they will, says Gaius. They will be searching for Prawny's tail and no doubt stumble across it.

Why are they searching for my tail? asks Prawny.

I must apologise, says Gaius. I might have lost it.

We think it fell into the water, says Terence. And guess what?

What? asks Prawny. 

They get a reward if they find it, says Terence. A snack of their choice.

I really can't wait any longer, says Rosalie. I'm on a late lunch break.

Why don't you wade ito the water and look for it yourself, says Margaret. That's what I'd do.

We aren't supposed to interfere with the bell frogs, says Rosalie.

Nonsense, says Margaret. I'll go, then. 

She steps into the pond.

She sees the two green and golden bell frogs splashing about on the far side, in front of the sauna.

She stops. They don't look like they're searching.

She moves closer. Hears them talking.

Famous! says the one who didn't eat Prawny. Woohoo!

Aren't we already famous? says the neighbour.

Only as a group, says the one who didn't eat Prawny. This would be just US!

They might make a video of us doing it, says the neighbour.

How? asks the one who didn't eat Prawny.

We could do a reenactment, says the neighbour.

Yes, says the one who didn't eat Prawny. And then eat our snack.

What snack will we choose? asks the neighbour.

The prawn's tail might be nice, says the one who didn't eat Prawny.

So how come you didn't eat it when you had the chance? asks the neighbour.

I tried, but I was choking on feathers, says the one who didn't eat Prawny.

We can't ask for the tail as our snack, says the neighbour. It's what were supposed to be finding.

I guess not, says the one who didn't eat Prawny.

We could ask for the soft parts, says the neighbour.

They start laughing Rr! Rr! Hey! Hey!

And dive down to start looking.

Margaret is torn between two imperatives.

Finding Rosalie's torch, and going back to tell the others what might happen to Prawny's soft parts.

Reward For Who

Greetings! says Gaius. Thank you, bell frogs, for showing your faces.

Thank you, says Terence. 

Like we had a choice, says the green and golden bell frog who didn't eat Prawny.

I had a choice, says the neighbour. 

Yes, you did, says the green and golden bell frog that didn't eat Prawny.

We didn't even know you were there, says Terence.

Yes you did, says the one who didn't eat Prawny. 

He means me, says the neigbour.

As a matter of fact we did know, says Gaius. 

Did we? asks Terence.

You didn't, says Gaius. But Margaret spotted a second bell frog knocking.

Was that you knocking? asks the green and golden bell frog.

Yes it was me, says his neighbour. 

What did you want? asks the green and golden bell frog.

I thought I heard choking, says his neighbour. 

It was a prawn, says the bell frog that didn't eat Prawny. Would you believe it had feathers?

No, I wouldnt, says the neighbour.

It did, says Gaius. Allow me to show you.

He takes two bedraggled feathers from his shorts pocket.

That proves nothing, says the neighbour.

Point taken, says Gaius.

I recognise those feathers, says the one who didn't eat Prawny. What happened to the tail?

I have the tail too, says Gaius. I'm intending to replace it later on.

He tries to find Prawny's tail in his pocket, but it's awkward, as he's still holding Terence.

Give it to me, says Terence. I'll show them.

I can't find it, says Gaius. Maybe it's stuck to the feathers.

He hands Terence the feathers.

But nothing appears to be stuck to the feathers.

Let us look, says the one who didn't eat Prawny.

Okay, says Terence. 

He reaches forward and gives each frog a feather.

The frogs comb through the feathers.

But no prawn tail is found.

It may have fallen into the water, says Gaius.

Yikes! says Terence. Prawny wants his tail back.

He shouldn't have lost it, says the one who didn't eat Prawny.

Right, says Terence. There's a reward for who finds it!

What a good idea, says Gaius. 

What's the reward? asks the neighbour.

You get famous, says Terence. 

Plus a snack of your choice, says Gaius.

The two bell frogs look at one another.

Rr! You're on! croak the bell frogs.