Absinthe and Sugar

Paul Verlaine was in his cabin sulking. He was on his third glass of absinthe and sugar. The green fairy had him in her power.

Mathilde had only had one glass of absinthe. She put down her glass and looked out of the window, at the door to the manager's office.

She saw Arthur ride up and stop.

I'm just going out for some milk, she told Paul. Please don't drink any more while I'm gone.

Armrrr, growled Paul. Arrmmmrrrr.

He picked up a pen and tried to smooth out a piece of crumpled notepaper on which he had been attempting a poem.

Arthur, O, Arthur, went the poem.

It was not yet a very good poem.

Mathilde arrived at the door of the office and listened.

Arthur was being handed a bucket. He took it, and turned. It was certainly him.

He.

Mathilde ducked behind the door, as Arthur came out with the bucket.

Guess what? said Arthur, to the wire basket on the back of his bike.

What? asked the wire basket, or so it seemed to Mathilde.

We're going fosseeking! said Arthur. For free!

Yippee! said the wire basket happily.

Arthur rode off down the track.

I must give up drinking absinthe, said Mathilde. I'm starting to hear things after only one glass.

She walked back to the cabin.

Paul Verlaine was not there.

Which was, in a way, lucky, because she'd forgotten the milk.