The Ins And Outs Of Liability

Surfing-With-Whales has retreived the paddle board, and the pieces of broken paddle.

Everyone is back on shore, surveying the damage..

Who's going to pay for this? says Surfing-With-Whales, pointing at the paddle.

Not me, says Farky. I'm the victim here. I almost lost a leg!

Yes, says Belle et Bonne. You're the victim. And being a dog, you won't have any money.

She looks at Sweezus, pointedly.

What? says Sweezus.

You know, says Belle et Bonne. You put Farky on that paddle board and sent him out.

That makes me liable? says Sweezus. Old Nick's the one that broke it.

But he's a fish, says Gaius.

You might say it was an act of god, says Freud.

That's odd coming from you, Professor Freud, says Midge.

I'm not saying that it was an act of god, my dear young lady, says Professor Freud. I'm just saying you could say that's what it was.

Too freakin' bad it wasn't insured then, says Surfing-With-Whales.

Everyone looks glum.

Sweezus knows deep down that he is liable. Luckily his birthday's coming up.

..........

Back in Blaxland it is Mrs Hume and Arthur's last day before going home.

They take the children to Lollipops, as a treat.

It costs a bit to go to Lollipops, but the children like it. Mrs Hume pays the money and they go inside.

The rule in Lollipops is that children must keep their socks on.

Butterfly and Fish take off their shoes and disappear behind the giant slides.

Arthur and Mrs Hume sit at a wooden table, drinking their complimentary coffee.

Home tomorrow, Arthur, says Mrs Hume. Thank god for that.

A couple of people might be coming with us, says Arthur.

As long as it's not the children, says Mrs Hume. Dear me, they are a pair.

No, says Arthur, not the children. It's Bunny Moon and her father Pastor Moon.

Well I never, says Mrs Hume. A pastor. Let him just watch out that's all. I have no truck with pastors, misguided fools.

Arthur likes the sound of this but suddenly all juicy thoughts of future ontological debates desert him.

Fish and Butterfly have taken off their socks.

Deal with it, Arthur, says Mrs Hume. I haven't got the energy today.

Arthur gets up and walks over to the sockless children.

Put on your socks, you little monkeys, says Arthur, or we're going.

Hee hee, laugh the children, as they run away.