Cycling and Recycling

Amy opens the door.

Hello, she says.

Can I have a drink of water? asks Sweezus.

Sure, says Amy. Come on in.

Sweezus goes inside and through to the patio at the back, where the women and children are eating sandwiches and cakes, and drinking fizzy drinks.

She let you in! says Mrs Hume, surprised.

Of course she did. Amy is kindhearted. She brings him water in a plastic cup.

He sits down between Mrs Hume and Auntie Val, and tries to look unobtrusive.

Conversations resume over his head. They are talking about an exercise bike.

How much did she pay for it? asks Auntie Val.

Three thousand dollars, says Mrs Hume.

Hmm, says Auntie Val. How much does she want?

A thousand four hundred says Mel, coming over.

Val's giving hers to Mick, says Mrs Hume. And she wants a better one.

What's it like? asks Auntie Val.

It's got screens, says Mel, and all these different settings. You can alter them without getting off. I don't use it any more.

I'll think about it, says Auntie Val.

The women play Baby Name Race, and Baby Bingo. They play Spit the Dummy and Scull The Baby Bottle.

They have forgotten Sweezus is there.

Now it is time to open the presents. Everyone crowds inside. There aren't enough seats. Auntie Val sits on Amy's exercise bike to watch, while Amy opens all her blue presents, helped by her sister. It takes a long time because there are a lot of presents. Just before the end Auntie Val gets off.

Oof! says Auntie Val.

Sweezus looks at the exercise bike. He thinks it would bamboozle Richard the Third.

Perhaps a normal bicycle would bamboozle him.

Sweezus thinks about the nature of the literary problem that is before him. Beyoncé wrote about cycling and recycling. She knows what they are, but Richard the Third does not.

If he could only.... connect!