Butterfly Teaches Fish A Lesson

Mrs Hume is playing Matching Pairs with Butterfly.

Butterfly is good at Matching Pairs and Mrs Hume is not, for some reason.

Fish comes up to the table. He wants to play as well.

After several tries, Fish finds two lions. He is disappointed.

I don't like lions, says Fish.

Butterfly has found four whales, two dogs and two ducks. Mrs Hume has found a pair of cats.

Fish is not happy with how the game is going.

I'm goin' to wreck it now, says Fish.

No, don't wreck it, we're still playing, says Butterfly.

Yes, Fish, don't, says Mrs Hume.

Fish gets down from the table, sweeping the remaining cards on to the floor.

Fish! says Butterfly.

Fish! says Mrs Hume.

I don't want to play it any more, says Fish.

Fish, says Butterfly, it's not nice to wreck other people's things.

Fish looks at the floor, waiting to find out what will happen next.

Look, says Butterfly, I'll show you what it's like when someone wrecks your things.

She takes a drawing from the sideboard, one she drew with care and pride the day before.

Pretend it's yours, says Butterfly.

Fish  knows the drawing is his sister's. He weighs up the advantage to himself of taking part in the pretence.

Butterfly takes a green crayon and scribbles violently on her drawing.

Fish looks on impassively.

See? says Butterfly. You don't like it do you. I'm doing it to show you what it feels like.

Fish knows he must do something.

He screws up the wrecked drawing and throws it on the floor.

I don't care, says Fish, disappearing round the corner to watch tv with Arthur.

Butterfly, says Mrs Hume, that was a brilliant lesson you just taught your brother.

Butterfly looks pleased.