Prelude To An Easter Picnic

Easter Sunday. Mrs Hume has planned an Easter picnic. Everyone is to meet at her house. Arthur is first to arrive.

Arthur! says Mrs Hume. How lovely to see you. But what has happened to your hair?

Eggs, says Arthur. And no one will lend me a comb.

Mrs Hume goes to her bathroom cupboard, and fetches a fine tooth comb.

Then she goes to her kitchen pantry and gets the vinegar bottle.

Next she finds a piece of clean white paper, and spreads it on the kitchen table.

Sit down, dear, and lean over this paper, says Mrs Hume. We'll soon get the little buggers out.

She rakes into Arthur's hair with gusto. Little white eggs drop softly onto the paper.

Ouch ! yells Arthur. Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!

......

Bunny arrives.

Arthur, says Bunny. You're back. Happy Easter. How was dad? Did he send me a message or anything?

No, says Arthur. I mean yes, he did send something.

What? asks Bunny.

Arthur sits up and takes an object from his pocket. It is wrapped in Humpty Dumpty paper, but it is flat on top, and dented at the sides. He hands it over to Bunny.

Eeuw! says Bunny. It's all warm from your leg. And what is it anyway? It's disgusting.

.......

Sweezus arrives.

Hello dear, says Mrs Hume. Belle et Bonne and Marie will be here soon. And I believe they're bringing everyone a present.

Cool, says Sweezus. Presents! And what's the picnic?

Roasted free range chicken, says Mrs Hume. And my special fizzy bean salad. Did you bring anything?

Arthur was bringing it, says Sweezus. A Humpty Dumpty egg. It's from both of us.

He's already produced it, says Mrs Hume. Well, never mind.

.......

David And Vello arrive, with several bottles.

Hello mother, says David, to Mrs Hume. How's the car?

Would you believe it? says Mrs Hume. I took it to the garage and they put some squeak remover on the brakes. It's perfect now.

Hello, hello, says Vello jovially. What's this here on the table?

Eggs, says Mrs Hume. Wrap them up now, Arthur. We don't want to get them mixed up with the picnic.

.......

Marie and Belle et Bonne arrive.

Darlings! says Vello.  At last you're back from Paris safe and sound. You'll never know how much we've missed you both. The office is a shambles. Have you ever heard of a character called Banksy?

Mr Drone! says Bunny, offended.

It's all very modern I know, says Vello, but....

Oh papa, says Belle et Bonne. Sit down and let Marie give out the presents.

Marie opens an enormous bag of gifts from Paris.

A moleskin diary each for David and Vello; books from Shakespeare and Company for Mrs Hume and Bunny; a fine black cashmere beret for Arthur; and.....

.........a giant box of macarons for Sweezus!

Everyone is happy.

Now for the Easter picnic. But alas, it's started raining.