The Sisterhood Is Strong

Arthur has two gold coins, a knife and a dirty bandage in his pocket. And a hole.

Rosie has a needle and thread, but she can't sew.

What is this, a riddle?

Vello thinks so.

Why carry a needle and thread, Rosie, if you can't sew? asks Vello.

I ...make necklaces, says Rosie.

This too is a lie. Belle et Bonne suspects it right away.

If Rosie made necklaces she would wear one, and she doesn't.

But the sisterhood is strong.

Arthur, says Belle et Bonne. I'm sure you could mend the hole yourself. Remember when we fixed up Ageless's costume?

With toothpicks and glue, says Arthur. Yes I do. Has anyone got a toothpick?

Of course no one has a toothpick. Arthur turns to Rosie.

What colour is your thread? asks Arthur.

Red, says Rosie. Always red. My thread.

Red thread, says Arthur. I'd like to use it. Give me a minute.

He takes the knife out of his pocket. He cuts several holes either side of the slit in his pocket. He threads the red thread criss-cross through the holes and observes his handiwork. The space around the holes is wide enough for a gold coin to fall out. He pulls bits of bandage through for extra  security.

That looks awful, Arthur, says Belle et Bonne. So untidy.

It'll keep things in, says Arthur.

Are those the shorts my mother gave you ? asks David. She'd be thrilled.

They look all right, says Arthur. From this angle. It's debatable, what things look like. Rosie and I were talking about it earlier.

What? says David.

Say you saw something beautiful on the pavement..... begins Arthur.

Like a yellow leaf, with a little brown tip, says Belle et Bonne. I know. It happens all the time. At first you think it's a chicken.

A chicken? says David. Sounds more like a canary.

All right, a canary, says Belle et Bonne.

Hee hee, says Vello. Anyone for another drink?

I'll get it, says the playwright, David Leddy. He gets up and goes over to the bar. He likes these people. It might be worth staying at the World's End a little longer.