A Space Is Punctuation

Lavender and Ouvert lie side by side in the Fossil Box of Reproachfulness.

Who will be the first one to speak?

Gaius has lowered his dinner tray. So has Margaret.

A few more seconds and Arthur will too.

It's time to stop sulking.

Arthur, says Lavender. May we have an adult conversation?

Yes, says Arthur. I don't mind.

He lifts Lavender out of the Fossil Box and lowers his dinner tray.

Ouvert squeaks foul.

Arthur lifts Ouvert out too.

Here comes Arthur's airline dinner, steaming in a foil tray. Mmm. Shepherd's pie.

Arthur.... says Lavender sweetly.

Yes? says Arthur, unwrapping his plastic cutlery.

YOU FORGOT US! shrieks Lavender.

YAAAH! screeches Ouvert. FORGOT US!

But you feel better now, says Arthur.

Strangely, they do.

What happened? says Lavender.

Shouting, says Arthur. It always makes you feel better.

Wup! says Ouvert. We should remember that, Lavender.

.........

Arthur has finished his dinner and put up the tray. He is reading.

What are you reading? says Lavender.

Richie Porte's notes, says Arthur. He's written an article for Velosophy.

Read it, says Lavender. I love stories.

I love Richie Porte, says Ouvert.

All right, says Arthur. Tell me if you think it's philosophy.

I do, says Ouvert.

He hasn't started, says Lavender.

Either it is or it isn't, says Ouvert. Irrespective of whether he's started.

Irrespective! snorts Lavender. Ouvert, now you're being pretentious!.

Arthur starts reading:

......me and sikong shu catch up with arthur at the locator beacon he's talking to 2 butterfly breeders they have cold pigs ears in sauce and arthur's recharging his phone. it's like nothing happened but something has happened the continuity is broken and we ride back to beijing .....

Arthur, says Lavender, why are you reading like that without stopping?

There's no punctuation, says Arthur. And I don't have a pencil.

What's punctuation? says Lavender.

Pha ha ha ha! squawks Ouvert. Lavender doesn't know punctuation!

Why should I? says Lavender. I'm a space in the shape of an auger.

HA! says Ouvert. A space is punctuation.

Is it?

Gaius, Margaret, Arthur, several adjacent passengers and two flight attendants all start to think about this.