The Art Of Manipulation

Brummm. Katherine lies in bed, dreaming.

She's in Butterfly's room, playing with Butterfly and Fish, and multiple Barbies.

This one's a prince, says Butterfly. And this one's a baddie.

Why can't Ken be the prince? asks Katherine.

Fish brandishes Ken, with his shorts down.

No, says Butterfly. Ken's going camping with Barbie.

Here comes the beautiful baddie. She tries to get off with Ken.

Enter Prince Barbie, in a shiny blue suit with red sleeves.

Prince Barbie struggles with the beautiful baddie. The beautiful baddie goes down..

An arrow straight to the heart, says Butterfly, matter-of-factly.

Katherine is impressed with her grand daughter.

..........

Later that morning, at the Velosophy office...

Katherine enters.

Mother, says David. You're back. How was it?

Delightful, says Katherine. You really ought to have come.

Too much on, regrettably, says David. Otherwise I would have loved to.

Yes, yes, too much on, says Vello. The Richie Porte story went viral. Hello Katherine!

Hello Vello, says Katherine. I'm returning your book.

What book? says Vello. Paris Spleen? Looks like the cat got it.

Not the cat, says Katherine. Olive Python. She devoured it.

Glad somebody liked it, says David.

Vello is offended. A snake eats his book. No one cares.

........

Olive Python and and Charles Red-belly are now an item.

You could say that they are engaged.

Who would have thought? says Charles Red-belly.

I would, says Olive.

We must never part, says Charles.

You must come with me, says Olive.

So it is decided. They will travel to the Pilbara together.

Habitat be damned, thinks Charles Red-belly.

He will die there, thinks Olive.

How well she's absorbed Beaudelaire.