Appetite Comes With Eating

There is nothing like eating tuna sandwiches on a boat to make you rethink your proclivities.

Now Sweezus feels like a prick.

So what if a dead sea dragon is easier to handle?

The sea dragon had one life and now Sweezus has snuffed it.

On the locker, Baby Pierre strokes the dead sea dragon.

Some red dye comes off on his finger.

He uses it to colour his drawing, so it looks true to life.

........

Gaius is spending the morning with Ted and Sylvia, under their awning.

When Sweezus returns from his sail, we must think of going, says Gaius.

Oh really? says Sylvia Plath. Do have a cookie.

What about me? asks Ted Hughes.

Here, says Sylvia Plath.

Gaius tries again. He is not good at hinting.

Of course normally, Arthur organises our travel arrangements, says Gaius.

Thanks, honey, says Ted Hughes, looking anything but thankful.

But Arthur had to leave early, says Gaius. It leaves us with a dilemma.

One of these days, Ted, says Sylvia, icily.

Ted chomps down hard on a cookie.

.........

The Georgette has been dragged up the boat ramp by the Dempsters and onto a vehicle.

Is this goodbye? says Mary-Emily.

I guess so, says Sweezus. Thanks for this morning.

We're heading back to Esperance shortly, says Andrew. Would you and your natural historian friend like a lift?

Yes we would, says Baby Pierre.

Ha ha, laughs Mary-Margaret. That's so cute. Baby Pierre, the natural historian!

Baby Pierre grits his teeth and closes the notebook, a little too early, causing smudging.

That would be awesome! says Sweezus. Thanks guys!

........

Afternoon.

The Dempsters, Sweezus, Gaius, Ageless, Baby Pierre, Kobo and Brianna are driving back towards Esperance, in the Dempsters' Toyota.

Gaius is in a good mood.

He is looking through the pages in his notebook that Baby Pierre has completed.

Nature is profligate, says Gaius. That's a good one.

Do you know what it means? asks Baby Pierre.

Certainly, says Gaius. Nature produces an excess of everything, because much will be wasted. Take sperm for example.

The male Dempsters shift in their seats.

.........

Evening. Arthur and Ferdy have arrived in the Perth CBD.

Well, this is it, says Ferdy. Where'll I drop you?

The Backpackers, says Arthur. No, not the Backpackers.

Where then? asks Ferdy.

Just let me off here, says Arthur.

Okay, says Ferdy. See you around, yeah?

Sure, says Arthur. Good bye.

You forgot this, says Ferdy, holding out the skewer-cum-prayer stick.

Thanks, says Arthur.

Ferdy drives off, and Arthur goes into a coffee shop, the Low Down, with the sea dragon's snout and black eyeball on the end of his skewer.

He sits down at a table, and twiddles the skewer.

Not having coffee? says someone.

I'm thinking, says Arthur.

Can I get you one? asks the person.

Sure, says Arthur. Cold drip, thanks.

The person raises his eyebrows and goes over to order.

He comes back with two muffins.

Shouldn't be eating this, says Aleksander. But appetite comes with eating.