Carelessness Can Be So Rewarding

Early evening.

Sweezus, Arthur and Terence are eating burgers in Peel Street.

They are sitting outside, because they've got Farky the dog.

How's it been, living with Belle? asks Sweezus.

Nice, says Terence, screwing his nose up.

What's that face for? says Sweezus.

Responsibility, says Terence, dropping a big chunk of burger onto the pavement.

Farky looks at it longingly.

What a good dog.

Arthur feeds Farky the burger.

Farky looks up for more.

I grew up without a father, says Terence.

No you didn't says Sweezus. What about Saint Joseph?

Belle says he was absent, says Terence. And I'm not responsible.

That's right, says Arthur. My father was absent.

What else has she told you? says Sweezus.

Be kind to others, says Terence.

Farky looks hopeful.

Do you want to know why? says Terence.

I already know why, says Sweezus. It's Game Theory.

Be kind to others? Wouldn't that lose you the game? says Arthur.

No, says Sweezus. Not necessarily. It lulls them. Then you move in for the kill.

Belle didn't say that, says Terence.

She wouldn't have, says Sweezus. But she'd lose the game.

Terence is happy to learn that life is not all that simple.

And that Belle would lose the game.

Farky edges across to nose under someone else's table for fragments of mushroom, which have dropped out of their Funghi Hot Dog.

Who needs kindness when carelessness can be so rewarding?


......


Belle is at the Cabaret Festival with Marie, drinking sparkling red wine.

The show they are seeing is called My Vagabond Boat.

The songs are about the sadness of displacement.

Hope and despair. They are also quite funny.

Nevertheless when the show is over there is a tear in Belle's eye and a corresponding one in her cousin's.

This calls for another glass of wine.

How hard would it be, says Marie, for this country to show some compassion?

Belle sighs. She can only agree.