Airport Baby With Potential

Sydney Airport. Coffee Club.

How do we know the parent birds are dead? What proof have we? asks Dries.

I told you, says Unni. And Dad told me.

Did you see the bodies? asks Dries, who we will remember is a seasoned trauma counsellor.

No, says Unni. When I got the box back, it was empty.

But for the egg, says Dries.

No, the egg was in Dad's hand, says Unni.

I think, says Dries, that the Twenty Persons Committee has every right to ask for their money back.

Did you hear that? says Arthur.

Yes, says Pablo. They want their money back.

Without a death certificate, says Arthur.

All right, says Dries. Perhaps we can resolve this in some other way.

Arthur feels the egg trembling in his pocket.

I think it's hatching, says Arthur. He lifts it out, and places it on the table.

The egg trembles violently. It was nice in Arthur's pocket. It could feel Arthur's warm leg. And something that felt pleasantly soft and at the same time scratchy. And something else, that was sharp and pointy, and metallic. Of course, the egg would not have used these adjectives.

Look! says Unni. A little hole!

Of course, we've all seen a little hole appearing.

It's getting bigger!

Yes, we've all seen that before. Get to the last part.

They watch, and drink their coffee.

The egg cracks open and a little baby Bristlebird's beak pokes out.

No, not that part. The part when it emerges fully!

At last! Here it is, in its entirety!

Oh how cute! says Unni. I wonder if they'll let you take it on the plane.

Beep! Imagine you have just come out into the world expecting to be in an ovoid ground nest, somewhere in a forest, with a mummy and a daddy who look a lot like you except with better feathers, and who have brought you food.....

........and instead, what you are faced with is an existential question.

Will they let me on the plane?

The baby's little face falls. It looks at Arthur, with its newly opened eyes.

Arthur is not cold hearted. He dips his finger in his coffee and holds his wet finger to the baby's beak.

The baby sucks up his first taste of coffee.

Hic squaw wee!

Already with the language skills! It is obvious the baby has a great deal of potential.