The Fervent Wish Of The Catcher

Midge is reviewing Sweezus's nature photos.

She tries to be kind.

You nearly captured that egret, she says. And that's a great one of sand.

Yeah, says Sweezus. I feel heaps more confident with a camera between me and a bird.

You're so funny, says Belle. These photos are awful.

Yeah, well I got distracted, says Sweezus. Is Superman even a real person?

No, says Belle. He's a fictional character.

What's this about? asks Midge.

The question is, is Superman a philosopher? says Belle.

The question is, says Midge, what fool wants to know?

Me, says Sweezus. I have to pick his brains and get him to write something for Velosophy.

I don't think he rides a bike, says Belle. Was this dad's idea?

Yep, says Sweezus.

Well, I don't get it, says Belle. Oh, hang on a minute.....

She is about to say something which might have a bearing on Superman's identity.

But she is interrupted.

Arthur, Shu, Barbs and Terence have returned to the mudflats.

And someone is with them. Someone who no longer identifies as a Blue Swimmer Crab.

This someone is lagging behind.

Hurry up! says Terence. Or I'll put you on a LEAD.

You guys caught a crab! says Sweezus. A big one!

No, says Arthur. We're not calling it a crab. If it was a crab, we couldn't keep it.

That's correct, says Barbs. It identifies as a Rock Parrot Catcher.

Is that a thing? asks Belle. A Rock Parrot Catcher?

I've never heard of it, says Midge.

She leans down to get a closer look at the Rock Parrot Catcher.

Excuse me, says Terence. He's shy.

The Rock Parrot Catcher is not shy. He has a feeling that something is wrong with his new identity. He feels clammy inside.

If only he knew what his new role entailed.  He's okay with CATCHER. But... what's a Rock Parrot?

Maybe he's hungry, says Belle. He looks a bit peaky. What do they eat?

They eat small fish and crustaceans, molluscs, worms and occasionally algae and sea grass, says Midge.

He eats Rock Parrots, says Terence. That's why he should be on a lead.

The Rock Parrot Catcher hopes that soon someone will spot one.

He hopes further that he will catch it, before he is put on a lead.

Then he will EAT it, whatever it is.

Which will stop him feeling clammy inside.

This is the fervent wish of the Rock Parrot Catcher.

Will it be granted?

Will it.

......

Look, up in the sky!