Trials Of A Morning Person

Twelve midday.

Sweezus and Arthur are at Xiringuito Escribà, waiting for paella.

Sweezus looks at his Fitbit. Gets up. Walks round the chair.

You don't have to do what it tells you, says Arthur.

What's the point then? says Sweezus.

That is the point, says Arthur.

Brrp! Sweezus has a message, from Ying. And a photo.

Cool! says Sweezus. She bought Terence a new tee shirt. What's it say? I'm a morning person?

He shows Arthur, who is of the opinion that it says 'I'm not a morning person'.

.........

Gaius and Kong have checked into their room at Ibis Barcelona Centro.

Aah, says Kong, lying down on the bed with his feet up.

Don't get too comfy, says Gaius. There's work to do.

Is there? asks Kong. Can't I relax for a minute?

I'd find it hard to write notes lying down, says Gaius.

You're not lying down, says Kong.

You write the notes, says Gaius. I'll dictate them.

Kong sits up.

You're the dictator, says Kong.

Indeed, says Gaius. Write down TO DO, as a heading.

TO DO, writes Kong, in large letters.

One. Leave for Tenerife in the morning, says Gaius.

After breakfast, says Kong. Breakfast should be number one. There's a buffet.

As you like, says Gaius. Number one. Arthur would have used his initiative.

Don't compare me to Arthur, says Kong. We're very different. For one thing, I'm here and he isn't.

Knock! A knock on the door.

It's Ying.

Hello guys, says Ying. Are you ready for a fashion show?

It is the last thing they are ready for.

Come in, Terence, says Ying.

Terence comes in, in his new tee shirt. A morning person.

But Terence can't read very well.

'I'm not a morning person', reads Gaius. Oh, that's good. Ha ha. Not a morning person. And what's that he's doing?

Brushing his teeth, says Terence.

Eating corn flakes, says Kong.

See, says Baby Pierre. I told you. He's not brushing.

And I TOLD YOU, says Ying crossly, it doesn't MATTER.

Terence scowls, and rips off his tee shirt.

He looks hard at the picture. The character is wearing a mask. He is brushing his teeth with a spoon over a bowl of cornflakes. As for the writing.....

What does that say? asks Terence.

Not, says Kong.

Not, says Baby Pierre.

'Tis better betimes to be morning person, says Daniel O'Connell. But 'tis true, to be sure, you are only a morning person in the morning. Tiddly dee.

What? says Terence.

Good, says Ying. Everyone else can just get on with what they were doing.

Right, says Gaius. Three. Make a list of likely habitats for Macaroeris nidicolens. Leave a space for that, Kong. Four........