Freedom And Why It's Lucky

Terence has marched onto the ferry.

No one has stopped him. Who would?

The Pesquet has perched on the railing.

Toot! Toot! The ferry departs for Las Palmas.

Nina waves. So does Feebee.

Goodbye!

Now, says Terence.

What? asks the Pesquet.

We're free, says Terence. Free to walk round the ferry.

You go, says the Pesquet. I'll stay here on the railing. I'm just getting my sea legs.

I want sea legs, says Terence.

You already have sea legs, says the Pesquet.

No, I don't, says Terence. What do they look like?

Legs, says the Pesquet. They help you to balance. But you can balance already.

Okay, says Terence. I believe you. You're the parrot.

Terence walks around a bit. Yes, he can already balance. He sticks his head through the railing.

Woo! Look at the sea. It's got white foamy bubbles. Hey! A piece of tinsel floats by.

Look, Pesky!

Tinsel, says the Pesquet. From somebody's Christmas.

Christmas! says Terence. Is it Christmas?

Not now, says the Pesquet. You missed it.

Terence looks glum. He missed it.

Never mind, says the Pesquet.

Did you get me a present? asks Terence.

Did you get me one? asks the Pesquet.

It's good to counter a question with a question.

Who normally gives you presents? asks the Pesquet.

Grandpa Marx, says Terence. Who gives you presents?

No one, says the Pesquet.

Now he is the one who looks glum.

Terence is not sympathetic.

He's going to walk right round the ferry.

If Pesky wants to come with him, he can.

Coming? says Terence.

They walk round the ferry.

They don't know how lucky they are.

This is why.

The Calima is coming. Dust from the Sahara blowing over towards Gran Canaria.

It's blowing right now.

Visibility is poor. Mother and Father Pesquet have dropped so far behind the earlier ferry that they are now flying low over this one.

On a clear day they would easily spot their son, Pesky, on the deck of the ferry.

Mother Pesquet squints down.

All she sees is the intermittent shape of a ferry, and behind, in its wake, on and off, the faint glimmer of tinsel.

That's why it's lucky.