Yes And No And Now No

Under the shimmering canopy, on the beach, drinks are flowing.

Some people have put their drinks down.

And then they have forgotten where they put them.

And some drinks are red.

Terence has drained every one of them.

So Terence is as happy as the grownups.

I used to live in a palace, says Terence to Markus.

O ho ho ho, says Markus. What palace was that?

Let me guess, says Chad. A cathedral?

Yes and no, says Terence. And now no. I live in nowhere.

You can't live in nowhere, says Tamer.

We do, says Engin. At the moment.

Very existential, says Chad. To live in nowhere. Do you like philosophy, little fellow?

Yes, says Terence. My Grandpa invented philosophy.

O really? says Fynbo. Who is your grandpa?

Grandpa Marx, says Terence. And Pablo invented it too.

Pablo?

When his dog died.

Ah, Pablo Neruda.

And I know a poem. says Terence. I made it up.

Is it a sad one?  asks Fynbo.

No, happy, says Terence. It goes:

My bird died
I buried it under a bucket
And it's not going anywhere.

Everyone laughs. Then everyone is silent.

Not because they are thinking of the post-life implications of Terence's poem, or why it is happy.

But because it is time for the awards presentation.

Mr Thomas Hume is getting one, for Sales Company of the Year, (Australia and New Zealand).

Which is why he is here.

Terence wanders away from the canopy. He feels a bit wooshy.

Slurp slurp, something inside his belly is moving

He heads into the darkness. Vomits. Sits down nearby.

A snake careers past him, turns sharply and stops.

Ho! says Mastigo (for it is he). Have you seen Tangerine?

Terence thinks that would make a good poem.

He tries to think of an answer.

I haven't seen Tangerine.

Then where is she? continues Mastigo. I'm a snake with a confession to make.

Terence likes poetry. And that was a good poem. But he needs to be moving.

The sand is sticky and smelly and red.

Let's go, says Terence. Kobo will know.

Good rhyming, says Mastigo. Four, including the double.

If Terence hadn't realised it before, he realises it now.

Mastigo's a smart arse.