Train Noise

On the train back to Sydney Central.

Terence is thinking about his surprise.

Unni had whispered something that sounded like sparky.

Sparky.

But it's a surprise. So he can't ask again.

Terence has no one to talk to, all the grown ups are talking.

How expensive it is living in Sydney, even in Redfern.

Who cares? Baldy wouldn't. Nor would Saint Roley.

The magpie glares at Terence, from the rim of Unni's back pack.

It's making a train noise.

Either that or it's really a train noise.

.....

On the train out to Redfern.

The same.

.......

At Unni's house in Redfern.

Get ready for a surprise, says Unni.

She opens the front door.

Sweezus wasn't expecting the surprise to be relevant.

But freaking shitbricks!

A dog bounds up. Farky!

Swooly! drools Farky.

It's drooling, says Arthur.

Yeah, he lost his omniscient teeth some time back, says Unni. I have to feed him on Kimchi.

But he's seeing a dentist.

......

Later.

Everyone has to eat Kimchi, which is all Unni's got. It's not dog food.

It's fermented cabbage.

.......

Terence is disgusted. There was no Sparky. Just dumb old Farky.

The magpie's eyes glitter with schadenfreude.

It hops up to Terence.

Enjoying the Kimchi?

It stinks, says Terence.

It's cabbage, says the magpie. I only eat worms. I think I can hear one in the garden.

Stupid magpie. There is no garden.

Terence follows the magpie out into the street.

Sweezus and Belle don't notice. They are making a big fuss of Farky.

Arthur notices, but continues eating the Kimchi. It's not bad. Cabbage, radish, scallions, garlic, chili and ginger. Washed down with Kombucha (fermented tea).

Unni is explaining her disruptive dice app.

Six sides, says Unni. Six perspectives. I'll demonstrate. Does anyone have to make a decision?

You do, says Arthur.