Crossings On Humid Nights

On the Emirates flight from Paris to Dubai, Gaius sits next to Terence. Humboldt sits next to Saint Roley.

Gaius, having known Terence longer, thinks this arrangement is best.

The plane speeds though the air.

Terence has a window seat.

Outside, there are puffy white clouds, the same colour as Grandpa Marx's hair.

And marshmallows. But only the white ones.

Terence wriggles his toes, in his snake socks.

Gaius glances sideways, at Terence wriggling his toes.

Wisely he says nothing. He takes out his notebook.

He looks forward to Adelaide and the set of sharpened pencils that Belle will have ordered.

For now, he will bone up on the bandy bandy.

The bandy bandy has forty eight or more black and white rings which fully encircle its body.

How fascinating. Forty eight or more. He would like to discuss this with someone, but not Terence.

What? says Terence, seeing Gaius is frowning.

Nothing, says Gaius.

I'm bored, says Terence. Read to me what you're reading.

I'd rather not, says Gaius.

Can I go for a walk? asks Terence. I need to stretch my marshmallows.

NO! says Gaius. Sit still. I'll read you something. Listen quietly.

Hmm hmm....not that.... hmm hmm.... how about this, this is interesting:

Bandy bandys are sometimes seen crossing roads on humid nights.

Why? asks Terence.

Indeed, says Gaius. The question is threefold.

Terence knows about threefold. His disfunctional family was threefold, when he had it.

He waits.

Threefold, says Gaius. Think hard. List me three questions.

Which one is Saint Joseph? says Terence.

That is completely irrelevant, says Gaius, I'm surprised you came up with it. Think again. Questions about crossing roads on humid nights. Three questions.

Why? Why? Why? says Terence.

Three actual questions, says Gaius. Why the road? Why at night? Why humid?

Terence sees the problem. Gaius wasn't listening.

Because that's where they saw them, says Terence.

Who saw them? asks Gaius.

The people who saw them, says Terence.

Gaius sees at once what Terence is getting at.

Ah, yes! The answer depends on the observer. Well done, Terence. You are quite the little clever clogs.

Terence feels proud. He knows what clogs are.