One Good Four Better

The bandy bandies watch Terence poke four holes in their box.

He pokes the holes with one of the pencils, breaking the lead.

Two holes on one side and two on the other, close to the bottom, and not well aligned.

Try again, says Ageless. I can see where you're going. But you should use a ruler.

Okay, says Terence. Get me a ruler.

There is no ruler in the cabin. Ageless fetches a spoon.

Spoons are not renowned for their straightness.

It's bendy, says Terence.

Compensate, says Ageless. Check the angle.

The bandy bandies are becoming concerned.

It's our bed, remember!

Wait, says Terence. When the wheels are on, you'll LOVE it.

Okay, we'll wait.

Terence pokes two more holes, ruining another pencil.

That's better.

Yes, it is. Terence inserts the pencils.

Now you snakes, get back in.

The snakes can't believe it.

They're not wheels! They're not even touching the ground, says the new one.

It's not the ground, says Terence. It's the table.

And when we get in, says the old one, there'll be two pencils across the place where we lie.

It'll be uncomfortable, says the new bandy bandy. REALLY uncomfortable. How would you like it?

I would like it, says Terence. I'd curl up in the middle.

All irrelevant, growls Ageless, if my contraption won't go.

Push it, says Terence.

I could do that before, says Ageless. It's wheels that are lacking. Crik! Alas for my plans to seduce my beloved!

He sulks.

Excuse me, says the old bandy bandy. You could use the pencils as axles, and stick wheels on the ends, outside our sleeping arrangements.

Oh, great! says the new one. We still lie on pencils, or squeeze up tight in the middle, which I don't fancy.

Good idea! says Terence. We just need four wheels.

We just needed four wheels in the first place, grumbles Ageless.

Humboldt stirs in his sleep.

Look up, mumbles Humboldt.

Terence looks up. Sometimes good things just happen.

Someone has left a jam jar on a high shelf above the bench top.

The lid would be perfect.

(Even if four would be better).