Peeling Skin

There are two ways we can deal with this defacement, says Gaius.

Defacement! says Kobo. It's the best portrait ever.

Just how we imagined, says Pinky.

Thank you, says Terence. It's good because I was LISTENING!

Not to me, says Gaius. Now, we can either cover it permanently, or sand it back and use a clear varnish.

I've got a sander in the truck, says Roderick Coconut.

He goes out to get it.

Wah! says Terence. Can we cover it permanently?

Permanently means no one will be able to see it, says Gaius.

This is not what Terence thinks it means.

Put tissue paper on it, says Terence.

Useless, says Gaius. Tissue paper can be removed.

I thought you had glue, says Humboldt. We could do it in layers.

But how would that look? asks Gaius.

Roderick Coconut comes back with the sander.

What've you decided? asks Roderick.

Still debating, says Gaius.

The three men look at the drawing Terence has scratched on the table.

It's good, says Roderick Coconut. See those lines there? Reminds me of the early works of what's-er-name... Thanakupi.

Hear that Terence? says Humboldt.

No, says Terence. I'm sticking tissue paper over my drawing. I'm not listening to you guys.

He upturns a half filled water bottle, onto the table.

Drip drip.

He unwraps a pair of green Crocs and places the tissue paper over the drawing.

He unwraps another pair.

That won't do anything, says Roderick Coconut. It'll dry like paper maché, and then....

The pattern of the drawing will be on it, says Terence. Underneath.

Which is pointless, says Gaius. If we lift it, we'll be back where we started

Why don't you draw your picture again, says Humboldt. Now we've got paper. It will save a great deal of trouble.

Not to me, says Terence. He unwraps another pair of Crocs. Hey! These ones are different.

Crocodiles'll hate those, observes Roderick Coconut. Flip flops won't stay on in the water.

Dear me, says Gaius. I must phone Sweezus. Perhaps it's a mix up.

He phones Sweezus, who answers immediately.

Sweezus! says Gaius. Were you aware that some of the Crocs you ordered were flip flops?

Fuck no, says Sweezus. They won't stay on in the water.

What do you suggest we do? asks Gaius.

Wait till I get there, says Sweezus.

How long will that be? asks Gaius. I need you here, almost as much as Arthur.

Yeah, both of us are coming, says Sweezus. Get ready.

What does that mean, get ready? says Gaius.

It means we're outside, says Sweezus. Funny yeah?

He says he's outside, says Gaius, to Humboldt and Roderick Coconut.

Terence runs to the door of the cabin with a wet sheet of tissue,

The door opens.

Terence leaps at Sweezus. Little cement arms wrap round Sweezus's knees.

Hey little buddy!

Sweezus pats the hard curls.

Wet tissue sticks to his legs, and the lower edge of his boardshorts.

And to Terence's body.

Like peeling skin.