Is She Wise?

Wrong number, says Sweezus.

No, this is Gaius's phone, says Saint Roley.

So who are you? asks Sweezus.

Guess, says Saint Roley.

By now Sweezus has identified the voice of Saint Roley.

Saint Roley, says Sweezus. This is heaps lucky.

Is it? asks Saint Roley. Do tell me why.

Long story, says Sweezus. Has Gaius found his dodgy vacuum cleaner?

He's testing it now, says Saint Roley.

Sounds of vooom! thurk! flap! whirrrr! in the background.

Is it blowing? asks Sweezus.

Hard to say from this distance, says Saint Roley. No wait. There's a cloud of dust and grit rising from it, and Gaius is swearing.

Awesome, says Sweezus.

Is Terence with you? asks Saint Roley.

Yep, says Sweezus. We're rehearsing a play. He's playing a Bronze Orange Stink Bug.

He'll love that, says Saint Roley. Does he speak of me sometimes?

Yeah, he does, says Sweezus. He told Celia about you, in a kind of nice way.

What did he say? asks Saint Roley.

He said you were the brother of an accident, says Sweezus.

O, says Saint Roley.

He sniffs and swallows.

Sorry, says Sweezus. Shit memories.

Never mind, says Saint Roley. What was the context?

Just Terence's babble, says Sweezus. But Celia reckoned she was a sister of an accident, so you and she have something in common.

Who is Celia? asks Saint Roley.

A bird, says Sweezus. An actual parrot. Light green with red wing edges.

Is she wise? asks Saint Roley.

You're asking the wrong person, says Sweezus. But yeah, wanna meet her? She's in the play

I should like to, says Saint Roley. What part is she playing?

Brother Giroflée, says Sweezus.

Nice choice, says Saint Roley. So it's Candide again?

Candide's Garden, says Sweezus. A follow up.

I'm intrigued, says Saint Roley.

Achoo! sneezes Gaius, grasping the phone. Arthur?

No, me, Sweezus, says Sweezus. I take it your vacuum cleaner's blowing.

It certainly is, says Gaius. I'm bringing it in.

Bring Saint Roley, says Sweezus. We think he'd be good in the role of Paquette.

Does he know? asks Gaius.

Not yet, says Sweezus.

Not yet, Paquette, says Gaius.

Sweezus wonders if Gaius thinks he has made a witty comment.