Luck And Ingenuity

The orange dance begins.

Terence stands in the middle holding two strings. His eyebrows are orange and sticky.

At the end of one string is Celia, in a straw hat with flowers.

She holds the string in her beak, and transfers it to her left wing when she is singing.

At the end of the second string is Saint Roley, in his short cloak. The string is tied to his knobbly right knee.

Terence yanks Celia's string.

She starts singing:

La dee orange dee
La dee orange dee
With luck and ingenuitee
We have grown this tree

Terence yanks the string of Saint Roley.

He starts singing:

Trill a pip pee tee
Trill a pip pee tee
All can now eat free
From the orange tree

Did you write that? asks Arthur.

Nah, says Sweezus. I let them do it.

Thought so, says Arthur.

Perhaps some loud accompaniment, says Vello. A guitar might be nice.

Good thinking, says Sweezus.

Belle makes a mental note. A guitar would be nice.

Terence is impatient. He yanks the strings again. Now the dancing begins.

Celia hops forward, bobs and dances behind Terence.

Saint Roley hops sideways and ducks under her string.

Now he too is behind Terence.

Celia dances out from behind Terence on the other side, twirling.

Saint Roley remains behind Terence.

Hey! says Terence. We're tied together!

You're meant to twirl with me, says Celia.

I thought you'd been practising, says Sweezus.

Without string, says Celia.

Ditch the string, says Arthur.

Sikong Shu looks hurt.

It was his string.

Sweezus is reluctant.

Yeah, but string's one of our major themes. Can't just ditch it.

What if I get that guitar? says Belle. Can anyone play it?

Me, says Elodie. I can play it. Not well, though.

Never mind, says Vello. Find a guitar and untangle these dancers.

Yes! says Terence. I don't like Saint Roley so close behind me.

Saint Roley doesn't like being so close behind Terence. He tries to unhitch. Swings his body this way and that way.

Stop, cries Terence. You'll activate my stink button.

O no! The stink button.

Saint Roley has pressed it.

Everyone holds their breath except Belle, who knows it's disabled.