The Inanimate Duck

Vello has finished tinkering with the Kierkegaard interview.

He shows it to David.

Very nice, says David. Are you sure they had bikes in those days?

A velocipede, says Vello. I should add that.

I like what he said to his mother, says David. To dare is to lose one's footing momentarily. Did he really say that?

He could have, says Vello.

He could have! says David. So this is all fiction. You should be careful.

He won't mind, says Vello. I guarantee it.

But he never mentions his mother, says David.

Here's the first case of it, says Vello.

Just then who should enter the office, but Katherine, with Terence and Jinjing.

Hello mother, says David. How was the trip to Tasmania?

Delightful, says Katherine. Here is some cheese for you. And here is Terence, who has a bandaged foot, not to mention a duck and a parrot.

Hello Terence, says David. My goodness! What happened?

EVERYTHING! says Terence. My end of the dinghy went up. Then I crashed down onto Captain Bruni, And two toes broke off. And Arthur got nails and a hammer. And Jinjing couldn't find the fish glue, so Gaius used duck tape and then Margaret ripped it off and she was going to throw it away but it looked like a duck so I kept it.

He shows it to David.

It does look a bit like a duck.

If the duck was grey and inanimate, and had a fibrous hem, instead of feathers.

Now Sweezus comes in, followed by Philip.

Terence runs up to Sweezus and embraces his legs.

Hey little buddy, says Sweezus. What have you got there?

This is for you, says Terence, handing Sweezus the duck.