Why Is U Green?

The two crabs climb onto Arthur's surfboard.

One at each end.

Good for balance, but bad for conversation.

Arthur sits up.

Were you looking for us? asks Alexander-Curly.

Yes and no, says Arthur.

What does that mean? asks Alexander-Groovy.

It was on the agenda, says Arthur.

What else was? asks Alexander-Curly.

Killing time, says Arthur. Remembering a poem I wrote once. It had all the vowels.

Show me a poem that doesn't have all the vowels, says Alexander-Groovy.

It wasn't just that, says Arthur. The first line matched each vowel to a colour.

The crabs look intrigued.

A black, E white, I red, U green, O blue, says Arthur.

That's good, says Alexander-Groovy. But why is U green?

Don't remember, says Arthur. I was probably drunk when I wrote it.

That explains why the vowels are in the wrong order, says Alexander- Curly.

Arthur agrees. Yes it does.

He feels a swell underneath him. A sucking. He turns to see a very large wave.

It is U green . Viridian! Peaceful! Little sheep grazing on it.

(The sheep are imaginary).

Arthur readies himself. Too bad for the crabs.

He finds the sweet spot and paddles until the wave picks him up for a white water take off.

E white! O blue!

Alexander-Groovy and Alexander-Curly are thrown off the surfboard and whirled in the burbling crashing thundering upside down water.

Not the kind of water crabs like.

Arthur pulls up smoothly in the foamy shallows not far from Gaius.

Find them? asks Gaius.

They're on their way, says Arthur.

They are, but not as we know them.

In the chaos, they have each lost a claw.