Outside Box Thinking

Where are you headed? asks Perrot.

Flinders Chase, says Gaius. I'm documenting the regeneration.

That's where we're going, says Claudine. 

Might see you there, says Perrot.

Yay! says Terence.

Yay! says Alfonse. Let's split our orange peels. Half for you, half for me.

Okay, says Terence. We'll see whose is first to start talking.

But no cheating, says Claudine.

How could we cheat? asks Alfonse.

You could say it said something when it didn't, says Claudine.

When? asks Terence.

Never mind, says Claudine.

The holes might be ears, and that's why they're not talking, says Alfonse.

That's my boy, says Perrot. He thinks outside the box.

Alfonse looks pleased.

Or they might be noses, says Terence.

Perhaps Gaius will say Terence thinks outside the box.

But Gaius isn't listening.

Here, says Terence. These two short ones are for you. I'll keep the long ones.

Alfonse would prefer the long ones, but accepts the two short ones, remaining dad's boy.

Gaius scoops Terence into his back pack, and sets off.

Before long, his phone rings.

Answer that, Terence, says Gaius.

Hello, says Terence. 

Cool! He found you! says Sweezus.

Are you winning? asks Terence.

It's not over, says Sweezus. It's Stage Ten today. We're starting on an island and crossing a viaduct to the mainland, then back over a bridge to another island.

Woop! says Terence. 

Yeah, woop, says Sweezus. Did Gaius tell you I saw an elasmosaurus?

Any clowns? asks Terence. 

No clowns, says Sweezus. 

I've got an orange peel with ears, says Terence. 

Awesome! Send me a photo, says Sweezus. .

That's my boy, says Terence.

What? says Sweezus.

You didn't say it, mutters Terence.

Too late. Sweezus has ended the call, having reached the start line in Ile d'Oleron.