First Job Of The Sea Hare

Wait here, says Terence, to the sea hare.

D'accord, says the sea hare. I shall remain in this area.

That's the same thing, says Terence.

He runs back to Gaius.

Got any paper?

No, Gaius hasn't.

My parents will have some at the cottage, says Bertille.

Let's go! says Terence.

They race up the steps.

At the top of the steps, Bertille's parents are taking turns with the binoculars.

I see the chocolate box! says her father.

I saw it first! says her mother.

Let me see, says Bertille. It might be the wrong chocolate box. This one has a sea slug asleep in it.

What colour? asks her father.

Greeny-black, says Bertille.

Ah, a celtic sea slug, says her father.

Can we get the paper? asks Terence.

Yes, says Bertille. Terence and I need some paper.

The parents turn their attention to Terence.

Un enfant bizarre!

Trust their daughter to find such a playmate.

We need it to send out a message, says Terence.

You should place your message in a bottle, says Bertille's mother. Or it will get wet.

Yes, says Bertille. I'll find a bottle.

She runs into the cottage.

Is your message to be for the sea slug? asks Bertille's dad.

Which one? asks Terence.

There are more than one in the chocolate box? asks Bertille's mother.

No, says Terence. I've got a new sea slug. It's a sea HARE. It's going to take the message.

To the other one, concludes Bertille's mum.

No, says Terence. The other one doesn't need it. It's sleeping and may not wake up.

Isn't the first job of the sea hare to rescue the lost sea slug? asks Bertille's father.

I should have thought so, says Bertille's mum.

No, says Terence. First lost first looked for. I'm looking for Saint Roley's lost brother.

Why not call the coast guard? asks Bertille's dad.

He's a parrot, says Terence. Alas.

Bertille returns with some paper and an empty wine bottle with a screw top.

Did you bring something to write with? asks Bertille's dad.

The only pencil I could find was yellow, says Bertille.

Doesn't matter, says Terence. The sea hare has got its own ink.

To which you have access? asks Bertille's father.

And permission? asks Bertille's mum.

(You can tell they're either lawyers or teachers).