Monday, August 9, 2021

Here Lies Rusty

The picnickers gather round the model ship, which the oystercatcher has rescued.

There's a hole in its side, says the oystercatcher. 

Let me see, says Bertille's mother. I think Jean-Claude could fix it.

She picks up the ship. Seawater drips from it.

She heads off up the steps.

What about my friend? asks Terence. He was in it. 

I guess he fell out, says Bertille. We should've asked mum to leave the binoculars.

Go after her! cries Terence.

No need. Bertille's mother has remembered. 

She comes back down the steps.

You might want to use these! says Bertille's mother.

I do! says Terence. He seizes the binoculars and closes one eye.

He looks through the binoculars, for any sign of any part of a golden cherub.

Gaius, the saints and Bertille scan the waves too.

Are you looking for the captain? asks the oystercatcher.

Of course we are! says Saint Arnoc. He was in the vessel. He waved. We all saw him.

He must have been small, says the oystercatcher.

He was my size, says Terence. We had a plan to steal the model boat together.

And he tried on his own and he perished, says Bertille. Let's have a ceremony.

Yes, let's, says Terence. I'll say a poem. 

Do you know what his name was? asks Gaius.

No, says Terence.

Cherubs don't have names, says Saint Ténénan.

We must give him one, says Saint Arnoc. How about Rusty?

He was GOLD! says Bertille. He won't ever get rusty.

The name will remind us of that, says Saint Arnoc.

Yes! says Terence.

Here lies Rusty, who died.
He'll never get rusty. He tried.

A fitting memorial, says Gaius.

It sounds like he tried to get rusty, says Bertille.

No it doesn't, says Terence. He tried not to.

But you don't say he tried not to, says Bertille.

Because he didn't! says Terence.

You just said he did, says Bertille.

Terence's looks uncertain.

He has need of a parrot at this point. 

The oystercatcher, although not a parrot, steps in.

He's not drowned, says the oystercatcher. He's coming ashore now, if I'm not mistaken.

Yay! cries Terence. 

Rusty emerges from the sea, his golden curls in disarray, his body sporting one or two scratches.


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