Good Until Bad

You ruined it, says Terence.

No I didn't, says Nelly. 

It's supposed to be a giant barred frog, says Terence. Not a unicorn.

Does it look like a unicorn? asks Nelly.

No, says Terence. It looks like a frog with a horn. Gaius won't like it.

He might, says Nelly. If you're looking at the horn you don't notice the smudges.

Can you still see the smudges? asks Terence.

Yes, says Nelly. If I don't look at the horn, I notice the smudges.

Ah-ah-ah-aaah! yawns Gaius. What time is it?

No one answers, so he looks at his watch. 

Ugh, says Gaius Just as I thought, I only slept for an hour. How goes the drawing, Terence?

Good until bad, says Terence, showing him the drawing.

And what is this? asks Gaius. 

SHE did it, says Terence.

Who is SHE? asks Gaius.

Nelly, says Terence. 

Hello, says Nelly. It's a horn, for attracting attention.

The giant barred frogs' call is a deep guttural grunt, says Gaius. That's their way of attracting attention. 

It's a unicorn horn, says Terence.

Hum, says Gaius. One does not usually depict a frog call in that way.

It's not a CALL, says Nelly. It's because of the smudges.

What smudges? asks Gaius (although he has noticed the smudges).

See! says Terence.

See yourself! says Nelly.

The smudges are minimal, says Gaius, and the horn, while I understand its purpose, could perhaps be transformed into something less mythical.

What does he mean? asks Nelly.

I don't know, says Terence.

I mean, turn the horn into something else, says Gaius. Something associated with the giant barred frogs' habitat. They tend to be found in the rain forest, near flowing water.

A rain hat! says Terence.

That's ridiculous! says Nelly

Perhaps a delicate epiphyte, blending into the background, says Gaius,

Once he has explained what an epiphyte it, both Terence and Nelly are happy.