If Your Loved One Loved The Sea

We're not going to hire a canoe, says Gaius. Besides, you're too heavy.

I'll take him out in this one, says Tilly.

Yippee! says Terence.

Is that all right? asks Coralie.

How old is Tilly? asks Gaius.

Ten, says Coralie. And good at canoeing. A keen birdwatcher, like me. 

This'll be fun, says Tilly, getting back into the canoe with Terence. Would you like mum's binoculars?

Here, says Coralie, getting up and handing them over.

Give us a push, says Tilly.

Coralie pushes the canoe out into the water.

They are floating!

I'll keep an eye on them, says Roo-kai.

Excellent. says Gaius.

He continues to explain the difference between Screaming and Slender Bleating Tree Frogs, and why he is going to Queensland, and how he also hopes to visit the Great Barrier Reef and look for gobies.

Coralie tells Gaius that she has recently heard about reef balls.

What are they? asks Gaius.

They are cement balls with holes in them, says Coralie, They are dropped at strategic places on a reef and coral grows on them. 

A fine idea, says Gaius.

Yes, says Coralie. You can even have your loved one's ashes mixed into the cement, as a memorial.

Indeed! says Gaius. Yes, I suppose that is appealing.

If your loved one loved the sea, says Coralie.

Yes, says Gaius. Or was concerned for the coral.

Meanwhile Terence and Tilly have drifted some distance from the shore.

They are both looking up at the sky, through binoculars.

O look! says Tilly, a brahminy kite!

Terence looks through the his binoculars for the brahminy kite.

He can't see it.

Can't you see it? asks Tilly.

No, says Terence. Not through these. Only by looking.

Maybe it's your eyes, says Tilly. Are they cement ones?

Yes, says Terence. I used to live on a palace.

Like a statue? asks Tilly.

Like a prisoner, says Terence. I was glad I fell off.

And you didn't break? asks Tilly.

Someone caught me, says Terence.

Who? asks Tilly. 

Sweezus, says Terence. He's at the beach, surfing.

And is that your oystercatcher, circling up there?

Parrot, says Terence. 

You don't know much about birds, says Tilly.

Only parrots, says Terence.

Tilly laughs.

They are getting on well.