The Lovely Animals

Time to go, says Gaius. It's two hours and twelve minutes to Toowoomba.

He and Wittgenstein head out to the Mazda.

I'll be going too, says Katherine. Come, Terence.

Terence grabs Monty, from the table, and gets down.

What about us? says Quiet-Tartus.

Arthur, will you bring the frogs across to my car? asks Katherine. I don't want to touch them.

Okay, says Arthur.

They leave the Surf Life Saving Club, and follow Katherine to her car, a white Kia Rio.

New car? says Sweezus. 

Hired it, says Katherine. Plenty of room in the back for Terence, and the frogs, as you see.

Any chance of me coming? asks Roo-kai.

I suppose so, says Katherine. It will mean a larger container.

There might be one in the camper, says Sweezus. 

He goes over to look in the camper.

Nothing, nothing... but yeah, there's that old cardboard box we've been using for rubbish, just need to tip out the rubbish, yeah but what into....?

There is a bin in the car park. He tips the rubbish into that.

Here, says Sweezus. Might be a bit smelly.

Katherine sniffs.

It is extraordinarily smelly, says Katherine. And what's that?

Jam, says Sweezus. 

That is not jam, says Katherine. It's brown. I wouldn't be surprised if it's some of the famous big frog poo.

We're not going in that! says Shorty-Tartus.

Nor am I, says Roo-kai.

They could sit on a tea towel, says Sweezus. We've got one.

One? says Katherine. You'll need it. No, I shall manage.

She opens the front passenger door and then opens the glove box.

No! cry the frogs. Not the glove box!

She pulls out a large plastic shopping bag, folded flat.

She opens it out, and fashions it into a soft-sided basket.

Then she places it on the back seat in the middle.

Now, put them in that, says Katherine.

Arthur drops the frogs into the soft-sided basket, and checks out his hands.

No problem. The frogs have not eaten anything, for quite some time.

What about me? asks Roo-kai. 

Katherine unfolds a second plastic shopping bag.

Sit on that, says Katherine.

Can I sit in the front with you? asks Terence.

No, says Katherine, you're too low. You'll sit in the back with the livestock.

What's that? asks Terence.

The lovely animals, says Katherine.

The lovely animals are no more pleased with this title than livestock.

Ready? asks Katherine. Do up your safety belt, Terence.

Can't, says Terence.

Sweezus leans in, and does it for him.

Be good, little buddy, says Sweezus. See you in a few days in Toowoomba.

Bye boys, says Katherine. Have fun in the rain. 

She drives off towards the M6.

Great, says Sweezus. It's just you and me now. No responsibilities.

Are we keeping that box? asks Arthur.

What do you reckon? says Sweezus.