Recently Splatted

Katherine picks up the short silicone straws.

This is either good news or bad news, says Katherine.

Germs? says Sweezus. You should've left them there.

No, they were mine originally, says Katherine. Part of one straw.

So how come? asks Sweezus.

You'll see, says Katherine.

She knocks on a door.

Gaius opens, and Terence rushes out.

Hey little buddy! says Sweezus.

Guess what! says Terence. Our frogs won! 

I know, says Sweezus. That's pretty awesome. Where are they?

On the table, says Terence.

There are three frogs on the table, two of whom Sweezus knows. The third one is the knowlesi.

They are doing gleeful kneebends.

Good news, Katherine, says Gaius. Your straws were successful.

Or not necessary in the first place, says Wittgenstein.

That is an alternative explanation, says Gaius.

Successful? says Sweezus. Successful at what?

I squeezed the knowlesi, says Terence. And it zoomed away to the window and splatted.

Sweezus looks at the knowlesi.

It does not have the appearance of a frog that has recently splatted.

And his legs broke, says Terence. But Gaius put straws on.

That makes sense, says Sweezus. And now you've got three frogs. 

The knowlesi stops bending.

Is this true?

What did it say? asks Sweezus.

Is this true? says Terence. Wait a minute, I'll ask it.

Is what true? Terence asks the knowlesi.

But the knowlesi is embarrassed.

Three frogs, says Quiet-Tartus. He's number three in our team.

Now that he's better, says Shorty-Tartus. We asked him.

Cool, says Sweezus. 

Not really, says Gaius. This frog is a litoria knowlesi, a newly named species. It's also Letitia's first one. She will be wanting it for her thesis.

What, like, to cut it up? says Sweezus, remembering the school biology class where he had to do it.

No, of course not, says Gaius. 

But the damage is done.