The Bad Owner

Can you walk yet? asks the girl.

Terence tries to wriggle his foot.

His ankle feels stiff. Good, that's the glue setting.

Yes, says Terence. Want to see my parrot?

Yes, says the girl.

Finish your bean croquette first, Monique, says the scary passenger.

Okay dad, says Monique.

She swallows the last bite of her croquette, and follows Terence back to where Gaius is sitting.

Terence, says Gaius. Excellent! I see that you're walking.

Me too, says Terence. But I might need some shoes.

There's an idea, says Gaius. Perhaps we'll buy some in Doha airport.

Yay! says Terence.

Hello young lady, says Gaius. Have you made friends with Terence?

He dropped a bread roll on me, says Monique.

That sounds like him, says Gaius. 

Can I have my parrot? asks Terence. We want to do some improvements

Certainly, says Gaius, handing over the two wooden ducks on a string.

Come on, says Terence, to Monique. Let's go back to your seat.

They go back to her seat, and sit on it together.

Terence legs stick out, horizontally.

Your foot's a bit crooked, says Monique. 

Yikes! says Terence. Maybe the glue isn't set.

That's good, says Monique. That means we can fix it.

Let's fix the parrot first, says Terence.

No, says Monique. You first.

She leans forward and realigns Terence's foot. Then she tightens the bandage.

Ouch, says Terence.

I thought it didn't hurt, says Monique.

I'm giving my parrot a good example, says Terence. Because he's next.

Okay parrot, says Monique. You've just had a good example of what to say when we take your wheels off.

He won't say anything, says Terence.

Then ouch wasn't a useful example. says Monique. And another thing, does he know he's two ducks and not really a parrot?

Who knows what a parrot knows? says Terence.

You are a bad owner, says Monique. Okay let's get the wheels off.

She looks to see how they're attached.

Dad, says Monique. Have you got a screw driver?

Of course not, says the scary passenger (Monique's dad) from the other side of the aisle. Passengers aren't allowed to bring screwdrivers onto an aircraft.

We'll have to smash them off, says Terence. 

There's another way, says Monique. 

She wrenches the first duck off its platform. 

Woohoo. She is strong!

Ouch! says the duck, freed at last from its platform, its wheels and the second duck, whom he never liked anyway.