Their Curly-Haired Mother

Camus returns, having washed his hands in the ocean.

Where's Gaius? asks Camus.

Getting his bicycle, says Terence. So he can buy apples.

It's in a flat pack, says Camus. Do you think he needs help?

No, says Terence. And where's Waca?

I left him at the water's edge, says Camus. He wanted to stay there.

He DIDN'T! says Terence. Go back and get him.

Aren't we supposed to wait here? asks Camus.

Yes, says Terence. We all are. Including him.

What's the matter? asks Roo-kai, who has been circling the area, keeping an eye out for parrots.

Waca's floating away, says Terence.

Hold your horses, says Camus. He's not floating.

He's sinking! says Terence.

I'll go and see, says Roo-kai.

He flies down to the edge of the water.

Waca is gazing out to sea.

Is that Tasmania? asks Waca.

I doubt it, says Roo-kai. It looks like an oil tanker.

Could I float there? asks Waca.

Not from here, says Roo-kai. Why would you want to float out to an oil tanker anyway?

To go to Tasmania, says Waca.

Let me tell you a story, says Roo-kai.

He tells Waca the sad story of Saint Roley's brother who floated away on a flat piece of cardboard off the coast of Saint Malo, and was not seen again.

Waca is discouraged. 

Come back and wait for the orange-bellied parrots, says Roo-kai. 

Okay, says Waca.

Waca can't walk on his own, so Roo-kai has to push him through the sand.

This will take ages.

Meanwhile the orange-bellied parrots have finished feasting on nutritious seeds.

They have followed Gaius's footprints to where Terence and Camus are waiting.

Look at that! says one to the other. Could that be our mother?

Which one? asks the other.

The small one, says the first one.

She looks nice, says the other. She has parrot shorts. And her hair is all curly.

Except on the sides, says the first one. It must be a fashion.

They land gracefully, in front of Camus, and Terence, their curly-haired mother.