Thursday, January 11, 2024

Bottle You

Gaius meets Vello and David in Unley.

Do we want to do this? asks Vello. It's hot.

We can always postpone it, says David. 

Until the evening, says Vello. 

See you later, losers! says Baby Pierre. Mount Lofty here I come!

He zooms towards the hills, whooping.

How about a frappé? asks Vello. 

Excellent idea, says Gaius. 

They wheel their bikes to a café, and sit outside.

Along come Michael Storer and Damien Howson.

Hey guys! says Michael Storer. Done Mount Lofty?

Not yet, says Vello. We're enjoying a frappé.

Cool, says Damien Howson. Let's get one!

Yeah, let's, says Michael Storer.

They sit down.

How about this competition? asks Michael.

What about it? asks Vello.

The hidden bicycle, says Damien. In your online 'zine.

O that, says Vello. Yes we are holding a competition. The bicycle will be hidden in a video about orange bellied parrots.

No kidding? says Damien. Like, what's the connection?

There is no connection, says Gaius. And there is no prize for finding it.

It's merely a hook, says Vello.

Also, says David, a bike is required, for publication in Velosophy.

Geez, says Michael Storer. No prize. That's a pity.

Kudos, says Vello. You could say that's a prize.

Five frappés arrive, with striped paper straws.

Everyone starts sucking. Swuuuurp...swubble...sww...

These paper straws. They tend to close up on you.

Michael and Damien leave. They have a team meeting.

Nice lads, says David. They seemed all right with mere kudos.

Hmm, says Vello. Not as all right as they could be. Perhaps we should have a prize. 

Too late now, says David. It'll be all over the Team Village that there isn't one.

As it should be, says Gaius. I object to a prize.

As do I, in principle, says Vello. But we could use more subscribers.

Zooom! Baby Pierre zooms past on his tiny bicycle.

Surely he hasn't already completed Mount Lofty?

Weee! says Baby Pierre. I've just gone up and down Mount Lofty without stopping! That was fun.

If only we could bottle you, says Vello.

His eyes gleam a little.

An idea is forming.  


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