What Is That, Gothic?

Nerida is sitting outside her tent.

Terence sees her.

Freddy's gone soft again, says Terence.

Help me! says Freddy.

Give him to me, says Nerida. I'll cool him down.

Terence gives Freddy to Nerida.

She takes a tissue out of her pocket, and places Freddy on it.

Don't worry, I haven't used it, says Nerida.

That's good, says Freddy. Will you fan me?

She fans him.

The Kroombit tinker hops by.

How's Freddy? asks the Kroombit tinker. 

Getting fanned, says Terence. 

He'll be okay, says Nerida.

Are you sure you haven't used it? asks Freddy. 

Not for blowing my nose, says Nerida. Maybe for dabbing.

Dabbing what? asks Freddy.

Food spills, says Nerida. Nothing toxic.

Keep fanning, says Freddy. The sooner I get off this tissue the better.

Yes, says the Kroombit tinker. You need to be better before the singalong.

Are we having a singalong? asks Nerida. Whose idea?

Mine, says the Kroombit tinker. It's to get rid of the pobblebonk. But it'll be fun too.

Great says Nerida. We can sing Taylor Swift songs.

Maybe one Taylor Swift song, says the Kroombit tinker. 

Can I choose a song ? asks Terence.

Everyone gets to choose one, says the Kroombit tinker. What's your favourite?

I haven't got one, says Terence. I might make one up.

Mine is The Long and Winding Road, says the Kroombit tinker. 

I don't know it, says Nerida.

I'll sing it, says the Kroombit tinker:

The loooong and wiiiinding rooooaaad, will never disappeeeer, I've seen that road befoooore....

Woa! says Nerida. What is that, Gothic?

The Beatles, says the Kroombit tinker, offended.

Okay, says Nerida. Sorry. I guess we can learn it. Does it get any faster?

No, says the Kroombit tinker. That's the point. It just keeps on going and you never quite get there.  

No worries, says Nerida. Feeling better yet, Freddy?

Yes, says Freddy. When's the singalong?

Why not now? asks Nerida.

I'll get the pobblebonk, says Terence.

I'll find Katherine, says Nerida.

I'll tell Gaius, says the Kroombit tinker.

Everyone has gone off. 

Freddy is left behind on the non toxic tissue.

Good. This will give him some time to come up with a favorite song.