Not These Mothers!

We thought we'd like prawns, says one of the pobblebonks.

But now we know better, says another.

We're sorry, says a third.

You should be, says Katherine. You have ruined the pizza. Please get off.

The three pobblebonks crawl off the pizza, and into the pizza box corners.

Katherine lifts out the pizza.

Basically, says Katherine, this is now just a pineapple pizza.

With the usual tomato-smeared base, I suppose, says Gaius.

Well, yes, says Katherine. So you won't want any.

No, thanks, says Gaius, I'll try a kebab.

I'll have a gozleme, says Nerida. Is it spinach and feta? I love them!

And I'll have the domburi, says Katherine. I hope you didn't mind us going into Gladstone for takeaway?

Not at all, says Gaius. It gave Nerida and me time to get my notes sorted.

He munches his kebab.

Any leftovers? asks Arthur, who is still hungry. 

It's a while since he ate the kung po.

Plenty, says Katherine. Go for it.

Arthur takes a full bento box, and picks out the seaweed.

Perhaps the pobblebonks would like that, says Katherine.

Arthur drops the seaweed into the pizza box.

They look really green, says Arthur.

They are strands of seaweed says Gaius. Green is their natural colour.

I mean the frogs, says Arthur. Aren't they supposed to be brown?

Why, yes! says Gaius. Did you say they were chilli prawns, Katherine?

They were chilli prawns, says Katherine.

The chilli must not have agreed with them, says Gaius.

It's their own fault, says Katherine. 

What happened? asks Terence.

Your pobblebonks have tummyaches, says Gaius. 

Let me see! says Terence.

He looks into the pizza box.

His frog team do not look like winners.

You have to get better! says Terence.

That's my job, says the Kroombit tinker. I'm their house mother.

And me! says Greedy. I'm also their house mother.

Mothers don't know how to do anything, says Terence, thinking of the Virgin. They just sit and look sad.

Not these mothers, says the Kroombit tinker.

She jumps into the pizza box, watched by Greedy.

Go away! cry the pobblebonks. We feel poorly!

Roll over, says the Kroombit tinker. You'll soon feel better

They roll over, hoping to feel better.

She pumps their backs one after the other.

Bluuurt! out spew more half chewed chilli prawns than anyone might have expected.

And the pobblebonks feel better.