Gaius has come down to the creek and seen Terence shaking the bottle.
That won't do your prize tadpoles much good, says Gaius.
Wrong! says Terence. Their legs will grow faster.
Nature must take its course, says Gaius.
What does that mean? asks Terence.
Wait for things to happen, says Gaius.
Like Arthur, says Terence.
Perhaps not the best example, says Gaius.
But he happened, says Terence.
He turned up eventually, says Gaius. As I knew he would. But it's not the same thing.
And we waited, says Terence.
True, says Gaius. Perhaps you are right. Why do you want your tadpoles to grow legs in a hurry?
It's a secret, says Terence.
A secret? says Gaius.
Yes, says Terence. Do you want to know what it is?
Indeed, says Gaius. You can trust me to keep your secret.
Okay, says Terence. If they grow big legs by the end of the month they can be in Baby Pierre's team.
His team? says Gaius. Baby Pierre doesn't have a team. He's a loner.
He could have a team, says Terence. It's way better.
No need to convince me, says Gaius.
See, says Terence.
I don't see, says Gaius.
It doesn't matter, says Terence. Baby Pierre will see.
Gaius thinks about it. He can't quite see that Baby Pierre will see that having three untrained tadpoles in his team will be better.
On the other hand, Baby Pierre is a pest.
Always darting in and out between wheels and causing accidents with impunity.
A team would give him extra responsibility.
Did you say the end of the month? asks Gaius.
Arthur did, says Gaius.
I must call Vello, says Gaius. He's probably forgotten where I am.
Ask him, says Terence.
No need to ask him, says Gaius. I shall tell him. And I'll mention your idea about Baby Pierre.
Yippee! says Terence.
He shakes the bottle again, sending his tadpoles into a spin.
They paddle madly, with their fast-growing frog-legs,
And now their tails feel kind of funny.
Like they might fall off soon.
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