Tuesday, September 24, 2024

You Get What You Ask For

You could have ordered a better container, says Baby Pierre.

I didn't order it, says the Kroombit tinker. They put me in it.

Anyone can see in, says Baby Pierre.

Look on the bright side, says the Kroombit tinker. 

Which is? says Baby Pierre.

We can see out, says the tinker.

Airports all look the same, says Baby Pierre. Walls, floor and windows. People with wheelie bags and back packs. Cafes. Where are we going?

I don't know, says the tinker. We're supposed to be on the next flight to Adelaide.

This doesn't look right, says Baby Pierre.

They are taken into a small room and placed on a shelf.

The Trafficked Animals officer calls a colleague.

I'm leaving them in the inspection room, says the Trafficked Animals officer. 

The Trafficked Animals officer leaves the inspection room.

Another person comes in, and picks up the see-through container.

Frog, pebble, tiny bicycle, says the inpection officer. This all seems in order.

She picks up a thick marking pen.

She writes something on the lid of the see-through container.

SUDNUCES P G

Look at that! says Baby Pierre. They're sending us to the wrong person.

We should let them know! says the tinker.

She whacks the container.

Whack whack!

The inspection officer lifts the lid.

Everything all right in there?

No! says the tinker. Who's SUDNUCES P G?

Why are you asking? asks the inspection officer.

Because that's who you're sending us to, says the tinker. And we don't know them.

The inspection officer lifts the tinker out of the container and shows her the lid from the outside.

Oh, says the tinker. I see. But while I'm out here, is there any chance of some dinner?

Dinner is provided, says the inspection officer, placing a packet of dried flies in the container, before dropping the tinker back in.

Thank you! says the tinker.

What did you learn? asks Baby Pierre.

It was Gaius's name backwards, says the tinker.

Ha ha, laughs Baby Pierre. The inspection officer must've thought you were stupid.

She was nice, says the tinker, and she gave me these flies.

What did I get? asks Baby Pierre. 

I didn't know you wanted anything, says the tinker.

I like things to be fair, says Baby Piere.

You can eat half the flies, says the tinker.

Pebbles don't eat flies, says Baby Pierre.

They don't eat anything, says the tinker. But you could have asked for a pencil and paper.

YOU could have, says Baby Pierre.

There'll be lots of chances, says the tinker.

And she may be right.

The inspection officer takes them to the departure lounge to wait for the flight to Adelaide.

She sits down.

A young girl comes up and stares at the see-through container.

You've got a frog, says the girl. I like frogs.

This one's going to Adelaide, says the inspection officer.

You too? says the girl.

Not me, just the frog and the pebble, and its tiny bicycle, says the inspection officer.

They'll be scared, says the girl.

If you like, I'll ask the flight attendant to let you look after them, says the inspection officer.

Yes! says the girl.

How good is this! The staff at Changi certainly know what they're doing. The tinker and Baby Pierre will be taken care of all the way to Adelaide, by a girl who likes frogs. And probably pebbles.

What are the odds that she also has a pencil, and paper?


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