On The Kamikaze

Hedley pokes his head out.

His hair is full of paella.

You were meant to keep guard, says Hedley.

I was, says Terence, but they threw it in anyway.

Yuck, says Hedley, shaking his hair.

Go back in, says Terence. No worse things can happen.

Hedley is not convinced no worse things can happen. What about those meat chunks on sticks?

Go on, says Terence. No one's even coming.

Hedley goes back in.

Hedley's mother comes up, looking for Hedley.

Terence, have you seen Hedley? 

Yes, says Terence. I mean no.

I think you mean yes, says Hedley's mother.

Okay, says Terence. He's just gone into the bin.

Which one? says Hedleys mother.

This one, says Terence. He's looking for the herring.

In that case, says Hedley's mother, he's in the wrong bin.

Hedley pops his head out. 

I've just been talking to Belle, says Hedley's mother. I said you wished you'd asked for the herring. She said she threw it into the purple bin.

That's the wrong bin, says Hedley.

She realised that after she'd done it, says Hedley's mother.

Belle comes over to join them.

Found it yet?

No, says Hedley. 

Oh dear, says Belle. You've got paella in your hair.

Help me out, says Hedley.

Hedley's mother and Belle help him out.

There is salad all over his shorts.

It'll be in this purple bin, says Belle. 

She reaches her hand in and brings out the herring.

Let me see it, says Hedley's mother. That is no herring.

It's a maugean skate, says Belle. We've been calling it a herring.

Whatever for? asks Hedley's mother.

Maugean skates are endangered, says Belle. It shouldn't be here.

It's having an adventure, says Terence. 

Not with Hedley, says Hedley's mother. 

Aw, says Hedley. But I want it. Terence said I could have it.

And I say you can't, says Hedley's mother.

So it looks like Hedley can't have it.

Poor Gloopy, says Terence. I'll have you.

Never mind, Hedley, says his mother. I'll take you over the road to the fun fair, and you can ride on the Tea Cups.

They're for babies, says Hedley.

Well, something else, says Hedley's mother. The Ferris Wheel perhaps.

Okay, says Hedley. Bye, Terence.

Can I go? asks Terence.

No, says Belle.

Hedley and his mother head off to the Garden of Unearthly Delights, over the road.

As luck would have it, they are not far behind Arthur, who has left the artists' bar and determined that what he needs is a hair-raising stomach-dropping neon-flashing ride on the Kamikaze.