A Passionfruit Gaze

Leonardo shows Terence a few sketches.

Parrot Face 1: hooked beak, beady eyes, three uplifted head-feathers.

Parrot Face 2: hooked beak, beady eyes with black and white stripes underneath

Parrot Face 3: hooked beak with large nostrils, beady eyes with a sharp gaze.

Terence chooses Face 3.

Right, says Leonardo. Hand me the muffin.

Wait! I have to tell him what's going to happen, says Terence.

Go on then, says Leonardo.

What IS going to happen? asks Terence.

I'll sculpt his new features, says Leonardo.

He probably heard that, says Terence.

He hands Leonardo the muffin.

Terence and Belle watch as Leonardo dots the features of Parrot Face 3 on the muffin, with his pencil.

Then starts gouging bits out.

Mind if I eat these? asks Leonardo. I didn't have breakfast.

Um... says Terence. 

It should be all right, says Belle.

Okay, says Terence.

Leonardo eats the discarded pieces of muffin.

A hooked beak emerges, and circles for eyes. 

Delicate muffin feathers surround them.

Nearly finished. says Leonardo. The eyes will bring it to life. I just need something beady....

How about these? asks Belle.

She has finished her compote of fruit, and spat the passionfuit seeds into the bowl.

Not everyone likes them.

And not every compote contains passionfruit. 

So the muffin is doubly lucky.

Belle picks out two passionfruit seeds and hands them to Leonardo.

Leonardo places them (just so!) in the circles for eyes.

And the muffin can see! 

And probably (he hopes) speak as well.

Terence is staring at him intently.

My? asks the muffin.

My what? asks Terence.

My-a-parrot? asks the muffin.

You have a parrot face, says Terence. Now you have to learn how to fly.

Not yet, says Belle. We're in an aeroplane, remember. Why not train him to sound more like a parrot and less like a muffin.

The muffin isn't offended.

He wants to do well.