Good Remembering Backwards

You really should practise your dance with the socks on, says Belle.

Where are they? asks Terence.

We need to buy them, says Belle. Want to come with me?

Yes, says Terence.

Good, says Vello. Now we can all get some work done.

See you later, little buddy, says Sweezus.

Belle and Terence head down to Rundle Mall.

Yellow socks, says Belle. Where's the best place to find them?

The yellow sock shop, says Terence.

If only there was a yellow sock shop, says Belle. But I don't think there is.  Let's try David Jones.

They go to David Jones and take the escalator up to the children's wear floor.

I can't see the socks, says Belle. Can you see them?

No, says Terence. You go that way I'll go this way.

No! says Belle. 

But it's too late. Terence has gone this way.

He sprints though the baby clothes. Wait. Stop! Yellow leggings, hanging down from a yellow baby teeshirt, with a train on the front.

Can I help you? asks an assistant.

Have you got a knife? asks Terence.

Certainly not, says the assistant. Where is your mother?

In Barcelona, says Terence.

Your guardian then, says the assistant.

Belle appears, holding three pairs of socks.

Is this child with you? asks the assistant.

Yes, says Belle. We were looking for yellow socks and he went off on his own.

He asked me for a knife, says the assistant.

Did he? says Belle.

I found these leggings, says Terence. If we cut off the top they'd be socks.

They'd fall down straight away, says Belle. 

And unravel, says the assistant.

Yes, and unravel, says Belle. But good work Terence, for spotting the leggings and thinking of a plan.

Not a good plan. He could have asked me for scissors, says the assistant.

Yes, why didn't you? asks Belle.

Because, says Terence. Scissors are wimpy.

Scissors would have been much more effective, says the assistant. 

Yes they would, agrees Belle. Not that it matters. What do you think of these, Terence?

Terence looks at the three pairs of socks.

All bright yellow.

One pair has HAPPY printed near the ankle.

One pair has little black ducks round the top.

A third pair has non-slip grips on the bottom.

Terence likes all of them.

Are they for school or sport? asks the assistant.

A play, says Belle. Terence is playing a florin. 

I have to roll down the tops so the audience sees my legs, says Terence.

So you don't need the duck ones, says the assistant. Will you have shoes on?

No, says Terence. I'll be dancing.

He does a few steps of the dance. 

That's delightful, says the assistant.

Down and out! sings Terence.

Those are some of his lines, says Belle. But he's not meant to sing them.

When he was! sings Terence, remembering what comes before.

To Candide he gave me! sings Terence.

You've got it all backwards, says Belle. But it's good remembering, all the same.

Yes, agrees the assistant. So it's Candide, is it?

It is, says Belle. We're performing it in the Fringe, next week.

I must come, says the assistant.

Yes do, says Belle. You won't be disappointed.

I'll look for the boy in the socks, says the assistant.

Which socks? asks Terence.

The non-slip grip socks, says the assistant.

Yes, it's decided.