Godsend Or Not

Why doesn't she go?

Terence looks up at the person.

It's Margaret, in a rain hat.

I'll stand here and collect the umbrellas, says Margaret.

That means I can go, says Arthur.

Yes, go and get something for people to carry their free seeds in, says Margaret. 

Like what? asks Arthur.

Paper towels, says Margaret. Or something like that.

Arthur goes off, to look for paper towels or something like that.

Umbrellas here, please! says Margaret, in a loud voice.

Free seeds! says Terence.

You should've left them in the packet, says a person from Bunnings.

Why? asks Terence.

That's how to transport seeds, says the person from Bunnings.

There wouldn't have been enough, says Margaret. Anyone can see that. If you wait here, Arthur will return with some paper towels.

The queue is not moving, because Arthur has not come back yet.

He is looking at the food stalls. Yiros, gozléme, burgers, bao buns, dumplings, noodles... all have paper towels on the counter. 

He orders two bao buns.

Now he must wait.

Back at the Piglet, Margaret has divided the queue into two separate lines.

One for returning umbrellas, one for free seeds.

The umbrella queue should now move forward.

But doesn't.

If we go now we won't get our free seeds, says one of the people with a borrowed Geological Society umbrella.

You can rejoin the queue, says Margaret.

But then I won't have an umbrella, says the person.

It's not raining, says Margaret.

But it might, says the person.

A bit of rain won't hurt you, says Margaret.

Then why does the Geological Society have umbrellas? asks the person.

Terence, says Margaret, go and see if Arthur is coming.

Okay, says Terence.

He goes, taking the teaspoon.

Gaius comes to the exit to see what's causing the holdup.

Oh, hello Margaret, says Gaius. Where are Arthur and Terence?

Athur went to get paper towels and I sent Terence to find him, says Margaret.

It's unwise to send Terence to find anyone, says Gaius. And why paper towels?

For these seeds, says Margaret. Look, this is what happens when they're poured into your hand from a teaspoon.

She shows him her hand. Wet seeds are stuck to the palm.

We know that, says the Bunnings person. That's why we dont sell them that way.

Well, you know best, at Bunnings,  says Margaret. But these are free seeds.

Indeed, says Gaius, it seems we must all be patient.

Either that or give up. 

Which some people have.

The queue has grown shorter.

I'm missing some umbrellas, says Margaret.

I shall go and find them, says Gaius. They'll be easy to spot.

Thank you Gaius. You're a godsend, says Margaret.

Gaius goes off to look for people with Geological Society umbrellas, godsend or not.