In A Way Free

Where's Prawny? asks Terence.

Under this grass, says the one who didn't eat Prawny.

Come out Prawny! says Terence. You're free.

He is, in a way, free, says the neighbour. That's a nice way to put it.

Prawny has not come out from under the grass stalks.

Terence steps forward.

Prawny! says Terence.

We may as well tell you, says the one who didn't eat Prawny. Prawny has died.

Bumhole! says Terence.

He looks at Katherine.

It doesn't matter, says Katherine.

That is somewhat cruel, Katherine, says Gaius.

I meant the word bumhole, says Katherine. Not the fact Prawny has died.

Katherine said I wasn't allowed to say it, says Terence.

And you haven't until now, says Gaius.

Now SHE'S said it, says Terence.

That is different, says Gaius. Katherine was quoting.

So was I, says Terence.

No, you weren't quoting, says Katherine. But you were expressing understandable sorrow.

At last! says the one who didn't eat Prawny. Would you like to know how he died?

Of course we would, says Gaius.

He felt hot, says the neighbour. And he dived in, and sank to the bottom.

I suppose you tried to rescue him, says Katherine.

A slight hesitation.

then...

Yes, says the neighbour.

But we were too late, says the one who didn't eat Prawny. So we pulled him out anyway, and covered him with grass.

Terence moves a few grass stalks.

Yes, it is Prawny.

No chance now of becoming a parrot.

We wondered if you'd make a video of us rescuing Prawny, says the neighbour.

Retrieving Prawny, you mean, says Gaius.

Well, yes, says the one who didn't eat Prawny.

You'd have to drop Prawny back in, says Terence. 

We know, says the neighbour. That's why we're asking politely.

It should be up to Terence, says Katherine. It's his prawn.

Okay, says Terence. Prawny will like it.

Would have liked it, says Gaius.

When? asks Terence.

When he was living, says Gaius. On second thoughts maybe he wouldn't.

But he would NOW, says Terence.

Very well, says Gaius, taking out his phone. Who's going to throw Prawny back into the water?

Me, says Terence. But I'm not throwing. That's how everything went wrong in the first place.

What then? asks Gaius.

Terence flicks  more grass off Prawny, and rolls him to the edge of the pond with his foot.