RUOK! RUOK!

I'll keep Prawny's tail, and glue it on later, says Gaius. 

What about my wings? asks Prawny.

You may not want the wings, says Gaius.

Are they ruined? asks Terence.

Pretty much, says Gaius.

Prawny can get new ones, says Terence.

Or do without, says Margaret. 

I'll do without, says Prawny.

They were only feathers, says Margaret. 

Juvenile feathers, says Gaius.

Yes! says Terence. Prawny needs proper wings!

I don't want proper wings, says Prawny. I just want my tail back.

Later, says Gaius. I have fish glue in my back pack at Minnie's.

Okay, says Prawny. What can I do in the meantime?

Whatever Terence thinks best, says Gaius.

Let's look out for Rosalie, says Terence. 

Good idea, says Gaius. If you hold Prawny aloft, he'll see her coming. Meanwhile Margaret and I will keep an eye on the hole.

So Terence takes Prawny a short way down the track at the side of the pond, and holds Prawny aloft.

Turn me, says Prawny. I've only got one eye.

It's hard to turn you without your tail, says Terence.

Turn yourself then, says Prawny.

You're pretty smart, says Terence. 

Am I? asks Prawny.

Can you see her? asks Terence.

No, says Prawny.

They wait.

Gaius and Margaret are keeping an eye on the hole.

Did you hear something? asks Margaret.

Rr! says Gaius. But that was before.

Something is poking out, says Margaret. A frog's leg, it looks like.

I don't see it, says Gaius.

There! says Margaret, pointing.

Ah yes! Gaius can see it. But it's not the right hole.

It's knocking, says Margaret.

Frogs don't knock, says Gaius.

It appears to be knocking, says Margaret. Maybe it's checking on its neighbour.

Of course! says Gaius. It would have heard sounds of choking, and coughing and a subsequent lack of volume in the croak.

Now look! says Margaret. The one that was choking is poking its head out! 

So is the other one, says Gaius. If only we could hear what they're saying.

RUOK? says Margaret.

What? says Gaius.

Just my joke, says Margaret. I really can't hear them. I thought it was what a frog might say to a fellow frog in trouble. It sounds a like a croak. RUOK!

I'm not used to you making jokes, Margaret, says Gaius. I'm glad you've explained it.

He laughs belatedly.