Baldo notices that ‘sun’ is moving into the vicinity of King’s ‘cage’, while his/her own cage is in full shade.

King is a thief of ‘sun!’

WAAAAARGHH!

[Silent.]

King finishes eating his piece of fruit. He fake-‘burps’ then says, ‘Oh pardon nee!’

He giggles like a girl before repeating, ‘Oh pardon nee!’

Slowly, slowly, Baldo’s feathers lose their inflated quality. The fly is now walking around in Baldo’s food bowl. Baldo continues to stare at King as ‘sun’ slowly, slowly enters King’s ‘cage’.

King is the thief of ‘sun’!

King is the thief of ‘sound’!

King is the thief of ‘fruit’!

And of Bitch!

Even Bitch!

Baldo hates King.

Baldo toddles rapidly along his/her perch and then –

(?)

Snap!

He/she chops that pesky fly in half.

Ha!

All flies and other pests would do well to fear the devastating wrath of Baldo!

Ha!

Ha! Ha!

Ha!

21

Miss Carla Hahn

Alys answers the telephone sounding hoarse, panicked and out of breath.

‘Hello?’ she pants. ‘Hello? Hello? Who is that? What do you want? Is anybody—’

‘Alys – Alys,’ I interrupt, ‘calm down! It’s only me!’

‘Me?’

She’s suspicious.

‘Me, Carla!’ I exclaim, slightly wounded.

‘Oh. Oh. Oh I am sorry, Carla,’ she murmurs, embarrassed, ‘it’s just that I’ve been having … There’s a problem with the phone. Someone keeps ringing and then hanging up. All the time. I know it doesn’t sound like much, but it’s got me really … really spooked.’

‘Just kids, maybe?’ I speculate.

‘Yes. Yes. Probably. I mean I don’t often give the number out – I’m usually very … very circumspect. After all the problems ten years ago. People wanting … You know. So I changed the number and since then, like I say, I’ve been extremely circumspect …’

I adjust my towel and ponder the issue for a moment. ‘Well has there been anything … I don’t know … anything out of the ordinary happening recently? An argument with a neighbour, perhaps or …?’

Alys considers this for a second. ‘Nothing I can think of, no.’

‘And the caller doesn’t speak? They don’t say anything? They don’t … No heavy breathing or …?’

‘Nope. They just hang up. Straight away. As soon as I place the receiver to my ear. Before I can even … And I know that might not sound like anything much’ – she sighs – ‘but it’s quite literally all the time. I’m … I’m completely jittery. I’m turning into a nervous wreck.’

‘Unplug the stupid thing, then!’ I exclaim.

‘I can’t, Carla. I need it for Mother. Just in case she gets into any kind of … of bother … And Jenny often rings if ever she needs a quick hand with Sam.’

She’s plainly exasperated.

‘Okay. Okay. And you have no idea who might …?’

‘None.’

Silence.

‘Although I suppose …’

‘What?’ I demand.

‘No. No, it’s just way too …’

‘What, Alys?’ I repeat.

‘Well the only person who I gave the number to recently was your friend Mr Huff.’