Angelica Lost and Found

Chapter 30. Vroom Vroom

‘Such wonderful pictures!’ says Phyllis. ‘And they’re all done autistically?’

‘New gearbox every time,’ says Alyosha. ‘Also valve job.’

‘Take me through The Beeriodic Fable of the Elephants again, Alyosha. Here’s the beginning of it, with an elephant dozing in a hammock slung between two trees.’

‘Is Dimitri Pyotr Elephantovitch, ZZZZZZZ peacefully.’

‘When suddenly …’

‘Suddenly TSADSABAM!’

‘Lightning strikes the tree WHAM!’

‘Flaming fire bursting out SSWEEUUU!’

‘But Dimitri Pyotr is ready for it.’

‘With trunkful of beer squirting SSSSQUIRSHHH! Out goes fire tssss.’

‘And the elephants tell this Beeriodic Fable to …’

‘Elephant childs. Moral of fable: Always have trunkful of beer in case of stricken with lightning.’

‘Why not water, Alyosha?’

‘Is oral tradition, always beer.’

‘Love that fable, Alyosha.’

‘All elephant childs learn this. Now I make for you some borscht, yes?’