Chapter Two: The Park

There is a small, dusty grey beetle (or weevil to be more precise) who lives on my desk, called Alfonso. He spent most of yesterday haranguing me for spending too much time on facebook, so I squashed him, but he popped up again today, over my mid-morning coffee, and suggested a walk in the park to talk things over.

I obliged, because it was such a beautiful spring morning, popped him carefully in a matchbox, and off we went. In the park, we found an old iron bench peeling with green paint facing a fountain which no longer works. I took out the matchbox, and Alfonso took some sun on the bench while we watched no water come out of the fountain.

After a while, an old lady in a very warm coat for this time of year, dragging a battered shopping case behind her, came and stood in front of us and stared at the fountain.

Alfonso said "Maybe she's got very thick glasses, which is why she can't see it's not working?"

"Ssh", I said, "she might be able to hear you"

"I doubt", he said, "she's probably deaf as well as blind."

"You're quite caustic for a small beetle", I remarked.

After a bit, the old lady adjusted her glasses and moved on.

Some other people came and went, and a large panting golden retriever went past, wagging his tail without any regard for weevils, and nearly sent Alfonso flying. Further off in the park, there were some kids kicking a ball around, and we could hear the chug of a lawnmower hovering in the distance.

Alfonso stretched himself out on the top of the matchbox. "This is the life", he said.

But I was still quite cross at the accusations from yesterday of spending too much time on facebook, so I squashed him. He'll be back tomorrow, though.