Last Laugh

Chapter 6: Mardi Gras Starts on Fridays

_CHAPTER SIX_

Mardi Gras Starts on Fridays

"I still don't get why Maccus doesn't want to talk to me," Beppi said, clearly disappointed. Ever since he joins the swimming club, Maccus was his shadow swimmer. Unlike the rest, the hammerhead shark never uttered a word.

"Well, some beasts are not the talkative type," said Arthur, who was pouring a cup of tea for himself. Both of the animals were at the cafe with Arthur's father, Dr Kirk. "I may not be fluent in Marine just like Sameer but I think he's not used to things."

Beppi's jaw dropped down, clearly in shock. "What do you mean 'not used to things'? Isn't Maccus older than us? Anyone older than us should be confident, brave and smart. Then again, some of the teachers do act like us when they lose their cool...Does your dad lose his cool sometimes?"

"I would have known if I heard his voice change," the Honduran white bat replied, pinching his temple briefly. Beppi pinned back his ears, feeling slightly guilty that his chatter might make Arthur lose both of his ears off. Bats have sensitive hearing after all.

They sat in silence, eating their baked potatoes. Beppi had baked beans on his while Arthur's had sour cream with shredded cheese. It was one of the cafes where its speciality are baked potatoes. Both of his guardians were going to be home late so they had dropped him off at Arthur's house.

Of course, both father and son took him in until his guardians fetch him after their shifts. Beppi felt Arthur tapped his hand with his two fingers. "I wouldn't worry about it, Beppi. What I mean is that Maccus might not be used to other animals talking to him. Most marine animals, according to Sameer, are a bit wary of us land animals. We're either friends or food."

The Tasmanian devil covered his mouth, trying to contain his laughter from seeing the other customer's expression when they heard the Honduran white bat's statement. Even though Arthur was from the sixth year, he and Sameer never treated Beppi like a little kid.

Then again, the blind bat himself missed out his early years of preschool because of those cloudy cataracts across his blue eyes. In a way, both he and Arthur are Conditioned Confidantes, where one lost his sights while the other slowly losing his life bit by bit.

"Are you going to the veterans' home this weekend?"

Arthur shook his head. "I'm visiting my Nana and Pops this weekend. It would be nice to make some music with Pops in the garden while Nana tends to her bees."

Beppi raised a brow, his mischievous grin was back. "Oh, so I take it your grandpa is her 'bees knees'? Or is she his sweet, sweet honey?"

Arthur snorted with laughter, covering his mouth with his wing. With his ears perked up, Beppi realised that the Honduran white bat was also listening to the other customers in the cafe. I'm glad that I'm not the one with super hearing. I might get a headache!

Both of the boys finished their baked potatoes, knowing that a cold spud won't be great on their taste buds. While Arthur was chewing his, Beppi was brainstorming all of the cheesy one-liners he could come up. He couldn't help but notice that a few bats were hanging upside down on the restaurant's ceiling.

"Hey, how come you're not hanging upside down?" asked Beppi. Arthur tilted his head in confusion. He wanted to gesture but realised that his friend was blind to see his hand movements. Arthur perked his ears when the question dawned on him.

"Oh, I understand. Well, I sit down because I don't want you to crane your neck up to talk to me. It's easier for me if I hang upside down but since most of my friends are on the ground, I might as well do the same."