AN OLD FRIEND

Wilson, Byron and Nërp have gone out to have a heart-to-heart talk – or in Nërp's case, CPU-to-heart talk – because they're all worried about what people are calling 'The New Normal'.

Wilson is concerned that all the hotels will go out of business and he will never have another proper holiday.

 

Byron is worried about art galleries having to close so his exposure to contemporary art will be limited to looking at it on Sky Arts HD, which apparently just isn't the same.

 

Nërp's principal anxiety revolves around the continued availability of spare parts if he starts to wear out.

 

Wilson had just raised the vexing question of whether Xmas would have to be cancelled if Father Xmas [Santa Claus] caught Covid-19 when a seagull suddenly and unexpectedly landed on Nërp's head.

 

'Wilson!' the gull squawked, 'it IS you, isn't it?'

 

Wilson replied warily, 'Um, do I know you?'

 

'It's me, Andrew, your best friend from Weston Super Mare – don't you recognise your old mate? Your old chum? Your Best Buddy? Your BFF? People used to call us The Two Musketeers!'

 

—

To be continued…