Zeinab Alayan

“And we saved your life, y’know,” Andrew said, jerking his head in Oliver’s direction. “I mean, the least you could do is thank us.”“Of course!” Oliver said hastily. “Thank you very much.”“It was really dangerous back there,” Patricia said earnestly, as though wanting to make sure he understood the severity of the situation. “Yes, beheading is a serious business, I suppose,” Oliver said kindly. “I think it would have been difficult to keep on living once my head was chopped off.”

“Oliver opened the door of the carriage and found his puppets huddled together on the bench. He gestured for them to come closer. “Hurry,” he hissed. “Unless you want to become as tiny as ants.” “Oliver, did you know that you have a rainbow on your head?” Andrew remarked.”

“It looks like an asylum landed here,” Andrew quipped, poking his head out of Oliver’s pocket. “Ooh, I spot an ass-shaped tent.”“What? Seriously?” Sophie said, surprised. However, she was quick to look away. “Oh. You meant that kind of ass. Jeez, Andrew.”

“Oliver heard Louis’ voice before he saw him. “Beautiful women?” he was saying. Then the door opened and the woman reappeared, holding the wooden lion between her arms. “Where are they? Have they come to see the -- Oliver!” “Hello, Louis,” Oliver said. Louis pointed at him. “He’s no beautiful woman!” he said. Then he noticed Sophie and Julia and his whole attitude changed. He dropped his voice to a husky tone. “Why, hello there, ladies.”

“There we go,” he said cheerfully, after he’d started up a fire. The two puppets, still huddled in his pockets, woke up when they felt the heat of the flames, and they scampered out of sight, squealing for dear life. Oliver laughed. “I’m not going to set you on fire. Come back here.”

“Oh, yes, of course,” he said hastily. He gestured for Sophie to come closer. “Lance, this is Sophie. She helped me out when you and the others ran out on me, and she’s been travelling with me ever since. Sophie, this is Lord Lance the Lazy. You’ll never meet a person lazier than him. Watch as he asks you to come forward so he can kiss your hand.”“Don’t be ridiculous, Oliver, I wouldn’t ask her to come forward,” Lance scoffed. And then after a momentary pause, he added to Sophie, “Incidentally, if I do ask you to come forward, would you oblige?”

“Sophie coughed, and Oliver felt his cheeks becoming warm. “Don’t be an ass, Andrew.” “That’s a little bit difficult to accomplish, y’know?” Andrew replied. “I mean, if you had been so kind as to paint me with black and white stripes, I would’ve been a zebra!”