"No, I won't use another biro for two reasons. One: I think that biro's lucky, and Two: I only own one." Howard explained.
"Well, until you get another pen, I'll be keeping this then." Vince replied, putting the poem in his jacket pocket and zipping it closed.
Howard got up and paced the shop, thinking, while Vince sat on the counter, reading Cheekbone.
After half an hour, Naboo and Bollo carried the last of the ingredients from the roof, where they'd landed the carpet.
"Hurry it up, Naboo!" Saboo instructed.
"That's all of it," Naboo said. "All ten bags."
"Ok, everyone, start piling these ingredients into that cauldron, no order needed." Dennis told the group.
***
After ten minutes, it was all in there.
"OK, Naboo, go get a litre of water." Saboo ordered.
"I already did that."
"Well get another one, there isn't enough water in there."
"Yes there is, Saboo. Can someone get the pen? We need it now." Kirk told them.
"Bollo do it." Bollo said, grabbing a pair of sugar tongs from the kitchen.
"Oh, hey Bollo." Vince smiled as Bollo walked downstairs.
Bollo said nothing, but grabbed Howard's biro with the sugar tongs. As he walked back upstairs, he gave Vince a quick smile.
As soon as he was gone, Vince gave Howard his poem back. "There you go." He said.
"Thanks. Will you please explain to me what is happening?"
"Right. I'll explain…"
Bollo walked into the room, holding the pen at arms length.
"Thanks Bollo. Drop it in there." Naboo pointed to the cauldron. "We've set it up. It should be ready."
Bollo nodded, and dropped the pen into the cauldron.
Silence at first, then it started to bubble.
The cauldron exploded. When the smoke cleared, the pen was lying there, undamaged, but back to normal.
"I'd better go and help Vince explain to Howard what's going on." Naboo said, as he walked downstairs.