Tough Tough Wilderness and Fe Felix Fe were sitting on Deal Pier

It was a dull grey day and the coast of France visible on certain days was shrouded in mist

This annoyed both of them so they had brought thirteen pots of powder paint to brighten the day

They had lined these pots up a yard apart

A young boy ran by shouting with excitement at the mathematics in front of him

13 x 3 = 39 mummy

And if you subtract 11 then it equals 28 which is a Perfect Number

The young boy did not add to his commentary and ran in the general direction of the restaurant at the head of the pier

 Fe Felix Fe picked up the pot fourth in line

It contained yellow powder paint

She threw the contents upwards until they were caught in the sea breeze and waited

Slowly the horizon began to turn yellow

But they could not see the coast of France

Tough Tough Wilderness picked up the pot tenth in line

It contained blue powder paint

He threw the contents upwards until they were caught in the sea breeze and waited

In the distance the blue and yellow paints mixed and created a green

They could see the green fields of France

But the cliffs lacked colour

Fe Felix Fe picked up the pot third in line

It contained white powder paint

Mummy says that white is not a colour

I know Paul Peter Paul but the cliffs of France lack colour today so I must use it

She threw the contents upwards until they were caught in the sea breeze and waited

Slowly the cliffs began to turn white

A passing seagull landed and dipped its head into the first pot which contained red powder paint

Its face was red

You look like a common whore

Fe Felix Fe said as she picked up the pot that the bird had overturned

I have a fancy fellow in Sandwich I hope he will fancy me still

You are the most beautiful whore in the world  andI am sure that your beau will fancy you even with a red face

The contents of the pot had spilled on to the pier and soon the pier was a cosy red

That has put pay to the ravishing sunset has it not
But the summers are pleasant and the town is hot

Sunsets in May are never ravishing

The little boy who was as red as the pier walked by

Mummy says that the sunsets in Margate are better than those in Deal it’s the geography you know

He dipped his finger the thirteenth pot and found no powder paint at all

Why does this pot contain no paint at all

Fe Felix Fe picked up the pot and emptied its contents on to the promanade of the pier

See curious child this pot was full of paint for if you look beneath your feet then you can see the sea

Her words were true for beneath them the pier had disappeared in places and all that was visible was the waves on their journey towards the shore

There are six sea horses in the sea
One for mummy and five for me

Without warning the small boy emptied the contents of the eleventh pot in line into the sea

It contained mauve powder paint

Each of the sea horses

And a nearby mermaid turned purple

Much to their delight

Mummy says that mauve is a synthetic colour

Mummy does not like synthetic colours  

Tough Tough Wilderness picked up the pot seventh in line

It contained pink powder paint

He threw the contents upwards until they were caught in the sea breeze and waited

Slowly the sky turned pink as if a distant sunset was touching the town

Streaks of pink
Streaks of blue
Lots of colour
For me and you

Sang the crew of a nearby fishing boat as it headed out to sea

Tough Tough Wilderness and Fe Felix Fe picked up the remaining pots that contained a variety of colours and threw the contents upwards until they were caught in the sea breeze and waited

Slowly the day took on its colour and drowned mariners climbed on to the pier and began dancing to sea shanties

A drowned maiden from a Victorian ship danced a jig with Fe Felix Fe as Tough Tough Wilderness picked the little boy up and pointed towards France

See little one you can see France clearly

There is postman
On his bike
Delivering parcels and letters
For children to like

In the fisherman’s shelter a mermaid sat combing her golden hair

Do you have silver
Do you have gold
My colour had faded
And I am so cold

Fe Felix Fe sat next to the stricken girl

The pots are nearly empty
Their contents spilled
I will help you immediately
As you are so chilled

She searched among the overturned pots and found both silver and gold and returned to the pale mermaid and tipped the remaining powders over her

The mermaid changed her colour and her silver tail shimmered along with her golden hair

I shall return to the sea
Fe Felix Fe
Thank you so much
For helping me

The little boy ran across towards the mermaid a looked at her with astonishment

Mummy says that mermaids do not exist

I assure you I exist Paul Peter Paul

The little boy threw a handful of blue powder paint at the mermaid

The is for your eyes you shall have the most beautiful blue eyes for when I am older I will marry you and bring you ashore

Mummy is not always right

The mermaid leaned forward and kissed the little boy on the cheek

I will wait for you Paul Peter Paul
But do not grow up too quickly
As the world is a magic place
Stroll through your life do not race

Fe Felix Fe walked with the little boy towards his mother who was waiting for him by the statue of Neptune near the entrance

When Fe Felix Fe returned to the pier it was quiet

The drowned had returned to the murky depths of their eternity and the mermaid had returned to her home

It was night and only the artificial lights on the pier showed any illumination

It is dark in France beloved I fear they are all asleep

Some are awake my love and are looking at the stars

But tonight there are no stars the sky is a velvet black

Tough Tough Wilderness reached into his pocket and threw a handful of diamonds into the air

You see you see
Fe Felix Fe
There are many stars
For you and me