16:30
Neaty counts the lanterns and gets fifty-four, twice. Tidy says the map says fifty-five and that Neaty must have miscounted, and goes back to the board. Oopsy counts and also gets fifty-four.
2 fluffs tell this minute. None of them saw the same one.
I counted the lanterns at half past four, because somebody ought to, and because I cannot walk past a row of anything without counting it.
Fifty-four.
I counted again. Fifty-four.
There should have been fifty-five. I knew there should be fifty-five the way you know your own name — one for every fluff, that was the whole idea, Winky said it that morning standing on a bucket.
And then at half past four Neaty came and stood in front of me and said there were fifty-four.
"There's fifty-five on the map," I said.
"There's fifty-four on the wall."
"Then you've miscounted."
