July 10. “Button, the Paul matter is getting bigger and bigger.”

“He’s one lucky octopus. He’s gorging on the best food and on top of that, he’s become a celebrity overnight. Just look at the coverage he’s getting in newspapers, on television! Regular television shows have been cancelled to put him on air so he can tell the world who he thinks will lift the World Cup.”

“But Mani, the parrot, has silently entered the space only Paul was occupying all this time and has predicted that Netherlands is going to win. It’s like a tug of war. Which team are you supporting?”

“Like I told you, I don’t understand soccer at all but I’ll go with Spain. What about you?”

“I’ll go with Netherlands.”