part1

bOR: But surely you see that these things can be classified. We three are friends, which is certainly different from three foes!

bf: flap, flap, flap.

bOR: Even Mr. Butterfly agrees.

bNOT: Distinguishing only between friend and foe hardly does your friends justice, I should hope. Nor does it represent the great diversity among your friends, as this group demonstrates rather nicely.

bOR: I would think that you would have more respect than to use that tone when speaking to your elders.

bNOT: I apologize, I just wanted to fire you up a little.

bOR does not find this funny (nor should any old tree) and scowls at bNOT who returns a sly smile

bOR: I have had many friends through the centuries, to keep track of them I use three categories: vegetable, animal, and mineral.

bf: flap, flap, flap!

bOR: Of course I think of you differently than the human, for one you are quite the poet.

bf: flap, flap, flap.

bOR: You are very welcome. Now if I can go on un-interrupted ... There are a number of characteristics that when grouped and compared, would easily discern one friend from another: size, color, transparency or opacity, mass, magnetic field, duration ... by the way, how old are you?

bNOT: Your question assumes the past, I do not. That question makes no sense to me.

bf: flap, flap, flap!

bOR: How impolite of me! Yes, I do know how precious your time is.

part2