A Match Made In Heaven

Katherine has returned home, to discover the power is off.

She can't make a cup of tea. She can't look at her photos. She can't even phone David.

She opens the fridge and takes stock of what's in it. Not much.

Some Smart Juice and an apple.

She sits down at the kitchen table, and opens the ragged copy of Beaudelaire.

It reminds her of Olive.

Olive Python. How Olive had loved Beaudelaire.

Katherine turns the pages. Not many left since Olive devoured all her favourites.

It's getting dark. Still no power. And it's hot. Might as well go to bed.

Brummmm, a generator over the road is grinding horribly.

She closes the window, lies down again, turns over, dreams.......

........

......she is back in Blaxland with the children.

Fish shows her a book. It's called Tadpole to Frog.

If you flick through the pages, the tadpole appears to be growing.

Fish flicks the pages far too quickly.

Did you see it moving? says Fish.

No, says Katherine. It went too fast for me.

.........

Heard from Katherine? asks Vello, at dinner time.

No, says David. She was due back today, but......

But? says Vello.

She hasn't called me, says David. No doubt there's a reason.

I admire your sang-froid, says Vello.

That's not what it is, says David.

...........

Olive Python doesn't know Katherine has left Blaxland without her. She is down behind the swimming pool in a pile of leaves, hiding from Zoey, the cavoodle.

Rustle, rustle.

Eee!

Hello there, says a deep and manly snake voice.

Phew! says Olive Python. I thought you were a DOG!

A handsome red bellied black snake appears from under the fence line.

I am not a dog, says the red-bellied black snake. You must be new here.

I am new here, says Olive Python. I'm Olive Python. From the Pilbara.

Enchanté! says the red-bellied black snake. My name is Charles Red-belly.

Are you... French? asks Olive Python.

No, says Charles Red-belly. Why do you ask?

You said enchanté, says Olive Python. You're called Charles. Like Baudelaire.

You read Beaudelaire! says Charles Red-belly.

Not exactly, says Olive Python.

The Eyes of the Poor, says Charles, The Dog and the Scent Bottle......

Cake is my favourite, says Olive Python.

I like Cake too, agrees Charles. I read it as a cynical critique of famine.

Mmm, says Olive.

My dear Olive, says Charles. We are soulmates.

It looks like a match made in heaven.