Caramelised Reassurance

Arthur is thinking: I'll buy a postcard.

He is falling asleep.

Not BUY, exactly, but acquire one....

He is hearing white noise.

Ying has all the money.......

Ying looks at Arthur, who has fallen asleep.

A blob of Caramelised Plum on his mouth in the corner.

This annoys her.

Should she wipe it off?

She decides to attempt it.

She leans across Arthur and wipes off the Caramelised Plum, with the corner of her white cotton hankie.

He straightens, but does not wake up.

However, the red box containing Daniel O'Connell, Geoff Darwin and Cedric Walnut is pushed further under the seat, by Arthur's feet, as he extends them.

A little girl, not asleep yet, sees a red box emerge under her seat.

She unbuckles her seat belt and picks up the red cardboard box.

Toys!

And Eek! a Horrible Spider!

She picks up Geoff Darwin and pushes him hard against Daniel O'Connell, hoping to kill him.

Daniel O'Connell, who had been thinking of Baby Pierre, is startled into thinking about his own survival.

He squeezes out from behind Geoff Darwin.

Well done! says Geoff Darwin. But I wouldn't have killed you.

The little girl is getting into trouble from her mother.

Celia! says her mother. Where did that box come from?

Under there! wails Celia.

Her mother, realising what has happened, returns the red box.

Ying accepts it.

Thank you. My friend here must have kicked it under.

It has a spider in it, says mother.

I know, says Ying. It's a specimen. On its way to the Canaries, for science.

She has decided to say this rather than: He is going to the Canaries to teach Black Jumping Spiders non-frivolous dancing.

Which would sound somewhat improbable.

But now Daniel O'Connell is thinking about what he was thinking before.

BABY PIERRE.

He hits himself on the head in frustration.

How did he forget him?

Baby Pierre had been so helpful. And so anxious that there should be room for him in the red box.

And here was he, Daniel O'Connell, with Geoff Darwin and Cedric Walnut, who were only there for their outfits.

Outfits not even needed by Daniel O'Connell, (being too large, with not enough leg holes)

Seeing his look of consternation, Ying says, to Daniel O'Connell:

It's been a long day, would you like to sleep wrapped in my hankie?

He is grateful, and accepts her kind offer.

All night he smells second hand Caramelised Plum, which is reassuringly restful.......