The Philosophy Of Cause And Effect

Some time has elapsed.

But we might suppose that it hasn't.

In which case, it is last Tuesday.

David Hume is thinking along similar lines.

You do look sour, David, says his mother. What's the matter?

I am attempting to project myself into the future, says David.

You don't need to do that, says Katherine. It's what happens anyway.

Ah, says David. But I was attempting to do it without experiencing the interim.

It will be over soon enough, says Katherine. You'd be sorry if you missed it.

If I missed it, says David, there would be nothing to be sorry about.

Katherine sighs and opens her novel, Like Water for Chocolate.

David closes his eyes, until the plane lands in Sydney.

.........

David and Katherine are on the train to Emu Plains.

Katherine is reading her novel, which is mildly erotic.

David sighs loudly.

Shh! says Katherine. This is a quiet carriage.

I was just thinking, says David, about cause and effect.

And there was an example of it, says Katherine.

What? says David.

Katherine frowns.

David supposes the frown is another example.

The train arrives in Emu Plains.

.........

Grandma! cries Butterfly. Come upstairs to my bedroom!

Uncle David! cries Fish. Do you want to go in our pool?

No, Fish, says David, but thank you for asking.

Well, do you want to play sky diving? says Fish.

Where? asks David.

On the stairs, says Fish. You have the blue one and I'll have the green one.

Fish and David climb half way up the stairs.

Fish drops a green man with a flimsy white parachute over the bannister.

David drops his blue man at the same time.

The blue man and the green man float gently down to the tiles in the passageway.

Again, says Fish. You get them.

David climbs down the stairs to retrieve the blue man and the green man,

He looks at his watch.

Fish, says David, on my way here I was thinking.

What were you thinking? asks Fish.

About why things happen, says David. Why do we think one thing causes another, and yet we can't prove it?

I know, says Fish.

I should be interested to hear what you know, says David.

I just know, says Fish, releasing his parachute.

It lands on the floor like a tent.

..........

It is dinner time.

There is chicken and cake, and real ginger beer.

Tomorrow, mummy and daddy must go off to work and Butterfly must go back to school.

Leaving Katherine and David at home to look after Fish.