Opium Of The People

Edith and Baby Pierre have settled into her economy class seat, before take-off.

Baby Pierre is not happy with the arrangements.

She has placed him in her lap, which has a deep valley, where her legs join.

He wriggles.

Edith realises at once that this is improper.

Are you comfy like that? asks Edith. Would you like to sit up on my bible?

Baby Pierre would prefer anything to his current position.

Yes thank you, says Baby Pierre.

He perches on the black bible, bedecked with ribbons.

Edith has an aisle seat. Next to her is a man who is reading.

She wonders if he is a Christian.

But he seems to be engrossed in his book, The Girl on the Train.

She looks down at Baby Pierre.

Now you must tell me, says Edith, all about our Father.

Baby Pierre was not expecting this question, which isn't a question.

He had been expecting something more like:

Why is there so much evil in the world?

To which he could give a simple answer.

But OUR father. She can't mean Ageless. Perhaps she means Marx? Terence's grandpa. Stupid Terence. With his stupid sun hat. As if he would get sunburn......

You must know him personally, says Edith.

Baby Pierre decides that he could say he does.

Well, says Baby Pierre. He can be mean and scary. He doesn't think like us. And he has a beard, and long grey hair, and he rides a bicycle and he believes religion is the opium of the people.

Ha ha, laughs the man sitting next to Edith.

She shoots a dark look at him.

Sorry, says the man. My book's funny.

(But we all know it isn't).

Edith decides to ask a question to which the little spirit of Saint Peter must know the answer.

Tell me, what happens to us when we die?

If Baby Pierre knows one thing, he knows he won't die. He doesn't even know anyone who has died, except a few parrots. And they were Terence's. And you don't count a balloon.

But then Baby Pierre remembers the dreadful day when his best friend Frog died.

His face betrays him.

Is it so dreadful? asks Edith.

The man next to her nods grimly, and keeps reading The Girl On The Train.

You slowly dry up, says Baby Pierre. You get wrinklier and wrinklier. But your personality remains the same. If you're brave like my friend Frog was, you stay brave even if someone insults you, but in the end you get squished by someone like Ageless who doesn't even think that it matters.

Who is Ageless? asks Edith.

My daddy, says Baby Pierre. And I should explain because you won't know, that Frog was a tomato.

The man in the next seat stops reading The Girl on the Train.

And did Frog go to Heaven? asks the man.

Edith freezes. He was listening!

No, says Baby Pierre. He dried up. The wind blew him away.

He sits on Edith's bible thinking of Frog, who he has not thought of in ages.

Edith is thinking of Frog as well. She can't see him as a tomato.

The man is regretting his intervention. The rest of the flight might be awkward

A pivotal moment.

Broken by Terence who has wandered down from business class for no reason other than that everyone might see his new sun hat.

He spots Baby Pierre on Edith's bible, looking mournful.

He stops. No doubt, to say something.