Wake Up Blood Sister

On board the American Airlines flight from Sydney to LAX.

Ageless has slipped into the basket with Kobo.

Nose is on Terence's lap.

Terence is sitting between Griff and Gaius.

Gaius is sorting his notes.

I could swear I had a map of Barbados, says Gaius.

Not allowed to, says Terence.

What's that? says Gaius.

Swear, says Terence. No one's allowed to.

It's not the same thing, says Gaius. By swearing I mean attesting.

Terence hopes to remember this useful piece of information.

There was an excellent map in my Natural History of Barbados, says Griff. It was done by Thomas Jeffries, mapmaker to King George the Third.

What use is that? says Gaius. Have you brought it with you?

No, of course not, says Griff. But I believe I could reproduce it, give or take a few details.

Here is a sheet of paper, says Gaius. And you have the pencils.

No, you have the pencils, says Griff.

I do not have the pencils, says Gaius. Drat! Why am I always without pencils?

So a map is not drawn.

But it is dinner time. The trolley comes past.

Gaius chooses the Black Bean and Corn Quinoa Salad with Grilled Chicken Breast.

Griff chooses Roast Sirloin Steak with Red Wine Sauce, and Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Broccoli.

And what about the little fellow? asks the flight attendant.

Red Wine Sauce, says Terence.

I don't think so, says the flight attendant. How about Whitefish with Sautéed Green Beans?

RED SAUCE!, says Terence.

No, frowns the flight attendant. Not an option.

Bum head! says Terence.

Terence! says Griff.

Just testing, says Terence.

Attesting, says Nose.

Thank you, blood sister, says Terence, patting her feathers.

Bring him a non-alcoholic red drink, says Gaius. What's on the drinks list?

Tomato Juice, Cranberry Apple, or Mr and Mrs T's Bloody Mary Mix, says the flight attendant.

The last one, says Terence.

Wouldn't you know it.

The flight proceeds towards LAX, through the night, until it is Snack Time.

Quattro Formaggio Flatbread Pizza, and Salted Caramel Gelato.

And the plane keeps on going........

Zzzzzzz. Terence can't sleep. Maybe it's the Bloody Mary Mixture. Maybe it's that he doesn't do sleeping.

Terence whispers to Nose.

Wake up, blood sister.

Waaaat?

Let's climb down and spy on Ageless and Kobo.

What if they're kissing?

Terence and Nose clamber down.

Now they are next to the basket.

They hear Kobo's soft murmur:

mmm...mmm...to run on white sands hand in hand with another.....mmm....to sip colourful drinks with paper umbrellas....to roll in green jelly.....mmmm....ah...ah....oh...ageless stop it.....

It must be a dream she is having.

Ageless is snoring.