Wrong Thoughts About Life

It is mid afternoon when young Richard Ligon returns to Gun Hill, with a tin of red paint.

Yes! In the end he had got what he went for.

Hola! says Not-Henry-Wilkinson. Red paint.

Yep! says young Richard Ligon. Chap in the paint shop tried to sell me paint stripper and waterproofer, and told me red was the wrong colour, but I stuck to your order.

Wrong colour? asks Not-Henry-Wilkinson. Why?

Red is for impulsive and optimistic, says young Richard Ligon.

It's a ball, says Not-Henry-Wilkinson. It has little or no personality. Sounds like codswallop.

I know, says young Richard Ligon. And orange is no better.

Just for interest's sake, says Not-Henry-Wilkinson, what's the profile of orange?

Sociable, friendly, love of adventure, says young Richard Ligon.

That's me! says Not-Henry-Wilkinson. Don't look like that. Only kidding. Red's good. But I do love adventure.

Must be hard, being stuck here, says young Richard Ligon.

No, my life isn't tedious,  I see all kinds of comings and goings, says Not-Henry-Wilkinson. Speaking of which.....

Yes?

Errr.. um... Tiny Sacrifice has left the snake hole. I was unable to stop him.

Fuck! says young Richard Ligon. Which way did he go?

There's only one way, says the lion. Downhill. One of his siblings was with him.

You sure? asks young Richard Ligon. Two of them! This could be huge! How long ago?

About half an hour, says Not-Henry-Wilkinson. Are you intending to follow them?

Of course I am! says young Richard Ligon. The sooner the better. Where do you want the paint?

I was rather hoping that you.....begins Not-Henry-Wilkinson.

Yeah, but you screwed up, says young Richard Ligon.

True, sighs Not-Henry-Wilkinson. Just put the tin anywhere.

Young Richard Ligon shoves the tin of red Perma Flat Emulsion into the space between the back paws of the lion, inadvertently covering the entrance to the snake hole.

It goes darker than the usual degree of darkness inside.

Masteego! cries Tangerine. What has happened? Is it a punishment?

A temporary eclipse, says Masteego. Don't worry. It will pass.

Why is it so dark, mother? cry the babies, (all but Third Sister).

........

Tiny Sacrifice and Third Sister are slithering their way down Gun Hill.

They are not in a hurry. They have nowhere special to go.

This is the big world, says Tiny Sacrifice. How do you like it?

I love it, says Third Sister. What's to eat?

We'll find something, says Tiny Sacrifice. I climbed a tree once and found tree eggs.

You're so clever, says Third Sister.

You'll soon be as clever as me, says Tiny Sacrifice. Look there's a  tree. Go and climb it.

Third Sister tries, but can't seem to get any traction.

Watch me, says Tiny Sacrifice. He winds his way up the tree.

But this tree has no tree eggs.

He winds his way down again.

It's not dinner time yet, says Tiny Sacrifice.

Never mind, says Third Sister. Have some chocolate.

They share her last piece of Cacao Grenada.

Both thinking (wrongly): Life is good.