In The Red Zone

 There's nothing wrong with a Toyota Hi-Lux per se.

It's the person inside you don't know.

Want a lift? asks the person.

I'm going to the playground, says Terence.

Hop in then, says the person.

Terence complies.

The person turns out to be on his way to the playground.

His name is Perrot.

Perrot turns up the music.

Dah-dah da dad-dad-dad-dah! The music stops. Time for the news.

The news, says Perrot. May as well listen.

Nice has been declared a covid 19 red zone, says the announcer. There will be blackout panels at the Tour de France starts and finishes, and crowds will be limited on the climbs.

Hear that? asks Perrot.

Yes, says Terence. I usually go. 

No kidding, says Perrot. You look young for a traveller.

I am, says Terence. The clowns always try to kidnap me.

They won't this year, says Perrot.

They arrive at the playground. Terence and Perrot get out. 

What a good playground. A dual platform unit with open sides, a tube slide, and a dolphin-shaped springer.

There are my kids, says Perrot. 

Saint Roley plops down beside Terence.

Terence! I was alarmed when you got into that Toyota Hi Lux.

I needed a lift, says Terence.

You might have got more than you bargained for, says Saint Roley.

I did, says Terence. The NEWS. And guess what?

What? asks Saint Roley.

Blackout panels to stop clowns! says Terence.

What? Where? asks Saint Roley, 

In the red zone, says Terence. On the NEWS. 

Saint Roley is none the wiser. Red zone. Blackout panels. Clowns. He needs to know more.

He flies across to Perrot who is springing his daughter on the dolphin springer.

Boing-creak-boing!

You're too big for this, Claudine!

Excuse me, says Saint Roley, but I heard there was news about a red zone and blackout panels? 

It's in Nice, says Perrot. Not here. No need to worry. Tour de France stuff. It's starting tomorrow. Hey!

Saint Roley has flown off in a hurry.

The Tour de France starts tomorrow! And Gaius and Arthur are here!