The Last Seven Minutes

You need new shorts dear, says Katherine. And so does Sweezus.

Arthur agrees.

But she does not offer to fund them.

Sweezus comes back having ordered the platters.

I've ordered four, says Sweezus. They're heaps smaller than last time.

I'll order extra salad, says Katherine.

She goes to the counter.

It's not fair, says Terence.

Nothing is, says Gaius. What's wrong now?

No one ever asks me, says Terence.

I'm asking, says Gaius.

If I want anything, says Terene.

Do you want anything, little buddy? asks Sweezus.

Yes! says Terence. A red drink, and a horse, and the treat Ludwig promised.

The treat! says Wittgenstein. It had slipped my mind completely.

Does that mean I can't have it? asks Terence.

No it doesn't, says Wittgenstein. The treat's on my phone.

Yay! says Terence. How big is it?

Phone size, says Wittgenstein. 

Oh, says Terence.

Wittgenstein fiddles with his phone, calling up various book-selling websites.

Where on earth was it?

At last he remembers. How simple. You just google horse books. 

Watch this, says Wittgenstein, handing Terence his phone.

On the screen a woman with an American accent is reading If I Had A Horse. There are few words, and she turns each page slowly. The pictures are shadowy, purple and brown.

Terence soon gets the gist of the story.

The kid wants a horse. If the kid had a horse, he would give it an apple. He would hug it, and climb on its back. They would run wild and be fearless. Together the horse and the kid could do anything. The end.

Is that it? asks Terence.

Yes, how did you like it? asks Wittgenstein.

Worst treat ever, says Terence. And why is the kid's hair so long?

It might be a girl, suggests Gaius.

Not necessarily, says Sweezus.

It's a girl, decides Terence.

Katherine comes back having ordered a falafel and spiced pumpkin salad, and some wedges.

She plonks a red drink in front of Terence.

Beetroot juice, says Katherine. Drink up, young man.

It's the best thing that has happened to Terence in the last seven minutes.