One's Missing!

So Terence has an aisle seat, for the moment.

Across the aisle is Monique's father.

Next to him sits Monique.

Terence can't see Monique very well, because her father is bulky.

Terence leans forward.

Monique seems to be waving.

No not waving, she is making hand signals.

Both hands, forefingers and thumbs forming circles.

Goggles? thinks Terence. 

Wheels, dummy! shouts Monique. Where are they?

You had them! shouts Terence.

No you had them, shouts Monique.

Stop shouting, Monique, says her father. What's the trouble?

We've lost Terence's wheels, says Monique. 

I wonder...? says Monique's father feeling under his bottom. Are these them?

He produces three small wooden wheels, on which he must have been sitting.

Yes, says Monique. Terence must have left them behind, and you sat on them, but there were four wheels, where's the other one?

Only three wheels here, says Monique's father. Perhaps one fell off the seat before I sat down, and it rolled away.

Tell Terence, says Monique. He can start looking.

Monique's father leans into the aisle, but the trolley is coming. 

He will have to talk fast.

One's missing.... begins Monique's father.

Tea or coffee? asks the flight attendant. Any juices?

Coffee and an orange juice, please, says Monique's father.

Headphones guy looks up from his screen. 

Guess what? says Terence. 

I know, says headphones guy. She's not back yet.

One's missing, says Terence.

No shit! says headphones guy. We're on a plane. Nothing's missing!

Tea or coffee? asks the flight attendant. Juices?

Headphones guy stands up, and looks down the aisle towards the toilets.

She's been a long time. 

What if she....?

But his girlfriend is making her way back to her seat. 

The girlfriend can't pass the trolley until the flight attendant allows her.

And the flight attendant is pouring out tea. 

The girfriend waves at Terence.

And then disappears suddenly.

Pandemonium!

A tiny wheel rolls under the trolley.