Scary Feet

The plane is ready for boarding.

A flight attendant comes to take the see-through container.

Here it is, says the inspection officer. 

Thanks, says the flight attendant. What do they eat?

All taken care of, says the inspection officer. The frog has a supply of dead flies. The other one's just a pebble.

Weird combination, says the flight attendant. 

I know, says the inspection officer. We get all sorts. By the way there's a little girl who'd love to take care of the frog. Her name's Rosa.

I'll see what I can do, says the flight attendant.

She takes the see-through container and heads down the ramp to the plane.

Passenger boarding commences.

At last every passenger is on.

The flight attendant walks down the aisle looking for Rosa.

There she is, next to her parents.

Hello, says the flight attendant. Are you the girl who offered to look after the frog?

Yes, says Rosa.

And is it okay with your parents? asks the flight attendant.

Fine, says Rosa's dad. Rosa likes frogs.

As long as it doesn't get loose, says Rosa's mother.

Yes! 

Rosa now has the see-through container on her lap. 

Better place it under the seat in front of you while we take off, says her dad.

No way! says Rosa. It's dark under there.

You must, says her mother.

Okay, says Rosa. I'll just tell them not to be scared.

She opens the lid a little.

I'm putting you under the seat for a while, says Rosa. It'll be dark and you might see scary feet.

Can we have a pencil? asks Baby Pierre.

And paper, adds the tinker.

Okay, says Rosa. But not yet.

She puts the see-through container on the floor and pushes it under the seat in front of her.

This sucks, says Baby Pierre. 

No it doesn't, says the tinker. She's done the right thing.

She could at least have given me a pencil, says Baby Pierre.

Too dangerous, says the tinker. In the dark you might put my eye out.

What about MY eye? says Baby Pierre.

I didn't think your eye could come out, says the tinker.

I bet it could, says Baby Pierre. Why does everyone think I'm just a pebble.

You are a pebble, says the tinker. 

Not just a pebble, says Baby Pierre.

I used to admire you, says the tinker. But you grumble too much.

Because I keep getting thwarted says Baby Pierre.

Things will look up, says the tinker.

And they do.

First of all the seat belt light goes off, which means you can do things.

Rosa pulls the see-through container out and lifts it back onto her lap.

She opens the lid slightly, and pokes in a pencil.

Baby Pierre looks up just as the pencil comes down, on his eye.

But he is just a pebble, and the pencil lands harmlessly.

See what I mean? says the tinker.