276. Wildlife

Of course we leave later than planned. Of course we get stuck in traffic jams. Of course we are behind schedule and arrive hours after the men of our clan.

But with all this extra time on their hands the house must be clear of spiders, mice, snakes and tigers. Two strong men to chase them away!

We are to get there at dinner time so we stop and do the shopping. The later we are the more animals they will chase so we visit the tiny supermarket, the town's baker's and butcher's.

When we get there the men are happy to see us. My husband to find out about the drive and my son to get some food.

'How was the drive? Not too many traffic jams?'

Our son is digging into the shopping bags and impatient to get the dinner on. My husband is happy, pointing at the BBQ all set and waiting for the meat. The weather is perfect, still really warm and eating under the lime tree is going to be the first blissful moment of this year's summer break. 

But where is Baby? She has gone upstairs, ready for the annual fight of the holiday in the country: the fight for the better bed - i.e. the fight for the proper bed vs the bunk beds. My son has been up there and no doubt dumped his bag onto the bed. So we are expecting her to come down and start an argument. Instead an ear-piercing shriek tears up the peaceful bucolic scene and makes the three of us down in the garden jump.

'What now?' Our son mutters in a blasé voice.

'Gosh! What now?' My husband mutters, thinking of his delayed dinner.

But I know. I know that up there in the bedrooms there is some form of animal life.