Titan

A warm day in October is a rare thing to come by, but it’s why the Welloby family took their opportunity at going for a day out. Mum, Tiffany. Dad, Matt. And their eight-year-old daughter Mary. Tiffany’s in the kitchen making sandwiches. Matt comes in. As he opens the kitchen door, we can hear Mary singing along to the karaoke music channels in the living room.

‘Some voice on her.’ Matt says.

‘Our little pop star.’

‘You done there, want some help?’ Matt says, stopping beside Tiffany at the chopping board.

‘I’m fine. You wanna make sure we have the crisps you like though?’

‘Yeah great.’ He walks over to the cupboard and opens it – out pops a rubber snake.

‘Ohhh!’ Tiffany moans, ‘You barely flinched.’

‘Oh, this was for my benefit was it?’

‘I found it in the garage. Thought it was quite funny. Or that it would be funny to make you jump.’

‘I see. Have you made Mary jump with this?’

‘No, she’s only little.’

‘So, you thought you’d have a laugh at your husband’s expense hey?’

‘Yes, but he loves me, so he doesn’t mind. And he won’t try to get me back in any way.’

Matt goes over to cuddle Tiffany from behind. He kisses her on her cheek as he sees that she has some sandwiches wrapped in foil and she’s making more too.

‘What are these for?’

‘For right now.’

‘Now? Hon’, we don’t need to have a bite before going to a picnic.’

‘We do, just in case the weather turns bad or there’s no place decent to sit wherever we go. Where are we going anyway?’

Mary runs in, ‘Sandwiches sandwiches!’

‘Hey babe,’ Matt says as he attempts to pick her up. He puts her down right away. ‘Ooof that’s a big girl.’

‘I’m eight dad. Not eight stone.’

‘Cheeky, how do you know about weight all of a sudden?’

Tiffany hands Mary a plate of cheese sandwiches and she takes them to the table.

‘I teach her.’

‘Oh, during your Yoga and Chapatis?’

Tiffany laughs and kisses Matt. ‘Pilates, not chapatis. You’re so silly. Here, take these.’

Matt takes a few glasses and some juice to the table. He takes a seat and Tiffany comes along too.

‘Now Mary, do you think sandwiches are necessary at home and when we go out?’

Mary nods ‘I love my food dad. Sandwiches are always necessary.’

Tiffany has a bite of her sandwich and rubs Matt’s arm. ‘So? Where are we going?’

Matt eats. ‘I don’t mind. Chesner’s?’

‘Ew no, there are no trees in that field. There’ll be no shade.’

‘West Parlour?’

‘Too much shade?’

Matt looks at Mary and eyeballs Tiffany. ‘She’s picky isn’t she.’

Mary laughs.

‘What?’ Tiffany says.

‘Dad’s right mum. He gives you options and none of them are good.’

‘Well,’ Tiffany says, ‘what about Eiser?’

‘Lake Eiser? At this time of year?’

‘Yeah, why not? The sun can shine on us and there’ll be plenty of space. Nice cool breeze from the lake too.’

Matt continues eating, shaking his head. ‘I don’t know. Haven’t you heard about that place around Halloween? It’s not particularly safe.’

Tiffany chuckles with food in her mouth. ‘Oh, come on, old wives’ tales no?’

‘So you have heard of them?’

‘Heard of what? What’s a wives tail?’ Mary asks as she eats.

‘Old wives’ tale, is a story, a myth love. Your dad just believes it to be true.’

‘I didn’t say I believe it, but there are plenty of other places to go that’s all.’

‘So what’s the story?’ Mary asks.

‘You’re too young for it.’

‘Matt, really?’

‘It involves certain events that lead to funerals, so yes, I do think she’s too young for it.’

Matt moves himself away from the table and goes to put his plate in the sink. Tiffany begins whispering the tale to Mary.

‘I hear that,’ Matt says.

‘I’ll tell you at bed time yeah?’

Mary grins a beaming smile ‘OK!’

Matt sees all this and shakes his head as Tiffany comes over to the sink.

‘What are you teaching her?’

‘Oh come on, she’ll be fine. She has to learn to take such stories from us don’t you think? When she’s with us and when she’s protected. Who knows who she’ll hear it all from in the outside world.’

‘Yeah I get that, but maybe wait until she’s eighteen?’

‘She won’t be your little girl at eighteen honey. You need to accept that. She won’t come to you and hang on your every word like she does now.’

‘Ha, fat chance with your phat arse telling her such stories.’

‘Oi, I’m not fat.’

‘P-H phat babe, the p and h stand for Pretty Hot.’

Tiffany smiles. ‘Well are you too scared to go to this lake in broad daylight?’

‘No, not scared. But if anything freaky happens that you sure know why.’

‘If anything freaky happens, we’ll all be dead.’

‘Hey that’s not funny.’