Inhale, exhale: this is the time when every day begins and ends in spring, with just that little extra warmth of summer spread across each noon.
He sees her lying flat upon her back as he enters the room, and at first he is afraid she might have fallen, or is perhaps asleep, until she turns her head to him and smiles.
Mother: Come and join me, Skunk,
patting that carpet empty at her flank,
Mother: come and lie down here with me.
He lies in close as he can, already accustomed to her changing shape.
Skunk: What’s happening Mummy what are we doing?
Mother (pointing): Can you see the clouds passing? Watch
where from their perspective lying together upon the floor, all they can see through the window are the differing layers of grey blown past at varying speeds.
She can feel his little head nod up and down against her side.
Mother: Can you see them?
Skunk: Yes Mummy.
Mother: Okay, now I want you to pretend that the clouds are still, and that it’s the house that’s moving past them.
Skunk: What do... What, I
Mother: Just pretend the house is moving through the clouds.
She can at first feel him wriggle, and then suddenly go very still alongside, before again his head rubs up and down against her jumper.
Skunk: Where are we going, Mummy?
She doesn’t answer.
Skunk: Mummy. Mummy where are we going?
Mother: Away... anywhere, away.
Much later they are all still lying there together, drifting along, when they hear his car enter the driveway.
Inhale.
