The family car is travelling along the highway, on its way to the beach for a few hours of relaxation. Tom is driving, his wife, Jean, sits beside him. In the back seat is Bubs, strapped into a child-seat and Pooch, the family dog, sits bolt upright watching the passing scenery.
Tom and Jean have just had words and the car has fallen silent.
Jean thinks: God! It’s so typical of him, to take us all out like this and have no idea where the petrol stations are.
Tom thinks: What the hell was she going on about? We’ve still got well over a quarter of a tank. We’re on a main road for heaven’s sake! There must be dozens of garages further along.
Pooch thinks: Don’t like it when they talk so loud. I wish this thing next to me would stop those horrible gurgling noises. What sort of thing is it anyway? It’s so small; and it smells funny.
Bubs thinks: This person next to me is really ugly, and he dribbles more than me! He doesn’t seem to have any skin. His eyes and mouth are really strange. He doesn’t’ say much; he only coughs.
Jean thinks: I bet he’s forgotten that Bubs is going to need a feed well before we get there. We’ll probably go through the whole ritual of draping towels around the car while I’m breast feeding.
Tom thinks: I hope we start back in time to watch tonight’s game. I daren’t say that, of course. I’ll just stress the point that I don’t like driving in the dark.
Pooch thinks: I wonder why this person doesn’t have any hair. He leans across for a better look.
Bubs thinks: His face is very big, and his eyes are really black and shiny. I wonder what they are made of? Bubs shoves a finger into the closest eye.
Pooch yelps. Bubs starts bawling, Jean screams and Tom slams on the brakes.
Jean thinks: I knew something like this would happen.
Bubs thinks: We’ve stopped. Good. I’m hungry.
Pooch thinks: Jees! That hurts. I won’t enjoy the view so much now. Not with one eye closed, I won’t.
Tom thinks: Next time, we’ll take the bus…