Puff examined her boarding ticket and memorised her seat number. ‘14B...14B... 14B...’ she muttered as she shuffled awkwardly along the aisle of the plane.

And there it was. Immediately she signalled the others who had lapsed behind. Padders would be beside her at the window; Mama and Papa directly in front in the emergency seats.

‘There’s not much room’ she grumbled as she squeezed her surplus frame into the seat, but no-one paid any attention to her.

‘They can’t expect me to sit cooped up here for three hours!’ she continued, expecting so sort of reaction whether it be compassion or chastisement.

But suddenly the captain’s voice was heard welcoming everyone aboard, hoping they all will have a pleasurable flight. Before Puff could say anything more, the air hostess was standing at the front doing actions with a life jacket in case it was needed, and then with an oxygen mask ( help!)

and finally she directed their attention to a leaflet on the seat in front of them which explained how to evacuate the plane, if necessary!

‘Has this particular airline had many crashes Papa ?’ asked Puff now subdued and shocked by what she had just heard.

But Papa comfortingly explained that it was all precaution and that flying was the safest form of transport.

Puff looked at her watch. ‘Two hours and forty five minutes still to go’ she announced, and everyone knew the flight would seem like an eternity.

‘I’ve a splendid idea’, said old Papa. ‘ Let’s play I spy...’

‘Oh yes, yes’ came the shouts of assent from behind him.

‘ Why don’t you start, my dearest’ said old Papa to Mama.

‘Oh may I ?’ she chuckled. ‘ Is everyone ready then ? I spy with my little eye something beginning with the letter W.’ ( Mama was looking directly out of the window as she said it. You see, Mama always looked at what she spied and it was so easy to guess the correct answer!)

‘Wing’ said Padders with such surety.

‘Why yes, my clever little cub!’ she exclaimed.

‘ It is my turn then’, said Padders. ‘I spy with my little eye something beginning with the letters S.B.’

‘S.B.’ hummed Papa to himself as his eyes scanned the contents of the plane.

‘ Sick bag’ suggested Puff suddenly feeling the need of one!

‘No’

‘It could be’ retorted Puff.

. ‘ But it is not what I’m thinking of’ asserted Padders.

‘ Ah, I think I’ve guessed it’ said Papa. ‘ Would it be seat belt ?’

‘Yes! Yes! Well done!’

Then Papa took his turn. ‘I spy with my little eye something beginning with the letters H.T.’

‘ Heavy traffic’ suggested Puff.

‘ Don’t be so silly’ said Padders. ‘ We are in the air!’

‘ Oh Papa, I think I know what it could be’ said Padders. ‘ It might be Hostess trolley.’ Padders had just spied their food coming.

‘Good lad’ congratulated Papa as Puff sulked.

They received their individual trays of refreshments and Padders kindly told Puff that she could take his turn. Anything to avoid her grumpiness!

‘Fine’ she said. ‘ I spy with my little eye something beginning with the letters H.L.G.’

Papa assumed that it would have to be something obscure, knowing Puff as well as he did!

H.L.G.....

Nobody could even hazard a guess. Puff invited the neighbouring passengers to have a try, much to Mama’s embarrassment.

‘Puff, don't go hassling other people, especially when they are eating their dinner.’

Well no-one had any suggestions anyway.

‘I give up’ said each in turn.

‘Horrible Lumpy Gravy’ declared Puff looking directly into her dinner dish!

‘That’s not fair’ complained Padders. ‘ No-one could have guessed that. In fact my gravy is delicious.’

As they ate their dinner ( well, all except Puff of course) Papa said that he had another idea for them. ‘ I spy with my little eye something beginning with the letters H.B.’

‘ Oh thank goodness!’ said Puff, thinking it was HB ice cream for dessert (her favourite make of ice-cream too) , but when Papa explained that the letters were H.B . and had nothing to do with ice-cream, she sank back into her seat and became sullen again.

Then she perked up. ‘ Is it Heinz Beans ?’ ( another one her favourite meals).

But the reply came ‘ No, it has nothing to do with food.’

Still no-one could guess the answer. Then Papa showed them his hand luggage which was squeezed between him and Mama. The zip was open and as they peered in they could see the Holy Bible.

‘Holy Bible!’ said Padders.

‘But Papa, you brought your Bible on holiday ?’ remarked Padders in amazement. He had remember to pack his bucket and spade, his inflatable lino, his underwater camera and snorkel, but certainly not his Bible!

‘Well’ explained Papa, ‘holidays began years ago as Holy days. It is only through the years that they became known as holidays with the result that people forget to keep them holy or even think about God.’

Then Papa told them about a chap called Stanley. Puff wasn’t sure if that was his first name or his last name, but it didn’t matter in any case. Apparently when Stanley set off across the continent of Africa, he had 73 books in three packs, weighing 180 pounds 9 about the weigh of Puff!! Ha Ha!) After he had gone 300 miles, he was obliged to throw away some of those books through tiredness from carrying them. As he continued on his journey, his library grew less and less until he had but one book left. It was of course the Bible and apparently he read that entire book three times during the journey.

‘Waoo!’ said Padders. ‘He must have loved that book’.

‘ He did love it and so do I’ said Papa, ‘ that’s why I brought it along with me, and I hope that you too will grow up to loving it as well.’

Padders felt somewhat ashamed that he had completely forgotten to even consider God in his holiday.

‘Papa, I haven’t packed my Bible’ he admitted, ‘ but maybe you could read a bit of yours ?’

‘ Well certainly’ said Papa at the same time as the voice came over the speaker system - Please would all passengers remain seated and fasten your seat belts as we make our descent into Faro airport.