It's not as bad as it sounds, really

"We live in the depths of despair," announced Lauren.

"We do?" I asked.

"Don't worry, honey," my husband said, "It's not as bad as it sounds, really."

"Oh?"

"No," Lauren explained. "It's just dangerous."

"Oh."

"And that's why we have tails instead of wings. So that we can get out of the depths of despair." Lauren said.

"Oh, ok."

"Well, we have tails - Daddy, Mom, Lindsay, and I do. But Seamus has wings."

"Poor Seamus. He can't get out of the depths of despair."

"Well, we can save him."

"Nanny and Poppy have wings." she added. "And Grampie Fisher."

"So they're all stuck in the depths of despair?"

"No, Mom. They don't live here."

"That's lucky for them."

"Yes. They don't have tails."