"Get in, get in!" Molly was unceremoniously loading her family (7 year old Bill, 5 year old Charlie, 3 year old Percy and 1 year old twins) into the family's old Ford Anglia.
"Muma, car safe?" lisped little Percy. 'Yes, dear." replied Molly. He was very thoughtful and careful for his age, but careful was not what Molly wanted him to be at that moment - the other boys who had so far not thought about the car's safety might get worried.
Bill, her eldest, frowned in confusion. "Mummy, is the car OK?"
Molly smiled reassuringly at him. "Of course the car is okay. We'll all be fine." Suddenly she heard a wail from Percy: one of the twins had kicked him. "Percy? Come here sweetheart," she called. "It was just an accident." She bundled him into the car and strapped him in, then doing the same to the twins. Turning around to get Bill and Charlie, she saw them engaged in a whispered discussion. Both looked very worried, and Molly frowned in annoyance. She called Charlie over and clipped him into the car, then went over to Bill.
"Bill, darling," she asked, "what's the matter?"
Bill looked up at her, his forehead creased in a frown. "Me and Charlie thinks the car might crash." He said worriedly.
Molly knelt down so she was at his eye level.
"Listen, sweetie, it'll be okay."
"How do you know?" asked Bill.
Molly glanced back at their old, reliable car. Wailing was now emitting from the back window: the twins were getting impatient.
"Bill," she said, "your Dad and I have driven in that car many times, and it hasn't crashed. And even if it did, I'd protect you. We'll all be fine."
"Do you promise?"
"Yes Bill. I promise I'll protect you in this car journey, and forever. I promise."