“Todayisaspecialday. Do you remember why, Owen?”
I stop concentrating on the picture I’m drawing. The new colouring pencils Maria bought are amazing.
“I remember,” I say, smiling.
I’m excited, but I don’t like to get my hopes up too much. Not when things can be taken away quickly. So, I hide it.
But my heart is beeping super fast.
“I thought we could pop to town, and you could pick out a teddy for her?”
“I’d like that.” I look back down at my picture and pick up the bright red pencil. “Can I finish this first? It’s for her.”
Maria comes and sits at the table with me, peering over at my work of art.
I hope she likes it.
Lucy.
My new friend.
I don’t know much about Lucy, but I know she’s younger. Maria told me that I have to take care of her. Like a big brother.I like the thought of being a big brother. I’ve never had a real family before.
“I’m sure she will love it.” I look at Maria and she smiles down. Her eyes sparkly blue, like the sun shining off the sea. I remember going to the beach once.
“Do you think we can take her to the beach?”
“I’m sure we can take her one day.”
“I bet she would love the sea.” I stick my tongue out and carefully colour the L. “Do you think you can draw a little sunflower for me? I feel like Lucy would like sunflowers.”
“Where would you like me to put them?”
“All over her name. Sprouting from the tops. Like she is the sunshine that has made the flowers.”
“That’s lovely, Owen,” Maria says, her eyes filling with tears.
“Sorry,” I say looking away.
Something drops inside my tummy. It’s heavy, and icky. I don’t like that feeling.
“Oh no, sweetheart. These are happy tears.”
Happy tears. That’s a thing? I don’t like it when I see sad tears from her eyes. It happens when they shout at each other.
But happy tears are…good.
I smile, that horrible feeling in my tummy disappearing and being replaced with something warm, like the flowers that Maria is drawing.
Sunflowers.
Big, bright, and yellow.
And happy.
Just like I hope Lucy will be when she gets home, and I give her the amazing teddy I’m going to get her.
“What was her full name again?”
