He was still watching his peas as intently as a new mother. Pupils wide enough to wander in. Poor lad concluded Amy, he did obsess. But then, so did she. Must be a family trait. Not in the album of course but there just the same. Amy bent down near her brother’s left ear and bit it, just slightly so he wriggled just slightly and spat foamy bubbles onto his plate.
‘Come on maestro of the dinner plate, we’re going out.’
Unlike the besotted neighbours up the road, it took Amy just 4 minutes to get John ready for their excursion. Red hat, her purple gloves and his favourite boots. He was pleased with her gloves. He kept putting them in his mouth and up his nose and cooing over their smell.
No one was out much and they practised walking feet together and hopping as far as the new paper shop and John wanted to go in but Amy made a promise about later and so they made
John checked Amy was looking and bashed on the door. They waited and then Amy nudged john and he bashed again. Casually friendly decided Amy and gazed through the half curtained window at the Xmas cards. Strange how people know people one doesn’t know. And she felt annoyed and separate from everything and frowned. John was getting restless, so she gripped his hand and pulled him towards her and then the door opened and there was Demeter looking distracted. Bloody woman snarled Amy’s heart and they went in .
John loved Demeter because he loved her hair. Full stop. His fire Queen. Matches and flames. He tried to sit close so he could see if she was on fire and if she loved him more today of course. He sat on her huge sofa and held out his gloves and giggled.
You are special today teased Demeter. Purple gloves! Mr Long Fingers, let’s pull one off and see if anyone finger has a magic finger….a magical nail to open secret doors and let us all in behind our very brave Warrior Prince.
They played a game of hand matching and Demeter pretended she was sure he was about to win very very soon. Skin to skin, she was sure he smelt of Amy and even though she gave the boy her absolute attention, and he wriggled with pure joy at his Fire Queen’s touch, she knew Amy was jealous and so she stopped and gave him some golden wrapping paper.
My prince deserves this great gift. Unfold it and see .
And then she looked at Amy and the gold flecked ring ensnared some stray light and she was smiling again and Amy stopped reading a Christmas card and smiled too.