Someone You Know. Olivia Isaac-Henry

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      ‘Oh, Pepe. He just gets so excited in new houses. Likes to make himself at home everywhere. I took him to my aunt Jeanie’s the other day, he jumped straight on her lap. I’m surprised she let him leave, she was so besotted,’ Auntie Becca said. ‘And happy birthday to you, Edie.’

      She pressed Edie into her squishy belly. Hugs from Mum meant having sharp hip bones poking into her ribs. Even so, hugs from Mum were better.

      Auntie Becca let her go.

      ‘And let’s find Tess,’ she said and walked towards the back door.

      ‘Bring the salads will you, Edie?’

      ‘Where’s Uncle Ray?’ she asked.

      ‘Finding a parking space.’

      Edie ran from the kitchen, through the lounge and out of the front door.

      ‘Edie, help Becca first,’ Mum called after her.

      The street’s narrow two-up two-downs left little room for cars, but Ray was parked right outside and talking to Valentina Vickers. Edie was running so fast she only just managed to skid to a stop and avoid crashing into them.

      Valentina took a step back.

      ‘Happy birthday,’ Uncle Ray said.

      He picked her up and hugged her. She wrapped her arms around his neck. Uncle Ray’s hugs were even better than Mum’s.

      ‘Happy birthday,’ Valentina said. ‘I made a cake for you and Tess.’

      A round yellow tin decorated with white flowers was perched on the roof of Uncle Ray’s car.

      ‘Wow, thanks, Valentina.’

      ‘You’re welcome.’

      She smiled at Uncle Ray and walked off into her house.

      ‘Why did Valentina want to speak to you?’ Edie asked.

      ‘Oh, nothing much,’ he said. ‘Her old man made her come out and say I have to leave him plenty of space when I park.’

      It sounded like the sort of things Mr Vickers would say. Edie looked at Uncle Ray.

      ‘Old sucking lemons,’ they said together and laughed.

      He set her back down on the pavement.

      ‘You’re getting too big for that, you know.’

      ‘Aww, Uncle Ray,’ Edie said.

      ‘Well, maybe for a little longer.’

      Edie smiled, grabbed his hand and began pulling him towards the house.

      ‘Come and see the cakes, we’ve got two now. What present did you buy me?’

      ‘Presents?’ Uncle Ray struck his forehead with his free hand. ‘I knew I’d forgotten something.’

      Edie turned and smiled. Uncle Ray would never forget.

      ‘What is it?’ she asked.

      ‘Wait and see.’

      *

      ‘Looking good, Gina.’

      Uncle Ray kissed Mum on both cheeks when he came into the house.

      ‘What’s that?’ Mum asked, looking at the tin.

      ‘Valentina made us a cake,’ Edie said.

      ‘That was nice of her,’ Mum said. ‘Take it outside with the salads, will you? Becca’s been calling you for ages.’

      Edie took the bowls and cake out to the garden. The smoke had disappeared and the barbecue glowed silver and red. The table stood in the sliver of shade by the back wall of the house. Auntie Becca sat beside it and Pepe lay underneath.

      ‘It’s better away from the heat,’ she said.

      Edie put the food down. Auntie Becca was right, it was getting hot. Dad had been fussing about the plants for weeks. Had they enough water, had he overwatered? Their garden wasn’t like the others on the street. She could see them over the low fences. They were either paved or looked like junkyards. No one else had an array of flowers and shrubs and a winding pebble path. Raquel, their neighbour on the other side, had laughed and asked what the point was, but her mum said it was a nice change to have something pretty out there.

      Edie looked back to the kitchen door. Where was Uncle Ray? She was starving; he should have started by now. And afterwards she could show him the new dance moves she’d practised.

      ‘Uncle Ray, where are you?’

      He didn’t reply at first.

      ‘Uncle Ray.’

      ‘Coming,’ he said eventually.

      He came out of the kitchen door, ruffling Edie’s hair as he came past.

      ‘You’re so impatient,’ he said. ‘There’s no rush.’

      But Edie was in a rush. It wasn’t really her birthday until they’d eaten burgers and cut the cake, then she’d be a year older. She’d be allowed to do new things and go new places. She wouldn’t be a child any more, or at least, she’d be less of one. Not so grown up Uncle Ray wouldn’t give her proper hugs.

      Auntie Becca had left her seat in the shade.

      ‘Get the meat on, Ray. You always boast how good you are.’

      ‘What is it with everyone today? We’ve got all the time in the world,’ he said.

      ‘Where’s my lemonade?’ Tess asked.

      ‘I forgot,’ Edie said.

      Tess’s face turned sullen.

      ‘Look, I’ve something to show you,’ Edie said. She pulled Tess over to the table. ‘Valentina made it for us.’

      She opened the cake tin. Tess peered into it. Inside was a chocolate sponge with chocolate icing, a ring of violet sugar flowers and in matching lettering, the words ‘HAPPY 10th BIRTHDAY EDIE AND TESS’ had been piped across the top.

      ‘Wow,’ Tess said. Her face lit up, the fall forgotten.

      Edie picked off one of the flowers.

      ‘Edie, don’t,’ Tess said. ‘It’s for afters and it doesn’t look right now. Look, there’s a gap.’

      ‘Open up.’

      ‘Edie, you shouldn’t.’

      Edie winked at her. Tess opened her mouth. Edie placed the flower on her tongue. She took another and put СКАЧАТЬ