Another Extract

On Marion’s birthday Susan and Gary are invited round for tea. Marion watches them munching the sandwiches and cramming the little cakes into their mouths, leaving streaks of jam and bits of egg on their chins and cheeks. Seeing her mother’s anxious look, she eats a banana sandwich and is rewarded with a smile. Then the curtains are drawn and the lights switched off. A beautiful round cake covered in white icing and decorated with pink flowers with three lighted candles is carried in. Marion claps her hands in delight. As everyone sings ‘Happy Birthday’ she looks at the little flames. Inside the middle flame she can see a little girl with blond curls and a big smile. She’s whispering, You’re three now. You can be happy. It’s time! Marion feels very warm and her whole face smiles.

“Blow out the candles!” urges Doris. Marion blows out each one separately. The little girl has gone from the flame, but Marion knows she is nearby somewhere. Later when they are playing ‘Pass the Parcel’, Susan tries to help Marion take her layer of paper off. Marion shakes her head and, to everyone’s amazement, says clearly, “I am Marion now.”

The next evening Marion rushes to meet Joe when she hears his key turning in the lock. His face is hidden by the huge box he’s carrying. “Look what I’ve got for our clever little girl! Say ‘daddy’ and you can see what I’ve got for you!”

“Daddy,” says Marion obediently and Joe opens the box to reveal a large brown teddy bear nearly as big as Marion. The teddy is soft and she picks him up, staggering around the room with the weight of it. Joe laughs delightedly and pulls Doris out of the kitchen to watch.

“How much did that cost?” Doris looks worried but then laughs as Marion says, “Mommy good girl Marion.”

Teddy goes to bed with Marion. The glass amber eyes glow in the dark scaring Marion. Doris replaces them with blue buttons the next day and that night Marion falls asleep quickly. The little lamp is low and a thin shadow bends over her as she sleeps.

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