Snow Drops – Daniel 43

 

For back story go here: Story so far, and definitely this one.]

[Relevant back story links also within text.]

The idea for the day was to go for a walk and spot the signs of spring. This seemed like a fairly straightforward idea to Daniel so after the half an hour of selecting clothes, followed by another half hour of working out what footwear they should go out it and another fifteen minutes of getting the right socks on and the the right wellies on the right feet they set out. The wellies were sparkly which disappointed Daisy a little. They were the kind of wellies unicorns would wear and not Rylan Clark-Neal – although Daniel begged to differ.

A make shift clip-board made out of cardboard and a sincere hope that it wouldn’t rain while they were out and they were off. Daniel suggested they walk up the road towards the school but Daisy vetoed this in the strongest terms on the grounds that she wasn’t wearing her school uniform and if Mrs Chistlehurst saw her there would be all kinds of problems at lunch time with her having to stay in because she was bad, but also not able to stay in because of ‘socialing distances’. Daniel was tired by this time and didn’t argue or indeed say anything more.

They made their way towards another park where they thought there would be a few wild flowers growing under the bushes and trees. It was where they picked blackberries some years and maybe there could be a few interesting shoots around if they looked carefully.

As they went through the gate Daisy saw someone already on the slide and instantly recognised them.

“Lexy!” She called and ran full pelt in her direction.

“Wait!” called Daniel, unable to hold her back in any physical way, and unsurprised to find his voice had no impact either.

Before he could get himself into a run, Daisy was next to Lexy, reeling off the details of the latest Supermarket Sweep she’d watched and the sort of funny jokes and quips Rylan had shot off the cuff. Lexy was staring at her with wide eyes. Yeah, thought Daniel, Rylan Clark-Neal is gonna blow your tiny mind.

Unfortunately that wasn’t what was troubling Lexy.

“Don’t bite me!” she shouted.

“I never bite you anymore,” protested Daisy. “Rylan wouldn’t like me if I did.”

“She yours?” asked a masked man, approaching him and then coming no nearer.

“Yes,” said Daniel. “Yes. I’m Daniel – she’s Daisy.”

“Daisy,” said the man. “Right, yeah, I think I’ve heard about Daisy. They’re friends, right?”

“In the same class, yes,” said Daniel. “See each other every day usually. I’m guessing they miss each other.”

“I’ll bet,” said the man. “I’m her dad – Gordon. Would shake your hand or something, but, you know… it’s against the law. Can’t even bump elbows without a reprimand I bet.”

The two looked at their kids from a distance.

“Should we stop them being that close or something?” asked Gordon, vaguely. 

“Not sure,” said Daniel. “I mean they were in the same class at school I suppose but…”

“Lexy?” called Gordon. “Stand away a bit, love. Like with mummy.”

Daniel was trying to compute various things in his head. The last time he’d met someone to do with Lexy it was her mum. She had told him in no uncertain terms that Lexy was being bitten by Daisy. And yet here the two were getting on, if not like a house on fire then certainly like a warmish bungalow. And Gordon didn’t seem to know about the biting or the biting accusations and if…

“So you’re looking after Lexy?” he asked tentatively.

“Yeah,” said Gordon. “Me and her mum had a sort of falling out you know?”

Daniel nodded understandingly.

“First lockdown was a bit of a strain, second one really not good so I left as soon as I could after that,” said Gordon. “Just me and her now. Well, we share, but, you know?”

“I know,” said Daniel. “I know.”

He called Daisy over to show her some snowdrops which were attempting to put in an appearance at the base of a clump of trees. Gordon also called over Lexy, and they realised, as they both produced their phones, they were after the same photographic evidence for school. Daniel decided not to turn it into a competitive game, humorous or otherwise, but still felt his composition was better. Daisy’s effort would attract more reward points than Lexy’s he decided.

Not that either child had anything to do with the pictures themselves.

“Ooo pretty flowers!” shouted Daisy, running forwards and immediately yanking a handful out of the ground.

Lexy kept her distance, however. “Are you sure he’s not actually called Ryan?” she asked, doubtfully.