The sweet scent of golden syrup and blueberries filled Emily’s nose as she ran into the house. Tom was already seated drowning his pancakes with the thick golden liquid. Sitting Stan on the table next to her, Tom made a face like he smelt something bad, but didn’t say anything. Her mother placed a freshly made pancake in front of her then combed a hand through the back of her hair. As Emily reached for the bottle of syrup, Tom quickly snatched it away. Grinning, he squeezed the plastic bottle until his plate was drenched. When he was done, he placed the bottle on his side of the table. “Give me the syrup, Tom.”
“I’m using it!”
“No you’re not, it’s just sitting there.”
Ignoring her, he cut a huge chunk of pancake and squashed it into his mouth.
“Give it.” She said raising her voice.
“You want it, come and get it.”
“Mum! Tom won’t give me the syrup.”
“Tom…” her mother’s voice echoed from the kitchen.
“You’re such a tell-tale-tit” he said before throwing the plastic bottle at her.
Skidding across the table, Emily managed to stop it seconds before it would have struck Stan.
“It just about hit him!” she complained.
Tom poked out his tongue but didn’t reply.
Emily flipped open the small white cap and squeezed the rich liquid out. Her mouth watered as the soft pancake soaked the rich syrup. She cut a tiny piece then bit into it. The sweet flavours that burst into her mouth tasted like happiness.
Carrying the morning newspaper, her father came and sat down at his usual spot at the head of the table. “Yum! Pancakes,” he said smiling at both their plates. He glanced up at Stan. “Is your new friend enjoying himself?”
With a mouth full of food, Emily smiled, nodding her head.
Her mother carried two plates with her, one for her father, and the other for herself. Placing both on the table, she sat down on the other side of Stan and smiled. “It’s such a beautiful day today. How about after breakfast we go and spend the day at the park.”
“Yeahhh…” Tom cheered. “Dad we can use the new soccer ball I got for Christmas.”
“Sure can, buddy. Maybe we can even play a game against the girls.”
Emily smiled nodding in agreement.
***
After breakfast, Emily took her bath. Tom’s kick had left sand trapped in her hair and all over her clothes. Taking Stan with her, she carefully pulled off his blue hat, green vest and black shorts. Emily ran her fingers over the stitching, still surprised that she hadn’t felt it before; it was right in the middle of the vest. Once her mother said it was warm enough, she stepped inside the large white tub and sat down in the bubbles.
“Hold your breath Stan,” she said before dunking him under the water. The furry teddy bear sucked in the soapy water then slipped from her hand fighting its way back to the surface. Bobbing up and down like an apple at the school fair, she took hold of his big tummy and picked him up. Water rushed from his body as Emily stared at his bottom. The brown bear’s backside and small tail was charcoal black, the thick fur stuck together. Bringing it up to her nose, the area smelt like the fireplace at winter time.
“What happened, Stan?” Gently rubbing her wet fingers over it, she turned the bear upright again. “Did someone try to hurt you?”
She brought him close and squashed him against herself, laughing as water dripped from him like a sponge, leaving behind a white soapy froth. She then lathered Stan with her bubble-gum shampoo until he was barely recognisable under the foam. When he was ready, she turned on the faucet and washed him clean. A drenched Stan stared back at her when she placed him on the edge of the tub.
“We’re going to go to the park soon, Stan. I’m going to take my new colouring book that Santa gave me.”
She looked at Stan’s smiling face. “Sorry Stan, but you have to stay home because you have to dry, but don’t worry, the next time we go you can come too, okay. I promise.”
***
Finished with her bath, Emily put on her favourite yellow sundress and wrapped Stan up in her damp towel. She cradled him outside, then watched as her mother clipped each ear to the clothesline with large wooden pegs. “Hang in there,” Emily said smiling up at him as he dangled gently in the breeze.
Emily took Stan’s clothes back to her room to get ready for their trip to the park.
Tom was already there. He grinned as he stepped past her without saying a word.
Emily looked around trying to see what he had been up too, but everything looked normal.
“Let’s go kids!” Her father’s voice echoed from the hallway.
Leaving Stan’s stuff on her bed, she quickly grabbed her Pepper Pig colouring book and pencil case, then ran out of her room.
Her mother, standing at the front door, pulled a white cap over Emily’s head and smiled as she fixed her blonde hair.
Tom came lumbering after her with his new soccer ball still in its box. “Hey, dad, I want to show you a new trick I learnt at school.”
“Sure son. Maybe you can teach it to me.”
“Don’t worry, dad. I will.” Tom said with a huge smile plastered across his face.