I'm much too old to read Jacqueline Wilson books anymore, but I recently found my old copy of The Illustrated Mum and it re-kindled my love for the books as I grew up reading them. I just always wondered what happened afterwards and I happened to start writing it out for fun.

So more or less, this is just a fun little way of relaxing and using my imagination from time to time. It doesn't have to be read by anyone, it's just somewhere to put it. I'm not usually one to make spelling and punctuation mistakes in serious matters, but there may be some here, so I apologise. And if anyone likes it, I may continue. :)

I'm Dolphin, I'm thirteen years old. You might remember my story about Marigold, Star and me when I was younger, how I was left to look after her when my Star left us to live with her dad, Mickey, Marigold's true love. Well, he isn't anymore. Star still sees Mickey occasionally, but she's not so besotted with him anymore.

After Marigold had been in hospital for a while after she got very ill and painted herself, she changed a lot when she got better. Part of me was disappointed, but the other half of me felt relieved. Relieved that I would no longer have to worry about my mums well-being as well as my own, relieved that she would now take care of me.

She still had all of her tattoos. Star told her she had to keep them when Marigold said she'd laser them off. I agreed with Star. Her tattoos were special; they all had their own special meanings. The only one I wanted her to get rid of eventually was the heart tattooed over her own heart, because it said 'Mickey' on it. It's been three years now, and she stopped loving him a year after she got treated at the hospital.

"It was all silly nonsense. Infatuation." Marigold shrugged, laughing at herself, as if it had all just been a silly crush lasting a few months instead of thirteen years. I didn't say anything. I knew that she would react like she used to if I did, but I'd learnt to hold my tongue over the years and it had become a habit.

Star was so much more grown up now. I thought she was a glamorous, grown up girl when she was just thirteen. Now, at sixteen, she was turning into a beautiful woman. I was still jealous of her. She was still blonde, but bleached it very brightly, and had cut it shorter with feathery layers; framing her lovely face and making her look prettier than ever. Star had a part-time job at the corner shop on Friday afternoons after school and on the weekends. Not every Saturday and Sunday, but most of the time in the morning or early afternoon.

Despite having a job and seeming responsible, Star has changed a lot. She's more carefree and wild now.

"It's to make up for my having no childhood after looking after Marigold." she simply stated. I found this a bit mean of her but I knew that she was right. Star was mother until Marigold became well. She went out a lot, had new friends, didn't mind too much if she didn't do her homework straight away and wasn't too fussed about revising for a test. She still did well at school, but she wasn't trying as hard, making her results never as good as they used to be. Star didn't care though. Right now she was sat in front of the mirror, getting ready to go out.

"Dol. Stop staring at me, you're putting me off." she said, irritated whilst trying to steadily apply liquid eyeliner. I looked away. I couldn't help looking. I loved the way Star looked, with and without makeup, she could pull off anything. I was still a mousy brown haired girl, although it had gotten longer and the curls had calmed down and formed into waves instead now. I suppose I had started to change a bit too, I got my first bra a few months ago. I suppose it was okay, but there were still so many things about being a teenager I didn't know.

"Sorry." I said. "Does Marigold know you're going out?" I asked her. Marigold was less laid-back about Star just going off out whenever she fancied now. She was more responsible.

"No, but I'll get round her." Star said, smiling. Marigold kept saying she didn't want me and Star to turn out like her. I wanted to be like Marigold, she was magical. I knew what she meant though, having had Star very young and going off on drunken nights out and not coming home until the next day. She did that a lot, leaving us alone. I decided I didn't want to be like that either if I had children. I remember how I felt, even though it wasn't her fault entirely.

I'm not sure why Star was so confident. She and I both knew that Marigold favoured Star just a tiny bit more than me back in the days, because she was Mickey's child, but that had changed, Marigold wasn't like that anymore since she'd been put on medication. It worked a treat.

I was right about Marigolds reluctance to let Star out.

"Please!"

"No Star, it's six o'clock, and it's Thursday! You have school tomorrow." Marigold told her.

"You used to do things like this all the time. You never cared about going to school the next day." Star protested, getting angry.

"Yes, I know. Look where it got me." Marigold said. "A teenage mum, no skills, no job, a drinking problem." About six months after her recovery, Marigold decided to quit drinking and get a job. Since she was more serious now, Steve employed her officially part-time at the Rainbow Tattoo Studio. She did flash work as usual, and worked on special custom designs for people. Occasionally, she would sit on reception too. Marigold loved it.

Star was whining on and on, bringing up things from the past, saying Marigold did this and that. Marigold snapped back.

"Look Star, I've said no. Accept it! I'm not not not like that anymore! I have sense and responsibilities now." she told her.

Star made a loud, frustrated sound. "You're nothing but a big hypocrite! You haven't really changed, you'll just go crazy again eventually!" Marigold gasped as Star said this. "I'm not listening to someone who doesn't know anything about responsibility! I'm going out!" she shouted, marching to the door and slamming it.

"Star!" Marigold shouted, but knew Star wouldn't listen. She didn't go after her because she also knew it would create a big mess between them, and Star didn't always get on with Marigold still. I walked over to Marigold and put my arms around her.

"You're not like that at all Marigold. You're the most wonderful, loving caring mum in the world." I told her.