Twelve – Skye aged 9
Dear Diary,
Rhydian is just downstairs waiting for me but I just had to tell you. He's home. Not for long but he is home and he is sorting things out with Mike and May-Li about the flights to Africa and he has been approved by social services to see me.
I'm so happy he's home even if it isn't for long. I'm just glad he is home. With me. To make me feel better. We're going to go back to our house, see if there is anything which we can retrieve and bring back with us. Anything to remind us of mummy and daddy. And then we are going to see a man about their funerals. That makes me sad. Mummy and daddy wanted to be burnt apparently. I looked at Rhydian funny then but he said it had a specific name… creamation or something.
Write soon,
Skye.
I went downstairs to find Rhydian in the lounge with Johnny, Tee and Jody. Johnny was writing something and Tee and Jody were watching a film. I walked over to Rhydian. "I'm ready," I said. "Let's go Rhyd," I added. He smiled and stood up. I noticed Johnny looking at us strangely as we headed for the door.
"Tee thanks for the drink. My sister seems unable to think of things like that," he said ruffling my pixie hair. Tee smiled at him.
"She's only little Rhydian, give her a break," she joked as she turned to face us. "Have fun Skye. You'll have to tell us all about it when you get back," she said. I nodded and we left the lounge.
"Hang on that's her brother. He looks too old and too tall," Johnny hissed to Tee as we were leaving. I giggled quietly and met Mike in the corridor.
"May-Li is just getting her coat you two and then you can go. I really am sorry about this Rhydian, it's just our job to protect her and as much as social services say you can visit, it has to be with someone present," Mike explained.
Rhydian shrugged. "Don't worry about it Mike. Red tape and all that, I understand. Especially with her file," Rhydian said. Mike nodded. I frowned as Mike walked off and May-Li exited the office. I opened my mouth to speak but Rhydian beat me to it. "You ready May-Li?" he asked. She nodded and we left the house.
Ashdene Ridge wasn't far from my old home. I mean considering Harry and Floss and Mo and Jody all went to the same school as me, I knew it couldn't be that far but it did surprise me how close we were. Rhydian unlocked the front door and we headed into our old house. It felt weird being in the house without mummy and daddy. I ran my hand nervously through my now short hair. This was where I had cut off my hair when I was upset. "Why don't you go see if there is anything upstairs that you need or want?" Rhydian suggested. I nodded and went upstairs. I needed my school uniform as next Monday we were back to school. I walked into my bedroom and felt sad to see how empty it was. I walked across the carpet and felt something strange under my foot. I lifted my foot and saw the chopped strands of hair on the floor. I stared at them for ages.
"Skye, are you up here?" Rhydian called out. He came into my room and his eyes focused on what I was looking at. "What did you do?" he asked.
"I was upset. I wanted a change. So I cut it," I said. I looked up at him. He looked down at me.
"I like it better short. You remind me of Tinkerbelle," he said. I smiled. "School uniform," he told me. I nodded heading over to my wardrobe and getting out my school clothes. "Good, anything else?" he asked. I shook my head. "You have a parcel downstairs. I wonder what it could be," he said winking at me. I frowned. "It's your Christmas present. The one you opened on Christmas day was the birthday present. This is the Christmas present," he explained. I went downstairs and into the kitchen where May-Li was waiting.
"Well open it then," she said pointing at the parcel. I looked at Rhydian who nodded. I opened it tentatively. It was book. A scrapbook type of thing. I opened the first few pages to find giraffes, hippos and elephants on them.
"It's like a fact file. Any animal you see, take a picture, stick it in your book and write facts about it. It will be a collection of animals you've seen," he said.
"So the elephant?" I asked.
"When you come visit we will see elephants and hippos and giraffes. Promise. I basically have a pet giraffe living in my back garden," he said. I giggled. "There's something else in the box," he said. I reached in and pulled out my very own camera. I'd never had a camera before so it was exciting.
"Wow," I said. "Thanks Rhydian. I love it," I said before taking a picture of him and May-Li leaning against the kitchen worktop.
"Cheeky," May-Li said. "You two ready to move on?" she asked. We nodded and headed into town.
Dear Diary,
Rhydian's Christmas presents are awesome. I saw a robin earlier so I quickly snapped a picture and asked Mike to print it off. I stuck it down and have added lots of facts about it and some sketches of the bird in flight. They are not very good drawings.
The people are the creama… what do you call it, were really nice and welcoming. They explained to Rhydian and me how things would work tomorrow (I didn't understand any of it but Rhydian seemed to) and they gave me a lollipop for being brave apparently. I don't know what I was supposed to be brave about but oh well. It was cola flavour.
It was great spending some time with Rhydian after he's been away so long. It was a shame he's only out here because of mummy and daddy dying but still nice to see him.
Write soon,
Skye.
A/N: Rhydian is back for a bit. It's a little bit sad this chapter but it will get better for Skye once we are over the mini hurdles in her life. Let me know what you think, Indie :)