was almost the end of the holidays. They were going back to school on Wednesday â it was Laraâs first day in Reception. It would be nice to have an expedition to the woods before they went back. Maybe even a picnic.
Then she sighed. Except of course Dad would be back at work today, and Mum wouldnât be up for a long walk. She wasnât sure whether to want the three weeks till the baby came to go fast or slow. She wanted Mum back to normal â but from now on normal was going to mean with added baby.
The bedroom door creaked open, and her dad peered round. âOh, youâre awake.â
âI thought you were going back to work today?â Amy asked, looking at her clock. It was half-past seven â usually Dad was on a train into London by now.
âI was. But your mum thinks the baby might be coming early, so Iâm staying home to go with her to the hospital.â
There was a scuffling sound, and Lara suddenly appeared out of her flowery tent. âThe babyâs coming now? But it canât!â
Dad looked puzzled. âWhy?â
âItâs my birthday tomorrow!â Lara wailed. âNo oneâs ever going to remember my birthday if the baby has today!â
âI promise we will.â Dad gave her a quick hug. âAnyway, Iâm going to go and ring Kate. Mum said she had a feeling this might happen, and she spoke to Kate last night. Mumâs arranged for you two to go and stay with her while Mum and I are at the hospital, remember?â
Amy nodded. That was OK. She liked Kate â she was an old school friend of Mumâs and she didnât have any children, which meant she didnât understand the rules, and believed in large bags of sweets all at once. She worked from home, drawing pictures for cards, and she had beautiful pencils and paper that she let Amy borrow. She showed her how to draw things too, sometimes. Until Kate helped, Amy had never been able to get Chocâs legs right when she drew pictures of him. Kate only lived a few streets away, and she came round for coffee with Mum quite often.
âSo can you pack your pyjamas, and some clothes for tomorrow maybe, in case weâre not back? And some booksâ¦â Dad suggested vaguely, as he hurried out again.
âI donât want to go to Kateâs! We canât take clothes for tomorrow, we have to be back,â Lara told Amy urgently. âTomorrowâs my party, Amy! My partyâs here!â
âOhâ¦â Amy chewed her bottom lip. Mum wasnât going to be up for a party straight after the baby came, was she? Wouldnât she have to stay in hospital for a bit?
Dad could do it. Except ⦠Dad wasnât great at that kind of thing. Like he was useless at packing. He hadnât even mentioned toothbrushes.
Amy sighed. The new baby was doing even better than Lara had. Sheâd been upset when Mum hadnât been able to take her to school on her first day. But cancelling Laraâs birthday party would be awful.
Lara turned round, marched back into her tent, and came out again carrying the pink plastic basket that usually had her dirty washing in. It was full of mermaids, and all the other things sheâd taken under the table the day before. Plus a sparkly wand and a cardigan. She looked determined. âI knew Iâd have to get back under there. Tell Dad Iâm not going,â she said to Amy as she stomped past.
Amy stared after her admiringly. It was actually a better plan than running away. Staying putâ¦
âDave!â It was Mum, sounding worried. Amy got out of bed and went out on to the landing. âAre you OK, Mum?â
âOh, Amy. Itâs all right. Donât worry, but can you tell Dad we need to go soon?â
Amy swallowed nervously and hurried downstairs to find Dad. Choc galloped after her. His tail was wagging very slightly, the way it did when he wasnât sure what was going on and he
Back in the Saddle (v5.0)