Daisy

Written and illustrated by Mahi Caitlìn Ni Chonghaile

Traffic lights blinked, buildings towering over me like giants as I sauntered steadily along the path, the tinkling hum of music playing softly through my headphones. “Hurry up Sammy, the lights’ already turned green twice!” Ned yelled from ahead. Lily, Ned and Rosie glared at me to quicken my pace, beckoning me to hurry.

Me, Rosie, Mum and Ned were sitting at the dinner table- Dad was still at work. Rosie complained why Mum had added broccoli as the side for spaghetti. “Out of all the vegetables in the world you had to choose broccoli.” Rosie had grumbled but had been silenced by Mum. Ned argued with Mum stubbornly, I just continued eating my spaghetti. “But I’m ten now, Mum, and Sammy is so slow!” Ned exclaimed, his arms raised high in the air. Rosie twirled her spaghetti around her fork, scowling at the broccoli on the side of her plate, Ned argued with Mum, and I wiped my plate clean. Lily shrugged, looking at me and Ned from side to side. “When you’re eleven.” Mum answered firmly, picking up my emptied plate without looking back at Ned. Ned groaned and sneakily snuck his broccoli onto Lily’s plate without her noticing.

Clambering into my bunk, I turned on my nightlight to read my Christmas present, a new mystery book. “Can you turn off the light?” Ned asked from the bottom bunk. Pausing, I hesitated for a moment-did I have to? “Sam!”He half shouted half whispered.

“Fine,” I responded reluctantly, the switch flickered off with a soft click. The stick-on glow stars were faint and slightly peeling from the ceiling, Ned’s snores echoed around me as I lay still in my bed, trying to sleep. Turning thirteen in seven days now! I thought, smiling. Maybe this time I would get a dog?

Blearily rubbing my eyes, I jerked awake, hopping out of bed energetically. The weekend! I sighed, happily. At last! Mum nudged porridge onto the table, eyeing her toast carefully. Ignoring the mucky, disgusting breakfast Mum called ‘healthy’, I bounded into the backyard, trampling through the dewy, wet grass that Dad insisted he was going to cut. He never did. The trampoline stood tall and strong, waiting to be bounced. Suddenly a swift movement caught my eye. Narrowing my blue eyes to slits, I cautiously ambled forward. Deep chestnut eyes goggled at me, light blonde hair stood on end. A soft bark rang in my ears echoing in my brain, that was buzzing with excitement like a bee collecting nectar. “Mum! Did we get a dog?” I questioned, eyes widened in surprise. “Of course not, and come finish your porridge.” She answered, rolling her eyes. Moving closer, hand outstretched, the dog stepped forward, paused and sniffed my quivering hand, nose twitching. Silently creeping inside, the dog followed closely behind, its paws clawing quietly on the wooden floorboards. 

We all huddled around in Lily’s room, covered in posters of tigers and animals from Melbourne Zoo. “I wanted it to be a unicorn!” Rosie frowned, her bottom lip stuck out sadly. 

“I wanted it to be a tiger,” Lily muttered, peering at the dog inquisitively.

“And I wanted it to be a snake,” Ned joined in.

“Well, I like the dog just the way it is.” I argued, crossing my arms. “You guys are so fussy.” “She’s a girl by the way,” I told everyone as -a-matter-of-factly. “Stop calling her ‘it”. Ned sighed. “How are we supposed to hide this from Mum and Dad? He asked sceptically, tilting his head slightly to the left. “I-I-I don’t know,” I stuttered, collapsing onto Lily’s bed and sinking into her warm dreamy mattress with the tiger printed doona.

The morning sun ricocheted off the pale blue walls, streaming through the cream curtains, and stirring me awake. Ned yawned from his bunk, stretching his arms and sliding on his slippers lazily. Springing down from my bed, I remembered the dog. “What should we call her?” I asked Ned, bright eyed and grinning. 

“I dunno, Ned Junior?” 

I rolled my eyes, “seriously?” “Ned Junior!” I whispered to myself, stifling a laugh, then suddenly falling silent, Ned peering at me suspiciously.

 Jogging down the hallway, tip-toeing silently like stealthy ninjas, we crept up to Dad’s office. Ned followed behind, clomping his slippers as loud as an elephant. “NED! BE QUIET!” I muttered under my breath. “Take your slippers off.” At last we came to Dad’s office. Ned opened the door carefully, putting a finger to his lips, begging the dog not to bark. He passed her into my arms and I cradled her like a baby. Ned sprinted back into our room, then quickly opened the door for me. “I’ll get Lily and Rosie” He puffed, as if he had been running a mile, disappearing out the door again. 

“We can call her TigerLily!” Lily suggested, shrugging. 

“Is it because your name is Lily and your favourite animal is a tiger?” Ned asked, eyebrows arched. “Umm… “ Lily started, biting her lip.

“We call her Sparkles!” Rosie squealed, grinning from ear to ear. 

“NO!” We all cried in unison. Rosie frowned, pouting her lip and trying to look as angry as possible.

“I know,” I wondered, “DAISY!”

Silence flooded the room as everyone thought about this. 

“Okay!” Rosie replied slowly. 

“Fine.” Lily and Ned sighed. 

Daisy softly tugged the dripping wet washing. Mum turned to grab more washing. Rosie screamed, “SPARKLES!” And I prayed Mum would have trouble fumbling the washing. Lily jumped in front of Mum, frantically searching for something to say. “MUM, THERE’S A SPIDER!” She shouted.

Dropping the damp washing she raced over to where Lily pointed. “Where?” She asked, hunched, peering closely near the floor. 

“Jack’s family are coming over for a barbeque!” Dad called from the kitchen, taking sausages covered in frosty ice out of the freezer. “YES!” Ned replied from the garden, wearing an excited grin. Mum stood up and sighed to Lily she couldn’t find a single spider anywhere. I breathed a sigh of relief as Ned grasped Daisy in his hands stroking her glossy fur and making as much space as possible between Daisy and the washing.

Dad chatted excitedly with Matt, Jack’s Dad about the footy and how the Melbourne Demons were doing excellent so far, turning the sausages upside down occasionally. Mum nodded her head listening intently to what Sarah, Jack’s Mum was saying, frowning slightly every now and then. Lily, Ned and Jack played spies inside, clutching fake guns and agent badges tightly. Rosie was in the middle of a ‘very important’ tea party with her ‘pet horse’, ‘Princess Flowers’. I had my head in my mystery book, making up for the reading I should’ve done last night. 

“Where are the sausages!” Dad yelled, lifting his tongs in triumph. Mum glanced at Dad, shrugging and going back to chattering with Sarah. Racing over to Ned, Lily and Jack I asked where Daisy was. They didn’t know. The gate was slightly ajar. 

“I can’t find her ANYWHERE.” Ned whispered in a worried tone. Lily chewed her nails, Rosie bit her lip. “We still have Princess Flowers!” Rosie spoke up at once, face lighting up. “It’s not the same.” I murmured, panic rising in my throat, choking me with fear. “I still can not find the sausages so we’re just getting takeaway instead!” Dad sighed after 15 minutes of looking for the lost sausages. 

Daisy’s gone. We can’t tell Mum or Dad otherwise we’ll get in trouble. I miss her. Jack’s family left. We all wanted sausages but we also got takeaway from the Japanese restaurant, the one that does the annoying fortune cookies but really good food. Huddling up in my warm soft blanket, I think of all the trouble Daisy caused. The washing. Thinking, I realise the mysterious vanish of Dad’s sausages must have been Daisy. A small smile tickles my face, but I can’t imagine a world without Daisy here.

Laces tied, jacket on, I’m ready. Quietly I pull open the front door. It creaks. Loudly. Everyone’s asleep. Except for me. Cool breeze whips my dark hair around lazily. The street is still. Closing the door I leap down the steps. The steps that Mum sat with me when I lost my soccer grand final. The steps where Ned broke his arm. The steps where Lily spoke to Dad softly when she was being teased. The steps we all walked down to the hospital, when Rosie was going to be born. 

Sprinting down the street I search for the familiar light hair, the soft brown eyes, the lopsided tongue that lolled in and out. I don’t see her. My cheeks start reddening, tears forming in my eyes. I won't cry. But they threaten me. Swallowing hard, tears stream down my pink, flushed cheeks, my face shining bright with salty water in the pale moonlight. I’m all alone. Dark. Silent. Still. Quiet. My knees are wobbling, my head is hurting, and my heart is aching with sadness. A blurred street sign passes me, but I’m running too fast to notice. Glancing down at my hands I realise they’re shaking, twitching with fear. I can feel an itching, sore lump in my throat, acting as if it will never go away. A soft bark slows me to a halt. Squinting desperately for a sign of movement, I wander forward, weaving through trees, jumping over rocks and tree roots. Could it be Daisy? I plead. "Please come back." I whisper gently through the dense green. Glossy blonde hair, big dark eyes and her steady breathing reaches me. Darting playfully onto my lap, she bounds around me, happy yips echoing. Snuggling her up to my chest I stroke her fluffy fur, walking back home. Recognising the familiar pale blue door. Clambering back up the steps. The steps when I found Daisy. 

Opening the door I peer inside. Mum’s face is white. Dad has his head in his hands. Lily is playing UNO with Ned but they’re both frowning solemnly. Rosie is asleep on the couch clutching her toy unicorn loosely, hair dishevelled. Mum runs up to me, tears flooding down her cheeks. Trying not to cry I give Mum the biggest hug I could give. She’s making my pyjamas damp. Daisy bounds up to Dad licking his hands in affection. Ned and Lily drop their cards and sprint to give me a hug. Dad carries Rosie up to her bed, tucking her in silently. He gently kisses her on the fore-head and then does the same to Lily. Mum and Dad frown at me. More lectures, tears and hugs follow. "It is extremely late," Dad says, surprised, walking back up to my (shared) room and kissing me gently on the forehead. “Goodnight, Sammy, sweet dreams.” He tells me quietly. 

The sun is shining brightly as we go for a walk along the creek. The water laps gently, sparkling and shimmering in the sun’s reflection. It's Ned’s turn walking the dog and then I’m next. We decided to do youngest to oldest and I’ve been patiently waiting for a long time now. Daisy’s tongue flickers in and out as she greets the other dogs. Mum is smiling, Dad is holding Rosie’s hand and Lily is gazing at the fish in the creek. Finally I had gotten the birthday present I always wanted. Daisy grins at me and I grin back.

High School can be scary for a lot of people. I start in 45 minutes. All my friends, comfort familiar faces, GONE. I feel uneasy. I stare blankly out the train window, waiting for the stop I dread. Buildings pass in a blur, trees, parks, people. Luckily Daisy sits well-behaved at my feet. Stroking her smooth fur, calm swallows me once more. I think of all the things I can learn and I can make new friends. We jolt. The automated voice repeats the station, I clamber quickly out, having the worried thought it will close suddenly on me. Guiding Daisy across the gap, I see Lily. And Mum, Dad, Ned plus Rosie, wearing her Frozen- Elsa dress proudly, (with much reluctance from Mum). We saunter slowly past the gates, now I have to do the rest by myself. Walking in, I look back, Daisy gives me a reassuring smile, followed by her usual, silly lopsided grin. I smile, I am ready for High School.