***
It was late evening by the time they got home, and they were all yawning. Demi-Lee had insisted on bringing Blackbird back to the house, as the wind was blowing about in that indecisive way it always did when it had rain in it. Vicky knew they’d chatter all night, but she was sure the fairy could be kept hidden from her mum. Lights were on in the living room and study, meaning Vicky’s mum was watching TV and her dad was checking his on-line sales.
Vicky joined her mum for some weekend trash TV and a mug of hot chocolate whilst Demi-Lee slipped upstairs, the fairy hidden in her long brown hair.
After a while, Vicky decided to test her mother’s reaction.
‘Mum,’ she said, ‘I was thinking of going away for a bit. Maybe work abroad, do a bit of travelling.’
‘Like Dave you mean? Only I thought he was coming back soon?’
‘He’s got some work in Australia. Just bar work, but it pays the bills, and he likes it out there. Enjoys the sunshine.’
‘So are you going out to join him?’ her mum asked.
‘I don’t know. He kind of suggested it, but Australia is so far away; it would take forever to save up the money. And I’ve heard of these Marine Conservation Projects in the Mediterranean – I’d be using my diving skills, protecting the seas, and getting some work experience at the same time.’ Vicky tried to make it sound sensible.
‘But what about Dave?’ her mum asked.
‘I don’t know, Mum. All I know is I want to see a bit more of the world and have a few adventures before I settle down. And when I say ‘The World’, I mean the natural world, not endless conference centres delivering IT papers.’