The Daylight Mirror

Chapter sixteen

Allowing Arnold to have some time to compose himself I get up out of the dining room chair and go to the kitchen and put the kettle on. Just about on cue the back door is nudged open enough for a cub to get through it. A small bundle of joy male tiger cub wonders his way into the kitchen sniffing at the floor unaware that I am standing against the kitchen sink. The poor continues to sniff at the different smells on the floor when he rams his head up against my leg. In surprise and confusion the cub jolts back tripping up over his back legs. Tumbling to the floor he laid on his back, paws stretched straight up in the air, and his tongue hanging out the corner of his mouth. Shaking my head I kneel down and pick the male tiger cub to cuddle him in my arms.

I couldn't help but give him a quick peck on the head before turning back to the sink to finish off my strong black coffee that is waiting to be made. Trying to shift the cub in my arms he wiggles about a bit too much that I set him down on the counter next to the sink. Making my coffee in a speed motion I gather the cub back into my arms only for him to climb onto my shoulder and fall asleep. Gathering my coffee up in my free hand I head back into the dining room. Veronica is lying her head on the table with her arms circling over the top of her head. Whereas Emersyn and Millicent are looking at the numerious sets of china my godmother stored in a large cupboard that placed up against the wall. Before I fully go into the dining room I take a quick glance at the time from the grandfather clock. Half an hour has passed and I haven't eaten for a long period of time. Including being partially sleepy I sat down in my chair, put my coffee down on the table and continued to cuddle up to the low snoring tiger cub.

"Where's Arnold disappeared to?" I asked nobody in particular.

"Don't worry I am here Vivian I just wanted to have some time outside to get a load of fresh air. Oh cute tiger cub by the way I thought I saw a few of the adults wondering outside the front of the farmhouse while I was outside." Arnold said unexpectedly wondering from the

"Is there any chance that we can do any of the snow and tell stuff tomorrow? I really would like to go and get something quick to eat and go to bed." I said lifting her head up from the table.

"Well is that okay with everybody else? I can wait one more night but that is all I can give you because what I need to show and tell you is pretty important."

"That is fine with me and Emersyn and besides, I think that the cup of tea has put Veronica out like a light for tonight. So someone may have to carry her upstairs into a bedroom for the night." Millicent said.

Emersyn nodded away at what Millicent has said while trying to keep her eyes open and also stop herself from leaning against the wall. Swiftly I guided Millicent and Veronica upstairs putting them into one spare room with twin beds. Occasionally, the small tiger cub woke up for a few seconds, stretched out his limbs on my shoulder and then fell back to sleep again. Arnold took it upon himself to sleep in the spare room where my godfather was killed next to where my godfather was killed next to the dining room. When Emersyn came out from putting Veronica to bed I told her to meet me outside the front of the house on the decking because I wanted to talk to her privately. Saying goodnight to the other two girls I carried the tiger cub down the stairs to bump into Arnold.

"I know a lot of this is hard to digest but hopefully in the morning I can allow you to understand what truly is going on." Arnold said.

"I hope so too Arnold." I replied.

As I said my last goodnight to Arnold I whisked myself away to the farmhouse in the light of the flood on the side of the house. Brushing past the sliding open door I couldn't help but close it behind me to keep away the cold bitter wind. Some animal heads turn in my direction for a brief moment before lying back down on the straw laid out. Neither of the alpha males bothered to look my way when I placed the smaller male tiger cubs next to his mother.