"You can't tell anyone this. It's a secret I've kept for over four years now," Uni began...
Ducking her head, she flapped an arm in the air... "It's a bee, a big one! —Like the one that was here the other day! You two didn't see it then..."
Standing, she waved both hands, turning on the slope, trying not to fall. The bee dipped and hovered close to the girls before rising in the air, higher and higher...
Sitting again, Uni said, "Where was I?" Her eyes scanned the area. She turned her head, looking for the bee. "It's on the back of that bench, just up the slope."
"Forget it. It's just a bumblebee. They like blue and you have your blue scarf..."
Uni unwound the scarf from her neck and threw it down the slope a little. The bee rose and flew down to hover over the scarf. They all laughed and Uni said, "You must be right, Carol.
"What I need to tell you is that I know exactly how Tyson and my father disappeared. What I don't know is, where..." A group of girls rushed down the slope, surrounding them.
"What're you three cowering here for?" Big Barbara demanded, one hand on her hip, slouching her upper body backward.
"Still keeping your stupid secret," Wendy taunted.
"You said your father's coming back for you. That was meant to happen when you were ten but he ain't here ain't he?" Shirley joined the taunts.
The wind gusted up and caught hold of loose drawings Uni had been holding. Barbara took her chance. With a dive, she pounced and snatched the one whisking in the air. Uni pushed herself forward on the grassy slope to grab the other two pictures.
"What's this?—A unicorn?"
The gang of girls grouped around their leader. Laughter and scoffing filled the air.
"Get the others!" Barbara shouted.
Five girls, watched by arriving teens, circled the three still on the ground with their lunch-boxes spread around them. Wrenching the pages from Uni, the pictures were torn and all the pieces, as well as her sketchbook, were taken.
Barbara stared at the loose page not torn, frowning and pulling a face. The bee flew up close to the top of her head then down near the page.
"Ahhh —eee —bee! —A bumblebee!" Barbara shouted, screaming, shaking the page at it. With screams and cries, the whole group rushed up the slope joining others who turned to run. The bee rose into the air as they rushed into the school building, the last ones closing the doors. Catching their breaths they moved along into the lunchroom where younger children were finishing their lunches. The teens, who had walked from another building were scheduled half an hour later than the primary-aged children.
The day had turned cold and windy and they were allowed to stay indoors. Uni had opted to sit outside with her two friends for the sake of missing out on the usual taunts and the need to share her drawings with her friends.
Collecting crusts left from her sandwiches, Uni said, "I'll have to face the music, won't I."
"Tell us," Carol urged.
"Yes, please, tell," Jilly agreed.
"I will, but you'll find out about it if we go inside now. It's about time people knew what my father's been doing. But, be prepared, no one's going to believe it. You'll find it hard to believe." Pushing her things into her backpack she slung it over a shoulder, saying, "Talk while we walk."
"You did drawings?" Carol asked, adding, "Of what?"
"A unicorn."
Frowning, the pair stopped walking, looking at one another, rolling their eyes.
YOU ARE READING
Uni's Unicorn
Science FictionUni has a secret she's kept since she was seven years old. Can it be kept any longer? Her brother, Tyson, has been missing for four long years and Uni was the last one to see him. Before Ty had flown away on a winged unicorn with her father, Uni ha...
