It's time

Prologue

Prologue

                “Lily, come and say Hi to our new neighbours,” Dad called from the lounge

                “I don’t want to!” I cried, sitting in the corner of my new room, hugging the doll that still smelled like home, this place wasn’t home, and it never will be, I thought bitterly.

                “Lily don’t do this, they’re very nice, there’s a boy here who is about your age, come down and say hello, please” My mum pleaded,

              I then heard another voice, a woman’s voice, and assumed this must be our new neighbour. I decided I should go downstairs, just to be polite, and who knows, I could end up with a new friend, what harm can it do? I figured.

               But then i remembered, i don't want a new neighbour, because a new neighbour meant a new house and a new house wasn't our old house, and i wanted our old house back again. Our old house with the field filled with horses behind our garden; the pond with the fish down by the gate; the smell of Mum’s cooking coming from the kitchen, that’s what I wanted. I wanted our old house, and with it I wanted our old life.

                   I heard some shuffling outside, and I knew immediately that it was Liam, he confirmed my suspicions when he spoke, “Lilypad?” that’s what everyone on my family calls me, “Are you in there?”

                “Hmm,” I wasn’t very loud, but I couldn’t completely ignore him, that would be rude. Besides, I was angry at my parents not him,

                “Lilypad, you really should come out, you know. This Nathaniel boy seems really nice, I think you would like him. Look, can I come in, Lilypad, I feel like I’m talking to a door,” He muttered.

I don’t quite know why I let him in, but I did. When he came inside I shuffled back to my corner, but he was too quick for me, he got there first and stood in the way, he then held his arms open for a hug, so I gratefully obliged. He lifted me up and sat the two of us on my princess bed that we brought from my old house. “Lilypad,” he continued, “I know you don’t particularly like this new house, but this is where we live, there’s nothing you can do. What is it that you miss?”

“The horse field,” I muttered,

“If it’s the horses you miss, well there’s a riding range about a ten minute walk from here, how about that, you could learn to ride instead of just looking at others riding. What else?” Hmm, well that actually sounded pretty good, I’d love to learn to ride!

“The pond” I said defiantly, I wasn’t going to let him sway me, I didn’t like this house and that was that.

“If it’s the pond you miss, well I promise that Dad and I will dig you a new pond, and we’ll get you some brand new fish too! Anything else?”

“A new pond, really?” I whispered, a smile taking over my features. He nodded sincerely and then I remembered, I don’t like this house “It doesn’t smell like home,” I mumbled

He smiled at that, “Give it a day or so, and mum’s luscious cooking smells will soon fill the house. Is that it?”

I struggled to think of something, anything that I loved about the old house, “uh, um, the, the pool?” I stuttered. Granted this was pretty pathetic, but there was this little pool about a five minute walk from my old house, and we had been there once or twice.

“Ah, well I was hoping you might say something like that,” he said, grinning like a madman, “I can top that easily!” He picked me up and carried us to the window, “Close your eyes, Lilypad,” I did as I was told and heard the curtains being opened. “Open!” He cried.