Pictures on her skin

Jill was coming over to visit mum to talk about her holiday.

Auntie Jill went to faraway places and collected lots of fantastic things.  Wee trinkets, jewellery, beautiful photographs so they could see where she’d been, even pictures in her skin!

Mary loved the pictures on her skin. 

They fascinated Mary; although sometimes they slightly scared Mary too, you never know when one might come to life when you’re not looking.

The best bit was the stories Jill told about each of the pictures, they were brilliant too.  

All of the images had its own reason for being chosen and placed in Jill’s skin so she would always remember that moment and made sure they didn’t rub off.

Each of the dragons, the butterflies, the patterns and how they were made, why the flowers were important with their individual meanings, even the wiggly doodles, they all had a memory behind them.

Mary could never remember if the story changed slightly or if it was a different image but she didn't care! Both the image and the reasons were brilliant.

Mum and Jill would sit and talk over tea and biscuits wile Mary drew pictures of the new place Jill had just returned home from. 

Mary would draw and colour-in pictures from Jill’s story, sometimes on paper, and sometimes a wee picture on her own arm or leg. It would wash off after a bath, but Mary didn’t mind because she might change her mind tomorrow and want something different or even nothing at all!  It just meant Mary could draw something new when the auntie Jill came to visit again.

This new place sounded lovely, sunny and warm, with fancy trees and big bright flowers. 

Mary could see in the photo’s all of the wildlife looked so different too.  They were all brightly colored from the fish, to the birds even the insects.

“Is that so they can blend in with the flowers?” asked Mary.

“Oh maybe, or maybe they want to stand out and be noticed so they don’t get eaten,” replied Jill.

“I don’t understand?” replied Mary shaking her head in confsion.

“Well sometimes nature has a way of letting everyone know if something might be dangerous.  See these brightly coloured creepy crawlies?” said Jill pointing to a caterpillar.  “That’s to warn the birds that they don’t taste very nice and might give them a sore tummy so the birds will hopefully stay away from those.”

“Oh cool, but what about the bright birds?”

“Well they are just lovely and very lucky that they can fly away very quickly with their feathered wings, colorful and intelligent,” smiled Jill.

“I hope I can be colorful and intelligent when I grow up.”

“I like that I can change my pictures, can you change yours?”

“Those are some very cleaver pictures, I can’t change mine but mum or me could take a photo of yours so you don’t forget them.”

“I like the sound of that” smiled a very exited Mary already posing for the photo.

“The best of both worlds,” whispered mum to Jill with a wink.

Blue teeth!

Mary had the dentist today.

 Mary had lots of people speaking about the dentist, it sounded really scary, all the sharp tools they used, the sound of the drill.

Mary was so scared.

Mum advised not to be worried.  Its better to go to the dentist when the issues are small so bigger problems can’t happen.  But this did nothing to help.

There was no time to panic. Mum had Joe were ready and waiting at the door so they could go.

It was a lovely day, no rain, not even a cloud in the sky.

Mary was able to distract herself just enough before she realized they were almost there, the nerves kicked in.

The receptionist greeted them and showed them into the waiting room.

There was no time to even sit down as the dentist called them straight into the surgery.

The room was so bright, white walls, mirrors and shiny tools all lined up on the table.

 “Good. Morning Mary, my name is Linda, can you sit up on this fancy chair so I can take a quick look at your teeth please?” requested the dentist.

Mary looked at mum, walked over to the chair and climbed up.

Linda played with the dials so Mary was comfortable and at just the right angle for Linda to see.

“Open up please.” Requested Linda.

Mary did as she was told.

A little prod here, another there.

“Excellent work Mary,” smiled Linda.  

“I’m going to try something that should hopefully help you brush your teeth even better, would you like to try?”

“OK” nodded Mary.

Linda gave her a blue tablet, and advised her to chew it to break it up, making sure the crumbs were all around her mouth.

After a few moments, Linda handed Mary a mirror.

Mary looked, all was good, Linda advised to smile.

“OH my goodness, my teeth are blue!” ” yelled Mary, horrified!

“Don’t worry, were going to fix that,” advised Linda calmly handing Mary a toothbrush and toothpaste. 

“Now you’ll be able to see the areas you’ve been missing.”

Mary got to work, carefully brushing away all of the blue, making sure the back of the mouth was clean, the sides were clear, even the awkward bits at the back.

 “Excellent work Mary, you found almost all of the blue.  But there is just a tiny wee bit left just at the back, can you see?” Linda asked as she held the mirror for Mary to spot.

“Uh ha,” gurgled Mary.

“Brilliant, now you know to focus there a little longer to make sure nothing gets the chance to linger.”

Mary climbed down from the chair, popped her jacket back on and got ready to leave.

“Thank you” whispered Mary looking at Linda.

“No problem, I look forward to seeing you again in 6 months time.  Take care, and remember what we learned, next time we’ll have a look at Joe too” advised Linda.

That wasn’t so bad, thought Mary, silly people making up scary stories.

©joannehepburn 24.07.2016

My shoes have teeth!

“Oh no!” exclaimed Mary.

“Everything alright?” asked Mum.

“My shoes must have teeth, look my socks are full of holes.”

“My goodness Mary,” agreed mum. “ Maybe your shoes do have teeth and your socks are just so delicious!”

“What do I do?”

“Well we could simply throughout all of your holy socks and put these shoes in the bin too because they are all broken.”

“But then I won’t have anything to put on my feet except slippers!” exclaimed Mary.

“Oh well there is only one thing for it, we’ll need to get you some new shoes without teeth that fit perfectly to make sure your new socks survive.”

“But I love both  my shoes and my socks.”

“How about we get you new shoes and socks but we make some fun hand puppets and stuffed toys out of your old socks.  So they are not socks any more but they have a new purpose so we’re not really getting rid of them?” hoped mum.

“What about my favorite shoes?”

“I could use them as flower pots so their teeth will go to good use protecting my new seedlings, and your socks and feet are safe, how does that sound?”

“So they won’t be far away?  Just in the garden?  And they will still be getting used?  My feet won’t hurt anymore?  Well we could try it” agreed Mary.

The trip to town was less painful than expected.  

Mary found the perfect replacement shoes that fitted perfectly.  Mary even tested them as much as possible in the shop, jumping, running, crawling.  They were keepers.

Back home mum went straight to the garden with the sock eating shoes.  

The first one was filled with a little bit of stones for drainage, a little soil, some lavender seeds and a bit more soil.

Time for the second one, first filled with a few pebbles for drainage, a little soil, then some mint clippings this time with some extra soil to keep them all in place.

Mary helped mum water the clippings and seeds to make sure they would settle and be comfortable in their new home.

Next it was time to get back in the house to wash the dirt off everyone’s hands.  

Now it was the socks turn for a new purpose, it was crafting time.

First Mum and Mary, made hand puppets with button eyes, ribbons and wool for hair, oneven  had some angry teeth too, the other a bow tie.

Little Joe liked them all.

Mum made a sock owl, sock bunny rabbit and Mary’s favorite a sock monkey.

Everyone like the sock monkey so much, mum made 2, one for Joe and one for Mary.

Now they were all happy.

Today had been a good day thought Mary; my feet are not sore, my old shoes are still close but have a new purpose keeping mum’s plants safe, my socks are new toys for me and Joe to play with; I have new super comfortable shoes for my adventures.  

I wonder what we’re going to do tomorrow.

©joannehepburn17.07.2016

Mum and Dad's night out.

Mum was getting all dressed up. 

Mary loved to watch mum getting ready, but watching putting on makeup was the best bit.  

Sometimes mum would  let Mary wear some too.

Mum was ready, so was dad, they both checked they had everything. 

There was a knock at the door.  Perfect timing, the baby sitter was here!

It was Rachel!  That was odd Rachel lived 3 doors down.  Mary only knew her a little, Joe was already sleeping so they could just relax hopefully.

Mum and dad said good night and left notes with Rachel just to be safe.

They closed the door and were gone.

“So what do you want to do?” asked Rachel

“I don’t know” said Mary, “what do you want to do?”

“How about we build a fort!”

“That sounds great!” said Mary, while jumping off the sofa to find lots of cushions and blankets.

The fort started by the sofa, and grew to the T.V then got even bigger.

The fort went from the kitchen door right the way through the sitting room to the hallway! 

They were both very impressed with their work.

 “How about we draw our fort that we just made so we can remember it for next time?” suggested Rachel.

“Yea” said Mary as she went off to fetch her paper and crayons.

They drew and sketched and drew some more. 

“Would you like some juice?” asked Rachel

“I think I would” said Mary, “do you know where we keep everything?”

“I think so if not I’ll shout,” smiled Rachel.

Mary sat down in the fort admiring the drawings they were busy creating.

Rachel came back with 2 glasses of juice and some biscuits for both of them.

“How about we watch a film?  Rachel asked.

“That sounds good” said Mary

They chose a film and got comfortable.

“The film was so good “said Mary with a smile when it ended.

“It was wasn’t it” said Rachel, “Gosh we better tidy this place up before your parents get back or we will both be in trouble.”

Mary didn’t want to.

 “It’s OK Mary we have our pictures, and if we tidy up quickly you can have my drawings too!  How does that sound?”  Offered Rachel.

Mary smiled and got to work.  They tidied up in no time.  Mary thought the house looked even better than before they started!

Mary sat down on the sofa and yawned.

“You wanna go to bed?” asked Rachel.

“No, I’m good” nodded Mary

“Really” replied Rachel

“Erm, well”

“How about you put on your pajamas and we can watch another movie?” suggested Rachel.

“Erm OK” yawned Mary as she headed up the stairs

Mary got changed and came back into the sitting room where Rachel was sitting all ready with the next movie to watch.

Mary didn’t know what happened, but she woke up being carried up the stairs to bed by dad.

“I hope Rachel can babysit again soon” whispered a very sleepy Mary.

“She certainly can” replied dad.

©Joanne Hepburn 2015

Shopping

Mary was not very fond of shopping of any kind.

Clothes and shoe shopping was the worst! 

Today was Food shopping day, food shopping was not as bad but it still wasn’t any fun.

Food shopping used to be OK but then the seat in the trolley got too small and baby Joe had to come 

too, so now all Mary could do was walk along beside Mum and dad being bored.

In they went, mum pushing the trolley with Joe in the seat.

 Dad walked along with Mary and the mission began.

“OK, Mary today I’m going to set you some challenges, do you want to play?” teased dad.

“Sure,” replied Mary, its go to be better than walking around wanting to leave.

“Your first challenge is to find a big bag of oats for breakfast and baking, they are heavy so be careful” advised dad.

Mary was already off to find them before she could reply.

Found the aisle, found the oats but there was so many different types to choose from.  

How could they all be so different if they were all the same thing? Thought Mary.

“Dad, dad, help,” yelled Mary.

“What’s up?”  Replied dad.

“There are so many different bags and boxes.  Why so many different kinds when they are all the same?” this confused Mary a lot.

“Oh, well there are lots of different people who farm them and they want to sell them too,” advised dad. “There are lots of things like that as you’ll find out on your next mission if you choose to accept it?” advised dad.

“Yes, I’ll try.”

“OK, next we are going to need 8 bananas and 6 apples, these are both in the same aisle, you’ll need to take these 2 bags to put them in for the lady we pay at the end.  Will you be alright with this double mission?”

Yet again, Mary was already away before answering.

Mary found the right aisle and went over to the apples first; they were  arranged all neatly.  

Mary very carefully choosing 6 like dad had asked, selecting the shiny ones and checking they didn’t have any bruises before putting them into the bag.

Next it was time for the bananas, Mary liked the green ones.  Mum had told her the green ones last the longest.  

Mary looked through all of the different bunches and selected a medium sized bunch with some smaller ones at the back for Joe.  Double checking there was 8 all attached together as they were placed into the second bag.

Dad’s 3 missions all completed.  

They all gathered by the checkout while mum and dad put the shopping into bigger bags so it was easier to take home..  

They said goodbye to the person at the till and walked out of the shop over to find the car. 

 Mum and Dad put everything carefully into the boot.

 Dad put the trolley back for someone else to use, while mum put Joe into his car seat.

Shopping isn’t so bad when you have a mission thought Mary, maybe dad will set me some new challenges next week, thought Mary with a grin.

©joannehepburn 03/07/2016