Kate tucked a straggling hair back into her roughly caught-up ponytail, looked at herself in the mirror of the toilets and frowned creasing her brow, increasing the worried, frazzled look on her face. She looked down at Matthew lying sleepily in the pram, cherubic with his brown curls, tanned skin and bright blue eyes. Bending down she licked her thumb and rubbed the chocolate moustache off his cheeks.
“Spic and span again little man,” she whispered. “Can you stay awake just a little bit longer? Just until we get in? Don’t forget to give the nice man on the door a lovely big smile ok?"
Matthew nodded, eyes drooping. She gave him a little tickle and he perked up giggling, shifting in the pushchair to a more upright position.
“Drat, I’m gonna have to be quick,” she muttered to herself as she held the door open, tic-tacking the pushchair through and letting it drop close behind her.
Trotting down the corridor she arrived at the double doors and started rummaging in the large handbag under her arm, looking up briefly to smile at the security guard in the empty foyer.
“I’m so sorry,” she smiled apologetically, “I’ll find it in a minute.” She moved the buggy to one side and started taking out the contents one by one. Keys first, wallet, nappies, wet wipes. “Oh my gosh, I know it was in here somewhere!” She felt her back pockets and looked through the wallet. Bending down to check if it was in the pushchair, her back to the guard, she mouthed “now Matthew” and gave him a wink and a smile.
“I want to see Hi5 now! You said we were going to see Hi5!” he began to wail, drumming his feet on the pushchair, his face getting redder and redder, tears welling up in his eyes.
Kate stood up. “I’m so sorry,” she said with embarrassment. "I had the tickets just now. We’ve already been in to find our seat but I had to take him to the loo. They must be in my bag somewhere but I can’t for the life of me find them anywhere. Could you let us in anyway?” She looked pleadingly at the man and Matthew sniffled to a halt, pausing to smile angelically up at the man. Kate brushed away his tears, ruffled his curls and looked up.
The guard hesitated then gave Matthew a grin. “No worries big fella. You’ve missed the first bit but I hope you’ve got good seats. Should have gone to the dunny at home mate! In you go.” Opening the doors he let Kate and Matthew into the darkened arena.
As the door closed, Kate pulled her hair out of the ponytail, smoothing it down round her shoulders.
She gave Matthew a cuddle, “Now. Don’t ever lie. It’s really really bad. And don’t tell Mummy I told a porky will you?” He nodded. “Good man!”
“Now can we see Hi5 Aunty Kate?”
“We sure can champion! Can you spot a seat free? I want one with a really good view of that fit bloke!”
You're a great writer, Soph! Good stuff!
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