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ISABEL AND AUSTIN TRAVERSED the middle of the island by hopping on the bus from Ryde and jumping off at Newport where they could get their connection. She bought him a packet of crisps which he ate with his legs swinging back and forth under the bench seat while they waited for the bus to take them to Chale. She’d spent the time checking through the rucksack she’d thrown all sorts in before heading off. For once she felt prepared as she located the water bottle, sunscreen and packet of Jacob’s Mini Cheddars along with two shiny, red apples to nibble on if they got peckish, although Rhodri said Austin had eaten a big lunch. She’d even packed her swimsuit and Austin’s trunks in case he wanted to go on the water slide. She’d had a moment’s panic but then felt the towels down the bottom of the pack. Yes, she thought, zipping the bag back up she’d done well. Normally she flew out the door barely remembering her bag let alone to pack it. She glanced down the road but there was no sign of the bus as yet. It should be here any minute though if it was running to its timetable.
Rhodri had looked pleased when she’d told him of her plans. She hadn’t missed Austin’s baleful expression as he fixed his eyes on his dad, looking like he was hoping for a reprieve. If Rhodri had been the one to announce they were going to an adventure park, Isabel had no doubt he’d have been beside himself with excitement but because it was her, the wicked girlfriend he might as well have been told he was off to the doctors for a jab. She’d not given him time to dwell on it, taking him firmly by the hand and trotting him out the door before he could protest. They would have fun, she’d decided, even if it bloody well killed her.
‘Here comes a bus,’ Austin said. It was the first sentence he’d uttered since leaving Pier View House and Isabel wondered if winning him over was as simple as a bag of crisps.
She looked to where the bus was chugging towards them and seeing the number said, ‘Yes, that’s us, Austin.’ She opened the front pocket of the rucksack and retrieved her purse counting out some coins as it pulled in alongside the kerb.
The journey didn’t take long with Isabel telling Austin to ring the bell as she spied the giant pirate with a rum barrel on his shoulder that signalled the entrance to the theme park. It was the oldest amusement park in the United Kingdom, not that she thought that piece of trivia would be of much interest to Austin. ‘Wait until the bus comes to a complete stop before getting up,’ she said as it began to slow. He did as he was told, waiting until she stood up and called out a thank you to the driver before hopping off. They made their way to the entrance building to pay the admission.
The park had only been open a few weeks after closing for the winter season. It would be busy but not crazily so, she hoped, and the afternoon was mild which was better than stinking hot. She’d timed their visit well and her mood was exuberant as she handed over her card to be swiped. The excited squeals of children rang out as they ventured forth and she felt a frisson of excitement herself. You couldn’t help but feel happy somewhere like this, she thought, seeing hyped small faces racing about the grounds. She risked a glance at Austin, pleased to see he was looking animatedly around him. A girl of eight or so walked past them her face all screwed up and a frozen slush drink in her hand. Brain freeze no doubt, Isabel thought.
‘Should we walk around first and see what you’d like to go on, Austin?’ As soon as she’d said it she chastised herself for giving him a choice again. She quickly opened the map and glanced over it. ‘Let me see, hmm, the Lands of Imagination sound like fun. Let’s check out Nursery Land.’ She looked up to see a small child with a Mr Whippy almost as big as he was, white creamy ice cream dripping down the side of the cone. Inspired she added, ‘And then we could get an ice cream cone.’ Like she’d told herself earlier, she was pulling out all the stops and who needed cheddars and apples when there was ice cream? He’d already had crisps, she might as well go the full hog.
‘Nursery Land’s for babies,’ he lisped, looking at where she was pointing on the colour layout and I don’t like ice cweam.’
That, Isabel knew to be a fib, she’d seen him slurping on a chocolate cone his daddy had bought him just the other day. She took a deep breath. ‘Fair enough, you’re a big boy after all. Hmm, do you think we should be brave and visit,’ she lowered her voice intending to sound dramatic but coming across like the creepy voiceover for movie trailers, ‘Restricted Area 5, where the dinosaurs live?’ Ah ha, that got him, she thought, seeing the flare of interest in his brown eyes. ‘Come on then,’ she held out her hand and he looked at it for a moment before taking hold of it and letting her lead the way.
They entered through the gates of the mystery enclosure and moved stealthily through the wooded area waiting for something to jump out at them. It was Austin who spotted the family of dinosaurs up ahead. He began to jiggle with excitement. ‘They’re triceratops!’
‘Wow, do you know about dinosaurs then, Austin?’ Isabel asked, following behind. She was sensing genuine wonder in his voice at what he was seeing as they drew nearer.
‘I do, I collect them.’
It was like all the bells and whistles going off on a gaming machine, Jackpot! She, Isabel Stark, had discovered Austin’s passion. She felt a stab of regret at having chosen the farm duvet instead of the dinosaur one. It would be too late to take it back now but they could certainly go back to the toy shop while he was here and see what miniature offerings of the Jurassic kind they had. She watched delightedly as he carried on exploring, exclaiming as to who was who in the dinosaur world as other creatures reared out at them through the foliage.
‘Look over there!’ Isabel got into the swing of things pointing to an enormously fierce T-Rex with gnashing teeth whose head was peeking out between he trees. ‘Do you think we should run for it before he gobbles us up for dinner? She expected Austin to laugh but he didn’t, he looked terrified at the sight of the fearsome model and he turned and ran off back from where they’d come.
‘Austin. It’s alright it’s not real,’ she called after him but it was too late. She watched with her hand to her mouth as his foot caught on a tree root. Things seemed to move in slow motion as he went flying through the air, landing with an almighty thump on the hard ground.
Isabel ran down the path, worried by the lack of noise coming from him but as she pounded up to him, he began to howl. It was louder than Prince Charles when he thought he was being ignored and she didn’t know whether to be relieved by the sound or worried in case he’d injured himself badly. She crouched down alongside him as he rolled over and sat up clutching his knee to his chest. It physically hurt her to see him sobbing so. He’d torn his trousers and she could see a nasty graze on his right knee that blood was beginning to ooze out of.
Okay, Isabel, she told herself, there’s no point overreacting you’ll only upset him further. You need to be calm and not make it into a big deal. ‘Come on now, Austin, you’ll be right as rain with a spot of antiseptic cream and a plaster.’ Where she would get a Band-Aid from she didn’t know. They’d no doubt have a box in the main entrance but she had to get him back there first. She could carry him, she supposed, if he’d let her.
Austin stared at her through watery eyes and she tried to give him a cuddle but he pulled away, stuttering as he stared down at his knee, ‘There’s bl-blood.’ They both watched the bright red globule pool and then trickle down his leg.
A woman with an entourage of three youngsters broke the trance calling out, ‘Are you two okay?’
‘He fell over and his knee’s bleeding, you wouldn’t happen to have a plaster on you?’
‘I do as it happens.’ She wandered over, leaving her three frolicking about and knelt down on the other side of Austin. ‘Let’s have a look at the war wound then. Oh, you poor fellow. That’s a nasty cut. It must hurt.’
He nodded and then looked at Isabel with an accusatory stare. She’d come prepared, Isabel thought, watching as she whipped out a travel-sized first aid kit and set about cleaning his knee with an antiseptic wipe before putting a large Elastoplast on it. ‘There you go, Mummy,’ she said to Isabel. ‘Good as new, almost. I can’t help you with the trousers, I’m afraid.’ She smiled.
‘She’s not my mummy.’ Austin hiccupped.
Isabel wanted to cry herself but she blinked forcibly and seeing the woman was looking at her, gabbled, ‘He’s my partner’s son this is the first time he’s stayed with us. Things were going well until he fell over.’
She’d said too much and the woman gave her a cautious but sympathetic smile before getting to her feet. She brushed the dirt from her pants before looking around to rally up her own troops. ‘Well that should see him right now.’
Isabel remembered her manners. ‘Thank you so much for your help.’
‘No problem. Bye.’
She disappeared up ahead and Isabel held out her hand. Austin took it and she pulled him up with an ‘Upsy-daisy.’
His face screwed up with pain. ‘I want to go home.’
‘Are you sure, Austin, because we haven’t seen much of the park? There’s some super cool rides to go on and there’s the Underwater Kingdom.’ She didn’t fancy her chances of getting him to carry on but she had to try. It wasn’t about the forty pounds she’d paid to get them in either it was about finishing their day on a happier note. Although, forty quid, was forty quid.
‘I want to go home.’ His face set in a stubborn expression she was coming to know well but this time his bottom lip was quivering.
‘Righty-ho, then we’d best head out to the bus stop.’ She tried to take his hand to walk toward the entrance of the Restricted Area but he brushed it away, standing his ground.
‘Not that home, my home. I want my mummy.’ He began to cry again, great big heaving sobs and Isabel didn’t know what to do. She went with instinct and crouching down put her arms around him feeling his slight body cardboard stiff against her. ‘I don’t blame you, Austin. You must miss your mum and I can understand how strange it must be coming to stay here with me and your dad. We’re very happy you came though and your mum will be back from her holiday soon. Shall we count how many sleeps?’
She thought, but wasn’t sure, she’d felt his body relax ever so slightly against her but she definitely heard him mumble, ‘Alright,’ against her chest.
‘Right, well, there’s tonight, that’s one sleep, tomorrow, two sleeps and then the day after that, three sleeps, the day after that, four sleeps and the day after that, five sleeps and when you wake up Daddy’s going to take you back to London to meet her off the plane. She’ll be so excited to see you.’
There was a loud sniff followed by, ‘I can go to the airport?’
‘Yes, of course you can.’
Isabel knew she wasn’t imagining it as his body relaxed in her arms. It dawned on her then he’d been worried his mum wouldn’t come back for him. The father he’d known had gone away and now he had a new daddy. Perhaps he’d thought the same thing would happen with his mummy and he’d be told Isabel was his new mother. Maybe that was why he’d been set against her. Kids heard and saw things differently to adults. Their thought processes were different. She remembered how when she’d stayed away from home for the first time, she’d had nightmares that she’d be taken away in the night by a nameless, faceless woman, knowing she’d never see her parents again. Children didn’t always understand what was going on, especially when they’d had as much change as this lad had. She felt a surge of love for him and pulled him tight and he let her but only for a moment. When he pulled away, he said, ‘I think I’d like to go to the underwater place. I like fish. Sometimes I go to the pet shop and watch all the colourful ones.’
Isabel stood up and warmth flooded her as his hand slotted into hers.
‘Would you like your own fish?’
Austin fixed her with those brown eyes of his and she saw the tears on his cheeks had dried to streaks. She wished she had a tissue on her so he could blow his nose.
‘Yes, but Mummy says not at the moment because we might move to a new house.’
Another change for him, Isabel thought as her mouth opened and the words. ‘Tomorrow’s Saturday, Austin. When Daddy closes the gallery in the afternoon, we could all go to the pet shop in Newport and see about getting you some fish. When you go home to Mummy’s we’ll look after them for you until you come to stay with us next time. What do you think?’
‘Can they live in my room?’
‘Yes.’
‘And you’d look after them when I go home but they’re still my fish?’ he clarified.
‘That’s right.’
He smiled broadly. ‘Yes, please.’
He limped toward the gates holding her hand all the way.
‘Isabel?’
‘Yes, Austin?’
‘Do you think I could have an ice cweam after all. It might help my knee feel better.’
She smiled. ‘I think that’s a great idea. Ice cream is the best medicine.’
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LATER THAT EVENING when seven o’clock rolled around and Rhodri had finished reading the Dr Seuss book, sourced on a visit to the library, Austin asked if Isabel would tuck him in. Rhodri gave her a grin and mouthed, ‘You’re in.’ She smiled back. It had been a brilliant afternoon. Austin had forgotten about his sore knee as they explored the Underwater Kingdom where nothing frightening suddenly appeared. To her relief he’d been too short for the Cliffhanger rollercoaster; those adrenalin inducing rides made her feel sick, and he had gotten over his disappointment thanks to their robust game of Snakes and Ladders where they’d had to spin a wheel to find out if they had to slide down a slide or climb a ladder. By the time they’d arrived home to Pier View House they were worn out and Austin’s T-shirt had ice cream stains all down the front of it. With his plastered knee and ripped trousers, he looked like a right ragamuffin and Rhodri’s face had been a picture when he saw him.
Isabel felt privileged as she followed Austin up the stairs to his room. She snuggled Benny in next to him and tucked the sheets in for him, under strict instructions to pull them tight. She stroked his cheek and then asked what had been puzzling her since they left the Restricted Area. ‘Austin, why were you afraid of the T-Rex but not the other dinosaurs?’
He blinked and pursed his lips. ‘Because T-Rex eats meat which means people. Triceratops and the others only eat plants.’
‘Of course,’ Isabel slapped her forehead. ‘Aren’t I silly forgetting something like that?’
He nodded his agreement which made her smile and with a kiss on the forehead she said night-night.