‘Double figures, huh?’
Dod pushes his shoulder against mine as he says that and smiles at me.
I never thought of it like that. Double figures.
I suck in a big breath and then let it out as hard as I can. I miss just one of the candles. But Dod blows it out for me, then looks up at me and laughs. I laugh too. I love when it’s my birthday.
Dod didn’t just bring a cake down the steps with him, he brought three presents too. I really hope they’re all books – every one of them. But I know one present looks too small to be a book.
‘Go on then.’
I reach for the rectangular present first, rip the paper off it and bring it close to my eyes. It’s a box-set of books: called Harry Potter. Six of them. Brilliant. I think I read the name Harry Potter in one of my magazines before. Didn’t know who it was. But I will soon. I hug Dod really tight. Really, really tight.
‘Supposed to be the best books ever written.’
‘Really?’
‘So they say.’
I stare at him. He looks just as excited and as happy as I am. I don’t know why. It’s my birthday, not his.
‘Has Harry Potter been on the television as much as I have?’
Now he looks confused. He turns his head and stares at me as if he doesn’t know what I’m saying.
‘Remember you told me I was on the television a lot?’ I say.
He still looks confused.
‘You said that to me a few years ago. That I was on television lots of times.’
‘Did I?’
It makes me sad that he’s forgotten. It’s one thing I will never forget. It has actually made me happy ever since Dod told me I was on television and now he’s just forgotten all about it. I really like Dod. He buys me lots of things and makes my room really beautiful and bright. But sometimes he hurts my insides a little bit. I don’t think he means it. Not in the way he used to hurt my outsides; like the time he dragged me down the steps by my hair because I screamed in the upsteps toilet, or the time he threw me against the wall. But my insides seem to hurt when he has forgotten something he’s said to me or the way he doesn’t let me talk about the memories I had before I came to this room. I wish he would let me talk about my memories because it helps me remember Mummy and Daddy and my old house. The memories seem to be getting smaller and smaller. That’s why I talk to Bozy about them when I can. I talk to Bozy about my Mummy’s smile and about playing football with my Daddy.
‘Go on… open this.’
I take the present from him and rip the paper really quickly. It’s not more books. It’s a box with a really bright yellow coloured blob on it.
‘What is it?’
‘It’s a lava lamp.’
‘A lava lamp?’
‘Yeah – you can put it in the corner here.’ He points over to the corner near the steps. ‘It’ll help brighten that area up and look…’ He opens the box, takes out the lamp. ‘The colours all change and go in different directions.’
Dod looks more happy about this lamp than I am.
‘Ye don’t like it huh?’
‘I do. I do. Thank you, Dod.’ I wrap my hands around him again for another hug.
‘You wished it was more books, didn’t you?’
I lean off him. I don’t want to hurt his insides, but I remember that I should always tell the truth to Dod.
‘I love books the most.’
He doesn’t get angry. He hasn’t been angry Dod for years now. I think angry Dod is gone forever. I hope he is.
‘Well, I think you’ll like this present more than books.’
He picks up the small present and hands it to me. I shake it and wonder if I can get any clues from how it sounds. But it doesn’t make any noise. Not really.
Then I open it quickly. It’s weird; black with loads of buttons on it.
‘What is it?’
Dod smiles. It’s a big smile.
‘Come with me.’
I follow him up the steps. Even though he hasn’t been angry Dod for years I still feel frightened when I’m up the steps with him, just in case I make a noise or something. When we are at the top he walks into the room I am not allowed to look into. I just wait outside and close my eyes.
‘C’mon.’
‘What?’
‘Come in.’
I open my eyes.
‘Come into that room?’
‘Yep.’
I feel really frightened now. But I walk in only because Dod asked me to. It’s beautiful. It has three really big brown chairs in it. One with room for three people and the other two have room for one person. There is carpet. I haven’t seen carpet since Mummy and Daddy’s house. And there are big white curtains. I feel like I’m going to cry. I’m not sure if I’m excited or frightened. Dod kneels down beside me, holds up my hand that’s gripping the strange present I just opened.
‘Here… press this red button at the top.’
I do press it and then the big black box in front of me shines a big light… it’s a television. Dod’s television. I see the first person I have seen that isn’t Dod in six years. She is beautiful. All smiley with blonde hair. Tears come out of both of my eyes.
‘Told you you’d love it.’
Dod grabs me and holds me really tight to him.
‘One hour every day I’m going to let you watch television with me. You’re a big girl now. Happy birthday, Betsy.’