Whats your name, lovely? The stranger crouched down next to the girl. Felicity! replied the girl. And you? Im Charles, I shall be living with your mum. Now we are family, you, me, and your mum all as one!
Soon after, Felicity and her mother moved in with Charles. The stepfathers flat was roomy, with three bedrooms, so Felicity got her own. Charles proved thoughtful, always buying her sweets and toys, while her real father only rang up when he wanted to have a row with her mum.
Then Felicitys mother told her that her father had a new family now and had moved away. The girls heart ached, for she loved him. Her mum sometimes shouted or smacked her bottom, but her father never did. Felicity could remember, crystal clear, when her parents split: her mum shrieked at him and even tried to give him a slap. What stuck forever in the girls memory was the last thing her mum had said to her dad:
Don’t think you were the first to make me a fool, you’ve been sporting antlers for ages, reindeer-style!
Then, her mother packed up their things and off they went to stay with gran. Felicity just couldnt work out where her dads antlers supposedly were, when he was bald as an egg. Mum and Dad parted ways for good.
All was well with Charles until Felicity started Year One. School did not suit her, she was cheeky at break times, so her parents were summoned to the school often; sometimes Charles went instead of her mum. The stepfather was strict when it came to lessons, and would do her homework with her regularly.
Youre nobody to me, so dont boss me about! Felicity would retort, a phrase shed picked up from Gran. I am your father, I put food in your belly and clothes on your back, Charles would reply.
When Felicity turned ten, her real dad came back to town. By then, shed figured out what wearing antlers implied. Probably his second wife cheated too, thats why she ditched him, her mum said at the time. When her dad asked to see her, mum agreed. Felicity and her father were thrilled to see each other.
How are things? her dad asked. Not so great, said Felicity. My stepdads always telling me off. Hes no one to you, what right has he to shout at you? her father said angrily. Even Gran says so, but he ignores her. Felicity exaggerated a bit, since Charles never really shouted. She just wanted her dad to worry over her. Right. Ill sort it out. her dad replied. Strolling by the park, they learned that you could climb only eight of the slides, the rest only if you brought an adult, but her dad wouldnt go on the carousel. Then Felicity told him her birthday was near and she longed for a shiny new mobile. When her mother came to collect her, she told her father that Charles never shouted, but he didnt want to listen.
My dads a total Scrooge! Felicity complained to Charles. Didnt buy me anything at the park except an ice cream. We just walked about. Charles, youre better than my dad. Lets right your fathers wrong and spend this weekend at the kids activity centre.
But the planned outing was scrapped because Charles had an emergency at work, and he ignored any hint about a new mobile phone.
Dad, Charles tricked me! Felicity sobbed to her father. He said wed go to the adventure centre this weekend, and now he says I dont deserve the trip or the new phone.
Though it was far from true, it worked wonders on her father, who bought his daughter a smartphone. Last time, he hadnt taken her hints, but now, with this twist, the girls dream had to be granted. Sadly, her father could only afford the cheaper model, as there wasnt enough money for the fancier kind.
Couldnt you have waited until your birthday? Charles asked. I dream of having a dog! the girl replied. Oh no, youll have to walk it, and you wont want to, as always! grumbled her stepdad.
After hearing this, Felicity became frantic, rang up her dad and started complaining: Dad, please take me away from them! Charles keeps picking on me and lecturing me. she cried.
Then everybody started arguing and settling things among themselves. At last, Felicity was sent off to Grans, then her mum arrived there with all their things, announcing she was leaving Charles. Her real dad went back to his wife, as it turned out she was pregnant. Now Felicity wouldnt be getting a new phone or a dog and there was no chance of Gran allowing even a cat.
