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‘Who are you?’
He turned and smiled as if he’d been waiting for me.
‘Hey Sophie.’
I was both confused and comforted by his relaxed manner.
‘How do you know my name?’
‘I’m an old friend of your mam’s.’
He had an open face and an accent like my grandfather’s that straight away made me think of home.
As I stood there equivocating, he sauntered over, extending his hand. It made me feel grown up, as if I mattered. Adults tended to ignore me or else call me ‘cutie’, like I was a puppy dog wanting to be petted.
I shook his hand, felt its warmth envelope mine.
‘What’s your name?’
‘Matty.’
There was something familiar about him. Something about the eyes.
He did a little dance, put on a silly voice. That put me in mind of Grandad too.
‘How do you do? Do you like the zoo?’
I laughed, the final pressure valve releasing.
‘I was going to make your mam pancakes. Want to help?’
Pancakes were my favourite. Among the photos on the end table was a picture of me eating a cream covered stack of them at the IHOP.
‘Is Mummy coming?’
Not ‘Mommy’ any more.
‘She’s still sleeping.’ He gave me a conspiratorial look. ‘Thought we’d surprise her. What d’you say?’
‘Sure.’ Then, ‘She likes them with chocolate chips.’
She didn’t, that was me.
He grinned, like I wasn’t pulling the wool over his eyes, but he let me have my win.
‘All right then, partner. Chocolate chips it is. We’re going to need a spatula, ladle and pan. Any idea where they are?’
‘Not in the living room.’
