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“Only when you’re big like Muer

“I’ll swim like a mermaid then!”

A ray of sunlight peeked through the gray clouds I re Mum and I would need to take them off and set them in the boat’s belly with her discarded vest Just as she leaned away, there he was

My father’s skin was sun-darkened, his blond hair just one shade shy of brown, as if someone had rubbed dirt in it From his perch there on the dock, he scowled down on us, and htened fish

“What the hell is this then?”

I could see the redness in his eyes, the meanness all about his mouth, and I felt scared for Mummy

“We’re going to find the dolphins! It’s my birthday!”

He glowered down at me, and I noticed the stains on his tee shirt

“We’ll be back quite soon,” Muht and careful, a bit nice and a bit like she ht perhaps be ready for a row “We can talk then,” she offered softly

Daddy stepped into the little wooden skiff It rocked with his weight, water sloshing up on one side “I don’t think so” He sat down on the bench beside Mulared at Mury villain “Wouldn’t want to miss the fun”

Unshed tears made my eyes ache I sed hard and looked down at my sandal-clad feet Mustn’t cry in front of Daddy Mummy told me many times: no tears except when I was alone or with just her or Gah This was my birthday

“Only Mummy!”

Daddy’s blood-shot blue eyes popped wide at my shriek

“So you want to get out of the boat, then?” he snarled

Tears spilled down my cheeks “It was a Mummy-Finley affair!”