‘Cool,’ yelled Jake. He ran over and stood beaming up at the indignant reptile.
Mel helped Kim to her feet. ‘Sorry. Geraldine was hit by a car and lost a leg. She’s become quite a pet, and lives in the rose garden.’
Snow ran to the front door and let herself in by opening the flywire with her teeth. ‘Come on,’ said Mel. ‘Your kids might like to help with the lunchtime feeds.’
They found themselves in a large laundry, where half-a-dozen hessian potato sacks were strung up along the windowsill like Christmas stockings. Mel put her hand into one of them, and drew out a tiny, barely-furred joey. The look of delight on Abbey’s face was something to see. ‘Can I pat it?’ She stroked the baby’s dove-grey neck and kissed its muzzle. A little pink tongue emerged to lick her nose. She squealed wit
