Careful What You Wish For by Maureen McCarthy Page B

but … it did feel a bit weird. In fact, it took all Ruth’s willpower not to cringe when she felt sweet-smelling, warm breath on her neck. Was this really her mother?
    Back in her old life, Ruth’s mother hadn’t done her hair in years, and she never called her gorgeous girl . Still … it might be something she could get used to!
    ‘Think I’ll have a swim now,’ she stammered, pulling away.
    ‘That’s a good idea.’ Mrs Craze pulled Ruth back briefly and kissed her on the nose. ‘Then we can have lunch, okay, sweetie?’
    ‘Okay.’
    ‘Enjoy!’ her new mother laughed gaily.
    Ruth dived straight into the pool and ploughed up and down for a while. It was quite a big pool and it took a bit of time to get from one end to the other. She swam a few laps and then began to swim around in circles. She knew she probably looked like a demented shark, but she really needed to release some energy and take it all in .
    ‘How is it?’
    Ruth looked over, alarmed to see that her mother was standing on the edge watching her swim, still with that same big, wide smile all over her face. When she caught Ruth’s eye she gave a fluttery wave with one hand – the long, bright nails flickered like lollies in the sunshine. Back in her old life, her mother’s hands were brown and worn and the nails were bitten right down.
    ‘You need lessons, sweetie. Your style is all out.’
    ‘I know.’ Ruth turned onto her back self-consciously and floated with arms out wide, looking up at the blue sky for as long as she could. When she risked another glance she saw with relief that her mother had moved inside. Through the big glass window she could see her moving around in the kitchen. Ruth was hungry but she continued to tread water, trying to calm down and get used to the big change.
    Eventually she got tired and rested with her arms up on the side of the pool. She looked around the garden again, feeling insanely pleased. Good old Rodney! She smiled as she remembered the rat’s instructions to find the red door first. As if she’d want to leave paradise! But maybe she should look around, just to be on the safe side.
    There was a gate right at the end of the ordered garden. Would that be it? But no, it had to be red. Never mind. He said it would be easy to find, and anyway in a couple of hours this whole new set-up would seem normal and going back to that dreary old life would be the last thing on her mind. How lucky that she had found Rodney! Here she was in her very own pool on a hot summer day. Her mum was inside getting lunch and she had on the new bathers she wanted. What more could she ask for?
    She got out of the pool and just as she was thinking that she would sit down on one of the recliner chairs nearby to dry off, her mother came flying out of the back door with two huge fluffy towels.
    ‘Shower first, sweetie?’ she said anxiously, pointing to an outdoor shower at one side of the gazebo.
    ‘Okay.’ Ruth followed her over to the shower.
    ‘Got to get that chlorine out of your hair.’ Mrs Craze pulled Ruth under the nozzle and turned on the tap. ‘Temperature okay?’
    ‘Yep. I can do it myself though.’
    But her new mother insisted on rubbing in the shampoo and conditioner and making sure it was all rinsed out properly.
    Ruth closed her eyes and tried not to mind the fussing. At last it was over and she stepped out into the sunshine.
    Her mother was holding out one of the fluffy towels. ‘Now, I’ve brought out your dress and sandals.’
    ‘Thanks.’ Ruth moved away a little and tried to take the towel.
    ‘Darling,’ her mother said gently, ‘we can’t have you dripping on the carpet, can we?’
    So Ruth stood there while Mrs Craze rubbed her hair dry and then knelt down to dry her legs and feet. She dried each toe carefully, as though Ruth was a little kid.
    Ruth was on the point of saying, ‘I’ve been drying myself for years!’ but somehow the words stuck in her throat. Maybe she was still too