Hope skipped down the path, twirling the rope at each step; over her head, down in front, hop over, up behind and back over her head. Skip, skip, skip. Her plaits swinging in time to her movements.
She knew, or hoped, her mother was following as they headed towards the park. She dared not glance back, because she would lose her rhythm, and she was about to reach 100 without stopping.
Reaching the end of the path, where it opened out into the wide grass stretches of the park, she stopped with a smile. 112. Best ever non stop skipping. She glanced back to smile at mummy, hoping that she had been watching such an extraordinary feat. The best ever.
Mummy had not been watching, but was sauntering along, smart phone in front, tapping a reply to one or other of her 'friends – at least that is what they were called – although they only seemed to live in the phone, all the time, so they were not the sort of friends you could have round for tea.
Mummy had told Hope off for talking to her imaginary friends. “Big girls like you who have real friends and go to school don't have imaginary friends any more. They are grown up. They will think you are a baby talking to imaginary friends”. So Hope stopped talking out loud to her imaginary friends and now whispered to them in her head instead. But they were still there. And they were still real. Very real. Just there at the edge of seeing.
“Why were Mummy's friends who lived in her phone real, so real that she is always talking to them, or texting them – whatever that is – or taking photos with her phone and posting them – what ever that is – but mine are imaginary, when I know they are real and here and now?” thought Hope, just catching a glimpse of Skally, the naughtiest of them, scuttling under the hedge at the side of the path. At least I can almost see mine. And when I am alone and quiet, they come and play.
Just beyond the end of the path the fairy godmothers were doing yoga. Hope was sure they were fairy godmothers because they always gave her presents – little ones – sweets or chocolate mostly. As for yoga, that seemed to be twisting the body into odd postures and then complaining afterwards about how uncomfortable it was. But twisting the body was just so easy, thought Hope, pushing her skipping rope into mommy's pocket, and doing some cartwheels.
The fairy godmothers stopped doing their yoga, and one of them came over to talk to mummy, or, not exactly talk, but stand close by, staring at her phone and saying the odd word or two.
Looking at Hope she said “Do some more cartwheels so I can take a clip of you to share”. Hope shrugged and slumped down.
“Go on Hope” said Mummy. “Get up and do some more.”
Hope did her best smile that said “I'm sweet, but I am not going to do what you say”. Cocking her head to one side.
Mummy's phone rang. Then the other woman's phone went ting, and they were both lost in their phone world, talking, texting, sharing.
“Good – they're not noticing me any more.” thought Hope.
She smiled at the bottom of the hedge where she could see Skally making faces at Mummy and the woman; poking her tongue out and thumbing her nose, before stopping for a moment to pick a bit out of her nose, and flicking it at Mummy.
“And my friends are not real?” thought Hope!
Skally waved to her, and ran towards the bank where you could go roly-poly all the way down. Hope jumped up and followed. Soon they were both head over heels rolling down the bank. Mummy was still talking on her phone and the fairy godmother was staring at hers and swiping it every now and then.
At least my friends play roly-poly thought Hope. Their friends stuck in the phone world just seem so dull – they never do anything. Mummy and the fairy godmothers only ever seem to stand around staring at their phones – or talking into them.
“I wish I had a wish” Hope thought. “I wish the phones would stop”.
So she thought harder and harder and harder.
Suddenly Mummy and the fair godmother started shaking their phones and pressing bits of them. Bewildered they stared round as if surprised to find themselves where they were. The looked lost and confused.
“Good” thought Hope.
“Well done Skally” she said. “That'll teach them.”
