Free February Or Forever by Juliet Madison

her bag over her shoulder and stepped towards the door.
    â€˜Piece of cake.’ He waved her away. ‘An organic, gluten-free, fruit-filled cake, that is.’ He winked as she turned the door handle. ‘ Ciao , bella .’
    Chrissie turned back. ‘Italian today, huh?’
    â€˜Seems so.’ He grinned, his dark skin glistening with the sheen of an intense yoga class. ‘Though I’m nothin’ but Maori through-and-through.’ He gestured a hand down the length of his body. ‘I just like to challenge my vocabulary.’ A yawn stretched his mouth open wide. ‘And my body.’ He raised his eyebrows and chuckled.
    â€˜Let’s hope Lisa is back on deck tomorrow. We can’t have you falling asleep in the middle of Parsvottanasana .’
    â€˜Ha!’ Damon laughed. ‘No, definitely not. Padottanasana would be better, at least my head could rest on the floor for a few moments. My students might not even notice.’
    Chrissie laughed, imagining her colleague snoring in the pose where the body bends at the waist and hands reach through the legs to touch the floor. ‘True, true.’ Chrissie checked her watch. ‘Well, hope you get through the day, see you tomorrow.’
    â€˜ Ciao !’ Damon waved as she walked out the door, and she wouldn’t have been surprised if he fell asleep thirty seconds later.
    The school bell rang and two dozen children filtered out of the classroom, accompanied by many more from the adjacent classrooms, their sizes gradually increasing in height. Before she knew it, Kai would be one of those taller kids in Year Three, and before too long, Year Six, and heaven help her, Year Ten. If he was a challenge now, what would he be like as a teenager? The thought was enough to make her instantly sprout a thousand grey hairs.
    Kai approached with schoolbag perched high on his back, a triumphant and self-satisfied grin on his face. ‘So can we go to the fair tomorrow, Mum?’
    She ruffled his hair. ‘Yes, we can. Good work.’
    He grinned wider and they walked out of the building and towards the school gates. ‘Can I have a toffee apple at the fair, and ride a pony, and get a lucky dip?’ He had an even greater memory than her.
    â€˜That’s the plan.’
    â€˜Yippee!’ He ran the rest of the way to the gate, crashing into a mother on her way in.
    â€˜Careful, Kai.’ Chrissie glanced at the woman. ‘Sorry,’ she mouthed.
    The mother flicked a dismissive hand. ‘It’s fine.’
    She helped Kai buckle into the car and got into the driver’s seat. ‘Right, home we go. You’ll have to get to bed early tonight so we can have lots of energy for tomorrow, okay?’
    â€˜Okay.’
    Plus she wanted to curl up on the couch and watch a movie on her own, preferably one that wasn’t animated and didn’t have talking animals. And definitely one with a rating higher than PG.
    They drove down Seaview Road and after stopping off at the video store to pick up a DVD, turned left into Willow Street, which ran through the town centre. As she slowed at the roundabout, Kai said, ‘Mum, can we stop at the park for a while? I want a go on the playground.’
    Chrissie eyed the corner of Miracle Park, where people wandered in and out, and children climbed and swung and slid on the equipment. Would this be too much of a reward, the park and the fair? What the hell, it was the start of the weekend and right now she just wanted Kai to be happy. Plus it might tire him out and help him get to bed early. ‘Okay, then. Hang on till I find a parking spot.’
    â€˜Yay!’
    Chrissie slowed and pulled into a spot opposite the historic terrace shops and next to the cute Willow Lane, like a step back in time with its unique gift and candy shops with decorative railings and awnings.
    Kai slammed the door shut with enthusiasm and dashed over to the playground in Miracle Park