Free Pictures of Lily by Paige Toon Page A

say.
    ‘I didn’t see—’
    ‘SHUT UP!’ I stand up and follow the sound, stepping carefully through the dry leaves under my feet. And then I see it. The small furry bundle that was thrown off its mummy’s back.
    My heart lifts.
    ‘Shhh,’ I murmur, this time to the tiny koala at my feet. I bend down and gather it up. ‘Shhh . . .’
    ‘What are you doing?’ Josh calls again.
    I don’t answer as I climb back up the incline, past the baby’s dead mother.
    ‘What are you going to do with it?’ Guilt makes Josh’s voice tremble as he follows me back to the car, and it strikes me that he’d probably rather not have this live evidence of his dangerous driving.
    My answer comes easily. ‘We’ve got to take him to Ben,’ I say. ‘Do you know where he lives?’ I look directly into Josh’s dark eyes and he knows not to mess with me.
    ‘Yes,’ he mumbles.
    ‘Then let’s go.’
    Ben lives only a few miles away, but the journey seems to take forever because the last place I want to be is in a car with Josh behind the wheel. Finally he pulls up outside a single-storey stone house with an iron roof and a white picket fence out at the front. He makes no attempt to move as I get out of the car.
    ‘You not coming in?’ I ask him flatly.
    ‘No. He’ll give you a lift home, won’t he?’
    ‘I suppose so.’
    ‘See you in the morning then, yeah?’
    ‘Bye.’
    I shut the car door firmly, wanting to slam it, but not enough to risk frightening the animal in my arms. It’s only when Josh drives off that I feel a prickle of regret for not wishing him a safe journey. But he didn’t screech away from the kerb so I can only hope that he’s learned his lesson, for tonight at least.
    The house is dark as I walk up the footpath and only now does it occur to me that Ben might not be in. Then I see a thin ray of light peeking out from behind the curtains and relief surges through me. It’s close to midnight and he shouldn’t be awake, but perhaps I’m lucky. I press the doorbell. A moment later, the door opens and Ben is standing before me.
    ‘Sorry to bother you.’ The words tumble out of my mouth. ‘But I – we – I . . .’
    A muffled squeak interrupts my speech and Ben’s attention is diverted by the package I’m carrying.
    ‘Come in, come in.’ He ushers me through the door and closes it before turning back to the bundle of fur in my arms. ‘Here,’ he says gently as I hand over the baby koala.
    ‘Shhh, it’s okay,’ he murmurs, as he quickly checks the animal over. I notice now in the light that it has a swollen eye and a couple of scratches. I feel so bad I could throw up. Ben looks up at me. ‘What happened?’
    I swallow the bile in my throat. ‘Josh was driving . . .’
    His stare hardens and I know I don’t need to say any more.
    ‘Come through to the living room.’
    I follow him meekly, wishing I didn’t feel so helpless. He’s dressed in jeans and a black T-shirt so at least I know I didn’t get him out of bed.
    ‘I was scared you’d be asleep,’ I say, as he switches off the main light to darken the room. Two lamps on side-tables cast a glow across the space.
    ‘I’d just got off the phone,’ he replies. I wonder who he was talking to at this hour? ‘I need to get a heatpad and some blankets. Can you hold her?’
    ‘Is it a she?’ I take the bundle from his arms.
    ‘Yes.’
    He leaves the room and I look down at the tiny creature. She starts to squeak again and my heart splinters. Tears are rolling down my cheeks by the time Ben returns.
    ‘Hey,’ he says kindly, touching my arm. ‘Do you want me to take her?’
    ‘No.’ My voice sounds small.
    ‘Okay. She’ll prefer the heat from your body to a heatpad, anyway. I’m going to prepare her some milk. Do you want a tea while I’m at it?’ And when I nod: ‘Milk, one sugar – right?’
    ‘Yes, please.’ Ben’s made me tea before in the staffroom. He returns after a while with two mugs of tea plus a lactose-free