Out In The Cold

Her sister was trying to make a point, but could Clara resolve things between them before it went too far?

- Bailey Morgan

There!’ my younger sister Daisy announced as she plonked a 3ft tall stuffed penguin on the table in SupaCoffee. ‘It beat you,’ she announced, before lowering herself into a chair.

I stared into two beady eyes, then took in the beast’s flippers, tiny yellow beak and feet the length of my size fives. ‘Have you gone mad? What are you talking about?’

‘Well, you always take pride in how competitive you are.’

True. I’d led the swim team at school and I was a hockey captain. I’d even bagged the cleverest boyfriend at uni. And I’d landed a great job in a media company after leaving. Still, I frowned at Daisy.

‘I’ll need a bigger clue as to why a penguin’s turned up?’

‘Well, you know how you didn’t meet me at the station on Friday?’ she began, looking distinctly unimpressed.

‘I told you! When I rang, my meeting would overrun. You did say you’d be all right getting a taxi to your new flat.’

‘I was, then you said you couldn’t come over at all.’

‘I was exhausted.’ This felt like a court case with her lining up evidence. I should have known she’d be trouble when she landed a new job near my office. ‘I fell asleep at eight. I had to be out by seven in the morning as well.’

‘To get to the stables?’

‘Yes. You said it was good to have a hobby, and horse riding is perfect.’

‘Yes, that’s why I bought a penguin.’ Daisy tilted her head, her eyes wide as if amazed I hadn’t worked out her reasoning by now.