Day 2: Lara

PETS:

Snowy

was my first pet. A white goldfish

that changed colour every year

and always looked a little different.

Gingerbread

was swaddled in patchwork blanket,

tucked inside a plum doll’s pram

and pushed around the garden.

Dublin & Huckerby

would move into new shells when

they got too big for the old ones.

When my favourite strikers left,

the hermit crabs were given new names.

Stick

The small plastic tank was busy with cut privet,

and each branch looked a little like Stick.

Sidney

was found in the garden, chewing

on one of mum’s pretty flowers.

If I licked my palm and placed him

in the centre, he’d slowly emerge.