Jacqueline Wilson

Candyfloss

  My dad is a big silly softie. He always cries at this bit and I tease him rotten. Only this time I thought what it must really have been like to be poor Bobbie, parted from her father all that time - and I was the one who burst out crying.
  'Hey! No blubbing allowed! That's my job,' said Dad, giving me a little loving poke. Then he looked at me properly. 'You're not really crying, are you, Flossie? What's the matter, eh? You can tell your old dad, can't you?'
  That was the trouble. I couldn't tell my dad, it was just too awful. I wound my arms round his neck and clung to him tightly.
  'I'm going to miss you so, Dad,' I sobbed into his old grey jersey.
  'I'm going to miss you all week too, sweetheart. I'll just life for our weekends together, especially now... Well, I've got in a bit of a muddle with money, and things are a bit dodgy at the café. Still, as long as I've got you, that's all that matters,' said Dad, rubbing his bristly cheek against the top of my head.
  I sobbed harder.
  'Hey, hey, don't cry so, little Floss. Your curly mop feels so silky. You're like my own special candyfloss. Watch out I don't eat you all up.' He made funny galloping noises, pretending to nibble my curls.
  I couldn't help giggling, even though I was still crying hard.
  'That's it, start cheering up, my darling. Wonderboy Steve will be calling for you soon in his flash car and I don't want him telling your mum you've been miserable with me. You've got to be the all-singing, all-dancing happy little girl who thinks her parents splitting up is a piece of cake. And talking of cakes, better not tell your mum we scoffed a whole birthday cake between us or we'll really be for it!'
  'Dad? Oh, Dad!'
  'What is it, little pal? Spit it out.'
  'I don't know how,' I wailed.
  Then I heard a car draw up outside. I reared up off the sofa. It was Steve, far too early. Steve and Mum and Tiger, all come to collect me.
  I had to spit it out now. It torrented out like a waterfall.
  'Dad, I can't bear it, but we're going to Australia, Steve's got this new job and we're moving there next month, they've only just told me and I've been trying to tell you all weekend and I haven't been able to and they say it's not for ever, just six months, but it will feel like for ever and I feel like I'm being cut in half because I love you so, Dad.'
  The doorbell rang. Dad shook his head, looking dazed. For one terrible moment his face crumpled up. Then he took a deep breath and tried to smile.
  'That's really exciting news, Floss,' he said. 'Australia, eh? Well, sport, we'll have to buy you one of them funny hats with corks on.'
  'Do you mind terribly, Dad? Are you cross with me?'
  'Of course I'm not cross with you, silly girl. I do mind, obviously. I'll miss you dreadfully. Just you make sure you don't forget your old dad.'
  'Oh Dad, as if!' I said.
  The bell went again. Someone knocked loudly with their knuckles on the café door.
  'Come on, sounds like your mum's getting impatient,' said Dad
  I clung to him like a baby monkey, unable to let him go. He staggered with me to the door and opened it with difficulty.
  'What are you playing at, Charlie? We've been ringing and knocking for ages,' said Mum. She looked at me. 'Oh Floss, you've got yourself in a silly state!' Then she looked properly. 'What on earth's that pink thing you're wearing? And whose silver shoes are those? They're way too big for you!'
  Dad gently put me down. I wobbled on my high heels.
  'They're my birthday princess clothes,' I sobbed. 'I think they're beautiful.'
  'Yes. Well. Get your things together then, we've got to be off. We're going to Steve's mum for tea.' Mum caught Tiger's fist. He was trying to pick peeling paint off the café door. 'Don't, pet! Dirty! Yes, we're off to see Granny, aren't we?'
  'She's not my granny,' I said. 'I want to stay with Dad.' I wound my arms as far as I could round Dad's large waist and leaned my head against his chest. I could hear his heart going thump-thump-thump underneath his jersey.
  'Don't start behaving like a baby, Floss. You'll be able to see your dad again before... before...'
  'Before you all go to Australia,' said Dad, patting me on the shoulder.
  'Yes, Australia!' said Mum, looking Dad in the eyes for the first time. 'So Flossie's told you?'
  'Yes, she has. She's a bit upset about it, as you can see,' said Dad.
  'Well, you've obviously been stirring her up. She's really thrilled to bits. It's a fantastic opportunity,' said Mum. 'Steve's done so well, getting this job.'
  'I'm not thrilled,' I mumbled to Dad 'I wish she'd just shut up about Steve.'
  'What was that?' said Mum.
  'Why didn't you tell me before?' said Dad.
  'Well, we're telling you now,' said Mum. 'Steve's going to be in charge of this whole new Australian branch at double his current salary, and-'
  'Yea, yea,' said Dad. He obviously wanted Mum to shut up about Steve too. 'What I mean is, how is it going to affect Floss? And me, for that matter. It's going to kill me not seeing my little girl.'
  'Sorry about that, pal,' said Steve. He's not Dad's pal, not in a million years. 'It wasn't deliberate, you know. I didn't even put in for the job in Sydney, they simply offered it to me.' He shrugged and smirked to show us he couldn't help being so brilliant and clever and in demand.
  'It's all very well saying sorry,' said Dad. He looked at Mum. 'What about my right to see Floss? I've got joint custody, you know that.'
  'You can come and see her any time you want,' Mum said calmly.
  'How am I going to get there? Walk?' said Dad.
  'I can't help it if you can't afford it,' said Mum. 'We can't miss this golden opportunity. There's nothing you can do about it, Charlie.'
  I felt Dad sag a little.
  'I don't suppose there is,' he said, so sadly. 'Well, I hope it all works out for you. And don't you worry, little Floss, we'll write lots. You never know, I might win the lottery and then I'll come flying over to see you straight away... or I'll put on my Superman pants and soar all the way to Sydney under my own steam.'
  He was trying to make me laugh but it just made me cry harder.
  'Come on, Flora, don't be such a little drama queen,' said Mum. 'Change out of those silly shoes, take that frock off and let's get going.'
  I unhooked myself from Dad. I wiped my eyes and took a step backwards. I looked at him. He had tears in his eyes too, though his mouth was stretched into a clown smile-shape. Then at looked at Mum and Steve and Tiger. My two families. I suddenly know where I belonged.

Candyfloss ©Jacqueline Wilson, 2006. Published by Random House Children's Books.