Living Like Animals
Children's Story
Timmy and Angela glared at each other. When Angela's Dad's and Timmy's Mum had moved in with each other taking the children with them, they had thought they were starting a new, happy family. Angela and Timmy were more or less the same age, so it had seemed like a perfect arrangement. But it hadn't worked out quite like that, for Angela and Timmy had hated each other on sight.
Today, Angela's favourite aunt was coming to visit. Angela loved her Aunt Patricia with a deep passion, and a passion which had grown even deeper since Angela's mum had left home. Aunt Patricia had lots of time for Angela, and spent hours talking to her and listening to her and playing with her. Even better, Aunt Patricia never came empty-handed, and she always took Angela out to some exciting place.
But things had changed since Angela and her dad had moved in with Timmy and his mum. Now when Aunt Patricia visited she brought something for Timmy as well, and Timmy came on the outings with Angela and Aunt Patricia.
Angela was furious. She felt like Aunt Patricia was the only person she had left to herself in the whole world, and she didn't want Timmy tagging along. It wasn't fair that she had to share Aunt Patricia with any one, let alone Timmy.
Timmy was equally angry. He was missing his dad, and he hated both Angela and her father. But he did like Aunt Patricia, and he was looking forward to her visit. Now, as usual, Angela was doing her best to spoil everything.
When Aunt Patricia arrived she looked at the two angry faces and sighed. "I had thought we might go to the zoo this afternoon," she said, "but you two look too miserable to go anywhere."
Angela scowled. It was all Timmy's fault. If he hadn't been here, she'd have had a wonderful time with Aunt Patricia. Now Aunt Patricia was cross with her, for the first time she could ever remember. Everything was going from bad to worse.
Timmy was a little scared. He had a kind of feeling he was lucky to be included in Aunt Patricia's plans, and he thought he'd better behave in case he got left out. So he smiled very sweetly at Aunt Patricia and said, "I'm sorry." Then he sat down expectantly and folded his hands in his lap.
Angela instantly saw straight through him, and felt even angrier. And for one awful moment she wondered whether Aunt Patricia would take Timmy to the zoo, but leave her behind. "You're not taking him without me, are you?" she asked.
"Come here you two ragamuffins," Aunt Patricia said affectionately. She put an arm around each of them, then she said to Angela, "Whatever happens, I could never stop loving you, you're my favourite niece and everything I have is yours." Then she turned to Timmy. "But you're a member of this family now, and I'm very happy to include you in everything I have to offer. That doesn't mean Angela gets any less, because the more you love, the more love you have to give. So because I love Angela so much, I've a huge amount of love for you too, Timmy. Now, do you think you two could relax enough to enjoy what I have to offer?"
Angela and Timmy looked at each other a little sheepishly. Then they both nodded.
Aunt Patricia added, "And do you think you could begin to love each other a bit?"
Angela made a face and stuck her tongue out at Timmy. "Love him?" she said, "he's a boy!" But there was a twinkle in her eye as she spoke. Timmy grabbed her ponytail and yanked it. But for first time he yanked it gently, and he was laughing as he and Angela had a play fight on the floor.
"Come on then," said Aunt Patricia. "Let's get to that zoo - and you can see what it's really like to live like animals!"
Today, Angela's favourite aunt was coming to visit. Angela loved her Aunt Patricia with a deep passion, and a passion which had grown even deeper since Angela's mum had left home. Aunt Patricia had lots of time for Angela, and spent hours talking to her and listening to her and playing with her. Even better, Aunt Patricia never came empty-handed, and she always took Angela out to some exciting place.
But things had changed since Angela and her dad had moved in with Timmy and his mum. Now when Aunt Patricia visited she brought something for Timmy as well, and Timmy came on the outings with Angela and Aunt Patricia.
Angela was furious. She felt like Aunt Patricia was the only person she had left to herself in the whole world, and she didn't want Timmy tagging along. It wasn't fair that she had to share Aunt Patricia with any one, let alone Timmy.
Timmy was equally angry. He was missing his dad, and he hated both Angela and her father. But he did like Aunt Patricia, and he was looking forward to her visit. Now, as usual, Angela was doing her best to spoil everything.
When Aunt Patricia arrived she looked at the two angry faces and sighed. "I had thought we might go to the zoo this afternoon," she said, "but you two look too miserable to go anywhere."
Angela scowled. It was all Timmy's fault. If he hadn't been here, she'd have had a wonderful time with Aunt Patricia. Now Aunt Patricia was cross with her, for the first time she could ever remember. Everything was going from bad to worse.
Timmy was a little scared. He had a kind of feeling he was lucky to be included in Aunt Patricia's plans, and he thought he'd better behave in case he got left out. So he smiled very sweetly at Aunt Patricia and said, "I'm sorry." Then he sat down expectantly and folded his hands in his lap.
Angela instantly saw straight through him, and felt even angrier. And for one awful moment she wondered whether Aunt Patricia would take Timmy to the zoo, but leave her behind. "You're not taking him without me, are you?" she asked.
"Come here you two ragamuffins," Aunt Patricia said affectionately. She put an arm around each of them, then she said to Angela, "Whatever happens, I could never stop loving you, you're my favourite niece and everything I have is yours." Then she turned to Timmy. "But you're a member of this family now, and I'm very happy to include you in everything I have to offer. That doesn't mean Angela gets any less, because the more you love, the more love you have to give. So because I love Angela so much, I've a huge amount of love for you too, Timmy. Now, do you think you two could relax enough to enjoy what I have to offer?"
Angela and Timmy looked at each other a little sheepishly. Then they both nodded.
Aunt Patricia added, "And do you think you could begin to love each other a bit?"
Angela made a face and stuck her tongue out at Timmy. "Love him?" she said, "he's a boy!" But there was a twinkle in her eye as she spoke. Timmy grabbed her ponytail and yanked it. But for first time he yanked it gently, and he was laughing as he and Angela had a play fight on the floor.
"Come on then," said Aunt Patricia. "Let's get to that zoo - and you can see what it's really like to live like animals!"
