This is my penguin

‘Week 6 Assignment – HYPERTEXT: Hypertext writing/photo story (’flash fiction’ approach).

‘Mummy says she’s going to put it up in the kitchen with my paintings.

Gemima is four years old, five on Sunday. Her mum lives in a flat. Gemima lives in the flat with her mum. No one else lives there.

‘Where did you see the penguins?’ I ask.

‘Colchester Zoo. There were lots, and they all slipped down and jumped in the water.’

Her eyes are pushed open attentively. I look at her flushed complexion, her smile begs to tell me more.

‘And we saw sealions. They had big whiskers like a cat.’

‘Wow.’ I push my fingers outwards from my cheek, and she giggles at my impersonation. I make a seal noise, well try to, and then feel embarrassed.

‘So you made this penguin at school?’ I feel the sharp card edges, and move my fingers up to the cotton wool. ‘Did they have big fluffy eyebrows like this?’

‘Yep, and orange beaks.’

I find myself still lingering on the cotton wool. I turn and look up from the penguin. Her flat is surprisingly tidy.

She walks in and places her gentle hand through her daughter’s hair. I look at her flour-dusted T-shirt and think about how I want to come here again.

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