Morningstar Manor

"Bura na mano Holi hai!" That was Rahul, first thing in the morning, greeting Bethan with a mischievous smile and a pinch of bright pink powder right on the top of her head. He knew he wasn't to make a mess in the apartment, but no-one else was going to colour Bethan before he did! She blinked at him for a moment, and then remembered why she'd taken the day off - it was Holi, and she'd promised Rahul (and Chandika) that she would spend it with them.

"Happy Holi to you too, brat," she told him affectionately, planning to get her own back later. Let's see how he liked being bright yellow. . .

It was fast becoming a tradition that Bethan and Chandika would meet in Memorial Park on Sunday afternoons, by the bandstand, and walk their dogs in relative peace and quiet. Bethan walked to the park from the church, and Chandika brought the two dogs to meet her. It was a nice chance to hash over the events of the week and have an 'adult talk' that wouldn't be interrupted by a small boy. Not that Bethan didn't love having Rahul living with her - she sometimes had to remind herself that he wasn't her son too! But it was nice to have Chandika to herself occasionally.

She'd picked up two iced berry smoothies on her way to the park, and was sitting on the bottom of the bandstand steps sipping one, and hoping that Chandika would arrive before the other was completely melted.