Layla’s tiny body almost disappeared into the cupboard as she got the items Veronica couldn’t reach. She pulled out three white cups with a gold rim, perfect to add a bit of shine in a mosaic pattern.
Layla, satisfied with her new collection, began to talk about the teddy bear drive, another item on the kindness calendar. ‘We all had to bring in teddy bears that we don’t want or need anymore.’ She looked down at the floor. ‘I took in Boris.’
‘The bear I knitted you for Christmas?’
Layla nodded.
‘Now you look sad. What’s wrong?’
‘It was a special present – I shouldn’t have given it away.’ She’d knitted the bear with green trousers and red braces, and the December Layla and Charlie were first in Mapleberry, she’d given it as a gift to Layla when she invited her and Charlie over for supper one evening. She knew Layla hated her dad leaving her and working nights and Veronica wanted her to have the bear for a bit of extra security, something to remind her that she was loved and thought of. ‘When you gave me the bear you told me whenever I’m sad that Daddy has to go to work, I’m to hug the bear tight and remember all the people he’s helping.’
‘I remember,’ said Veronica. ‘And I also remember your daddy telling me that Boris the bear helped you a lot.’
‘He really did.’ Happier now, Layla told her, ‘I slept with him every night and I didn’t cry once. Boris is special … but I think it’s time he helped somebody else now.’
‘Well then, that’s incredibly kind, Layla.’
‘You knitted me another two bears, so I have enough.’ She had too. And those bears had been over to Veronica’s house for several tea parties, all three of them perched on the floor, bent at the waist, with Layla serving them pretend food on plastic plates, pouring imaginary cups of tea for them.
‘We used to get teddy bear donations to the hospital when I worked as a nurse. And it was never the bears that looked brand new or expensive that produced the most smiles, it was the well-loved bears a child had clutched for years and parted with because they were thinking about someone else. It really made a difference to some of those children.’
‘Daddy told me that sometimes if a child has to go on an ambulance ride, they might be a bit scared and a toy could help.’
Veronica smiled. ‘You know, the more I hear about this kindness calendar, the more I love it.’
‘I want to do everything on it.’ Her broad smile faded after the next biscuit was demolished. ‘But I can’t.’
‘Why not? The things you showed me the other day looked simple enough.’
Layla took out the calendar from her backpack. She pointed to one of the squares on the calendar and Veronica grabbed her reading glasses to look more closely at the text. ‘Learn a musical instrument. How is that kind? You know, it might be kinder not to learn one. I played recorder when I was your age and my neighbours weren’t very happy about it, let me tell you.’
‘Mrs Haines says that as well as being kind to others, we need to remember to be kind to ourselves.’
‘Your teacher sounds wise to me.’
‘She is,’ Layla responded as though it were obvious. ‘She says she’s starting recorder lessons for the whole class next week.’
‘Well there you go, mission accomplished. I don’t see what the problem is, Layla. You can easily cross off the item on the calendar and I’m sure I can order you a recorder online.’
‘I wanted to learn something new. I don’t like the recorder.’
‘Neither did my neighbours,’ Veronica sighed. ‘What instrument do you have in mind?’
‘I’ve always wanted to learn piano.’ She looked down into her lap. ‘Mummy used to play. She played Christmas carols every December at my grandparents’ house in Wales, on their grand piano. I’ve seen her on Daddy’s old video camera tape.’
‘Then that’s a special memory for you to treasure always.’
‘She had the same hair as me,’ Layla smiled. ‘Daddy says hers was more the colour of Tizer. I don’t even know what that is.’
‘A funny fizzy drink.’ She pulled a face that should ensure Layla didn’t try it any time soon. If they even sold it anymore. Veronica wouldn’t have any idea; it was a long while since she’d set foot in a shop to find out.
‘Do you think my fingers are long enough to play the piano?’ Layla wondered. ‘My mummy’s were and she always had nice nails.’
‘I’m sure your hands are perfectly suited to the piano. Would you really like to learn like she did?’
‘We can’t afford lessons and we don’t have a piano at home and school doesn’t have any either.’ Something occurred to her and her face brightened. ‘They have them at the high school though.’
‘High school is a long time to wait.’
‘Three years and three months.’
It was a long time since she’d heard the sounds of the piano within these walls, but Veronica knew what she said next would be an incredible surprise for Layla. ‘If you follow me, I may be able to help you.’
Excited to share in a
