Arching his brow, Cadi’s father turned to Arwel, the eldest of his three sons. ‘Tell your sister, if a boy picks on a girl it’s only for one reason.’

‘So you admit he’s picking on me!’ said Cadi, her teeth chattering with the cold, ‘Well if he wants my attention, he can find a better way than covering me in—’

‘Cadi!’ squeaked her mother. ‘Mind what you say …’ She scowled at her husband and son who were both laughing raucously. ‘Stop encouraging her!’

‘She’s right though,’ chuckled Arwel, ‘I can smell her from here!’

Coughing into his hand, Dewi composed himself. ‘I’ve told you before, I’ve seen the way he looks at you when you’re all stood waiting for the bus.’ He placed a blanket around his daughter’s shoulders. ‘He can’t keep his eyes off of you. Quite frankly that bus could pass him by and he wouldn’t notice.’

‘Probably hatching his next plan,’ muttered Cadi, adding sulkily, ‘I don’t see why he bothers going to school, considering he reckons he knows it all already.’

Her mother gave a derisive laugh. ‘For goodness sake Cadi, the boy offered to help you with your homework because he wanted an excuse to spend time with you!’

‘Well he needn’t have bothered!’ Snapped Cadi. ‘I don’t need the help of any man, never have, never will.’

Her father rolled his eyes in exasperation. ‘I’m surprised you’ve got the attention of any feller with an attitude like that!’

*

Now, as she stood up from the gold painted wooden throne, she held her hand out for Poppy. ‘Come on, they’ll be announcing the winner of the most beautiful baby competition in a minute, and I have to be there to hand over the prize.’

‘You don’t even like babies!’

Cadi hastily hushed her friend into silence as they approached the stage being used for the competitions. ‘I can always pretend, and besides, I don’t mind them if they’re not covered in sick and smelling …’

‘Like you did the day Aled drove by,’ quipped Poppy.

Shooting her a withering glance, Cadi forced her lips into a smile as she left her friend to join the Mayor.

After the photographer had taken a photograph of Cadi handing over the prize to the mother, who was beaming with pride, Cadi returned to Poppy.

‘I’ve got to go and help judge the beauty contest, you coming?’

‘Of course! I don’t intend on missing out on a single minute of my best pal’s special day.’

Cadi linked her arm through Poppy’s. ‘Pity it’s only for one day.’

‘That’s why you have to make the most of it,’ said Poppy, ‘lap up all the attention because according to me mam you won’t feel like this again until your wedding day.’