Mere is huddled in her bed in a warm cocoon with the pillow over her head, leaving just a small opening for her to breathe through. It is nice and warm under the blankets and although she wants to go to the toilet she is reluctant to make the move out of her cosy nest. She wriggles and squirms crossing her legs, trying to put off the moment when she must get up or wet the bed. Eeee! That would be embarrassing she thinks. Better move, it is getting late, the sun is already casting shadows over the carpet and wall from the old Magnolia tree outside the window.
The grass that stretches between the back porch and the outside dunny is white with frost. Mere runs fast, trying not to put her feet down too much onto the cold crunchy grass, shivering and clutching her old dressing gown around her. It wasn't a pukka "bought in the shops" dressing gown, just an old red and yellow striped cardigan that Nanny Maude had given Mere. It kept her warm when she sat up at night in her pyjamas watching television with Nanny; which only happened when Mum and Dad went out to the local hall twice a week for housie. Mere wished they had an inside dunny, but Dad said there were more important things needed doing on the farm, anyway a sprint outside on a cold crisp morning was good for you he reckoned, hah! Mere didn't think so.
It was the first day of the school holidays and the cousins were arriving today with Auntie. They would be here for a week, eeeh they were going to have such fun! Sprinting back to the house Mere races into the kitchen and stands shivering in front of the coal range, turning her back to the heat so her behind will get warm. Nanny Maude and Mum are already up and busy about the kitchen getting bacon and eggs ready for when Dad and the boys come in from the milking shed. .
"Better get upstairs and dress," Mum tells Mere. "They"ll be here soon." Auntie Huia will have been up and ready to leave at the crack of dawn.
