Past the Garden Gate 

The sun shone bright as little Emily rode her bike towards the garden gate.  Down a winding path that trailed around big happy trees.  Sprinkles of wild flowers shot up amongst bushy shrubs and ferns.   Emily’s mother loved her garden she was pulling at a creeping morning glory that had wrapped itself around some delicate flowers and looked up. "Where are you going?"

Emily replied, "I am venturing out there all by myself."

"Do you think that's wise?" asked Emily’s mother.

"I don't need help or someone holding my hands. I'm not scared. I can be big like daddy and go off to see the world."

Emily felt brave this day. She wanted to be like her Daddy and explore the world unafraid. To experience for herself life past the garden gate.

Emily’s mum watched Emily go through the garden gate that had an arch of jasmine and peddled down the path for walkers. She watched Emily over their rock wall, cycle past the big barking dog behind the picket fence of Mr. Parker’s garden.

Emily ignored the dog and continued cycling past. The dog was still barking when she reached the corner and peddled around out of sight, beside a busy street of traffic.

Emily’s mother jogged behind keeping out of sight, hiding behind trees and hedges so her little girl couldn't see her.

Emily was enjoying herself all by herself cycling along. Cars passed, people stepped out of her way and smiled at her. Some said hello and she said hello. But always her mother was there hiding where Emily couldn't see her.

Emily came to Mr. Grocer’s corner store.  She left her bike outside and walked in. Her mother watched through the window.

Emily picked up a chocolate bar and took it to the man behind the counter.

The man said, "That will be 70 cents."

Emily gave the man 10 cents.

"That's not enough" said the man. "You need six more coins like that one to get this chocolate bar."

Emily said she didn't have six more 10 cent coins. So she asked, "What can I buy for 10 cents?"

The man replied "a lollipop."

So Emily bought a raspberry red lollipop and thanked the man.

The man asked Emily, "Where is your mother?"

She replied, "At home I am all by myself today. I am big like my dad."

The man looked towards the window and saw her mother peeking in. He nodded at the mum as she disappeared out of sight so her little girl couldn't see her.

Emily continued out the door on her way back to her bike. Her mother hid behind the side of the concrete building.

A big boy much bigger and taller than Emily came up to her. He didn't see Emily’s mother hiding behind the building, watching.

The big boy saw Emily all by her self and asked. "Is this your bike?"

"Yes it is" replied Emily.

The big boy said "Is that your lollipop?"

"Yes it is" replied Emily.

"Not anymore" said the big boy "It’s my lollipop now and so is the bike."

Emily felt angry "It is not your bike and you can't have it or my lollipop."

The man in the shop saw the big boy talking to Emily as he peered through the window. He went outside.

Emily said to the shop man. "This big boy says my bike and my lollypop are his, and he is going to take them."

"Oh is he now!" exclaimed the shop man folding his arms and looking down at the boy.

The boy smiled and said "Well I have to go now, bye" and jogged off and away across the busy street.

The shop man said "I'll be watching that boy."

"Me too!" said Emily loudly as she hopped on her bike and rode off sucking her raspberry lollipop.

Emily’s mother thanked the shop man and continued following her little girl keeping out of sight.

Emily peddled smoothly over the bumpy footpath and suddenly slammed her brakes on!

A car drove out of its driveway right in front of her. Emily felt mad. And shouted "You should watch where you are going. You are supposed to honk your horn before driving out so us on the foot path know your exiting and will stop and keep out of your way. You nearly ran me over!"

The person in the car had no time to argue with a little girl on her bike, and rudely shouted she shouldn't be out on her own and drove off fast.

Emily felt grumpy but proud of herself as she turned the corner towards home.

At home she sat on her front steps sucking her lollipop. Her mother appeared from behind a tree asking, "So what was it like all on your own past the garden gate?"

Emily replied, "Well it was fun and a little scary but I like having someone to share the adventure with like you mummy."

"Wonderful" said her mum "I like sharing adventures with you too."

Emily asked her mum "Were you watching me mum?"

Her mum was surprised. "Yes, I couldn't let you go off on your own without being watched over, you are still too little my love."

"That's ok," said Emily "I needed help with the big boy, he was going to take my bike and lollipop"

"I saw," said her mum frowning.

The little girl hugged her mum. "Mum," she said, "next time I want to be the spy."

Picture by :Devi