The goldfish swam around its bowl which had just a simple stand of weed and pebbles in it.

Marie peered into the bowl. The fish swam away in alarm at the distorted nose and mouth that loomed towards it.

“Florie,” she called but the fish stayed at the other side of the bowl until Marie had given up and gone to look at something more interesting.

Food time came and went very quickly. Florie gobb...

Damon turned his back to me. I guessed at the conflict inside. It’s not every day you manage to get out of a burning building let alone carrying two youngsters.

“You’re a hero,” I said, “ because of you two little girls live tonight. That’s incredible. I am so proud of you.”

He sighed deeply. I took it as a sign to continue.

“I know you find it hard to accept but I really think you should go t...

I have been here a long time, centuries even. When I last saw light of day, a mad King was on the throne, candles lit the room and I was young.

My second owner was named Elle and I was bought for her 16th birthday. She wore her hair up for the first time and I showed her how grown up she looked. She smiled with pleasure at her new dress and pretty necklace.

“I am out in society for the first tim...