The Fiery Redhead

Tina is a blonde and Sam is a darkhaired man. They adore each other, and two years after their wedding they welcome a baby girl.

The birth is tricky the baby gets tangled in the umbilical cord and cannot be delivered straight away. Right after the delivery the anaesthetist gives the newborn a burst of extra oxygen. Tina is moved to a separate ward and she does not see her daughter until ten hours later. When the nurse finally brings the infant to her, she unwraps the little bundle that looks like a doll and lays the child on the table to change her.

On the table lies a tiny, redhaired girl with surprisingly long, curly locks.

Are you sure you havent got the wrong child? Tina asks timidly.

The baby is definitely yours, the nursemidwife replies confidently. Mothers take their babies straight back to the ward, and only your daughter spent time in the hyperbaric chamber. Besides, your husband must be just as redhaired, she jokes before disappearing down the corridor.

Tina watches the infant in disbelief. The tiny tot starts making grimaces, searching the air for her mothers breast, and then lets out a loud wail that fills the whole ward. Tina fumbles with the swaddle, the babys cries grow louder, and she finally calms only when Tina presses her close to her chest.

When Sam arrives to collect his girls, he looks at the infant with puzzled curiosity but says nothing.

Back at home the couple trace their family trees, call relatives and discover that Sams greatgreatgrandmother on his fathers side was a fieryhaired, curlylocked Polish woman. After her, every descendant is a brunette, just like Sam.

After the first wash, when Tina dries the baby with a towel and lifts her into her arms, Sam looks at the child and exclaims, She looks like a May dandelion. Though they have already chosen the name Alice, they start calling her Poppy, and the family affectionately nicknames her Dandelion.

Poppy grows into a cheerful girl; neighbours call her the giggler, and she only cries when there is a clear reason.

When she turns four, a sprinkling of freckles appears on her nose.

Mom, what are those? she asks innocently.

Theyre freckles, Tina says, kissing her cheek. Angels have them, and the more freckles you have, the more people youll help.

Poppy never realizes that she takes her mothers words to heart, carrying them with her for life.

In the sandpit, if another child starts to sob, Poppy abandons her sand castles, rushes over, strokes the youngsters hair and whispers soothing words. The crying stops instantly, and Poppy becomes convinced she is an angel.

When a group of toddlers sees her holding a large doll and begins demanding the same toy, they wail loudly. Poppy runs to each child and hands over her favourite doll, only to find the doll back in its proper place when she returns home. She has no idea how the other mothers manage to coax the dolls back, but she believes its just how angels work.

In Year5, after school she spots an elderly man stumbling on the pavement, his shoe laces untied. He bends down to retie them, while a boy on the fifthfloor balcony leans over, watching the street below. The boy accidentally nudges a large pot containing a ficus, and it teeters toward the ground. Before anyone can shout, Poppy darts to the old man and gives him a hard shove. He loses his balance, falls sideways, and the pot crashes onto him, shattering into pieces.

The mans anger quickly turns to gratitude.

Little one, youre an angel you saved me from a nasty fall, he gasps, amazed.

Each spring more freckles dot Poppys nose. One morning she stands before the mirror, admiring her bright red curls, big blue eyes, rosy lips and the new speckles.

Mom, where will I find all the unlucky people who need my help? she asks seriously.

Her mother, startled, replies, What are you talking about? I dont understand.

Look at my nose, Poppy insists. Every spring more freckles appear. That means more people will need my help

Tina tries to explain, Your freckles mean the sun loves you; each one is a kiss from the sun.

Poppy nods, Maybe the sun kisses me too, but you told me Im an angel and every freckle is a person I must aid!

Remembering what she said when the first freckles showed, Tina looks at her daughter in awe, wraps her in a tight hug and says, My little Dandelion, you truly are an angel, planting a kiss on her goldenblonde crown.

As a teenager, Poppy makes it a habit to help elderly neighbours cross the road, carry their shopping bags home even if they live far away, and when she is in a supermarket buying icecream and chocolate, she often sees an older lady hesitating between milk and butter. Without a second thought she purchases both, gives them to the lady and refuses the treats herself.

One day, walking down the pavement, a lavishly dressed woman in a perfume that smells like a fairy tale passes by, trailing an elegant scent. She strides toward a sleek Lexus parked nearby. Poppy, curious, wants to ask about the fragrance but feels too shy. As the woman opens her car door, the engine chirps, and before Poppy knows why, she grabs the womans sleeve.

What do you think youre doing, young lady? the woman snaps.

Sorry! Im sorry! Poppy stammers, I just wanted to tell you that your perfume is extraordinary

Before she can finish, screeching brakes and a loud crash fill the air. A car, clearly driven by someone whos had too much to drink and is speeding, loses control and slams into the womans Lexus. The front door crumples, the steering wheel twists, and the drivers seat flies into the passenger side.

The woman clutches Poppy, whispering, Youre an angel! My angel!

Years later, in deep autumn, a drizzle that could be rain or snow falls. Poppy pulls her pompom hat low over her hair, tucks her curls beneath it and stands at a tube station entrance, debating whether to take the bus or the tram. A voice behind her asks, Excuse me, could you tell me how to get to Willow Street?

She turns and sees a goldenhaired young man, his curly red hair damp from the drizzle, freckles still glowing like spring, and warm brown eyes.

She bursts into laughter, the man looks bewildered, then she removes her hat, still giggling. He cant help but laugh too. Together they stand, laughing under the misty weather.

Two years later they have a baby boy, a curlyhaired red infant they call Dandelion Jr., their new little angel. When he turns four, freckles pepper his tiny nose. He looks up at his mother and asks, Mum, what are these?

Poppy answers, These are freckles, and angels have them. The more freckles you have, the more people youll help