Ceaselessly // Ellie Goulding

ninety-nine.

n i n e t y - n i n e .

Alexis

Today is Mum's due date. She doesn't think the baby is going to come today, so Mum told me we could go to Regents Park. This could be our last time coming to Regents Park for awhile so she really wants us to go. It is November so there isn't any ducks around, but I'll take a trip to Regents Park anytime.

Mum and I have been watching a lot of documentaries, lately. She's been rather okay with lying down, watching films, and cuddling the cats and I lately and nobody's complaining. She's taking an actual break because her body is telling her she needs one. This past month has been really nice and relaxing, mostly. While the girls in my class at school have been doing nothing but fighting and bickering, Mum and I love watching documentaries, reading books, and going for walks. My home life has been therapeutic for my chaotic school life.

Dougie drives us to the park and even though it's started to rain, I still love going to the park. There's something about Regents Park that even while it's raining, it's still so gorgeous.

I watch out the window like a sad puppy dog, even though I'm quite the opposite of sad, I'm more at peace. Although I'm nervous about the baby, I know that Mum and Dougie are absolutely floored about it. I just feel as though my quality time with Mum will be over as soon as the baby comes. I'm thankful that I'm old enough to understand, and that I won't have to share as I'm really just into my science experiments and reading.

My mind jumps back to Regents Park and I realize we're not going to have time to go to the park. We're going to have a million other things first before we can even think about coming back here. I would be surprised if we will come in the spring and summer unless I say something now. So I say something.

"Mum?" I ask and she gives me a small 'mmhm' in reply, acknowledging the fact that I've called her name. "When the baby comes, in the spring can we take it here lots? I wanna show the baby the ducks."

"I'm sure in the spring we can come back, I don't know how often, but we can definitely show the baby the ducks. Do you still have all those duck facts engrained in your brain, love?" Mum asks and I beam.

"Ya! Like how all male ducks are called drakes, and—" Mum cuts me off.

"There are more than forty breeds of ducks, ducks are omnivorous, ducks are precocial, ducks—" it's my turn to cut off Mum.

"Mum! Those are my facts about ducks." I pout.

"How about we just save the facts for the baby. You can go on for as long as you like with the baby." Dougie barters and it's a good enough trade.

"Okay, because I have more facts than that. I could go on for hours if I wanted to." I stick my tongue out at Mum and she shakes her head.

I remain the rest of the drive in silence. Only piping up when I see Regents Park in sight.

"Oh, Mum! Can we go to the playground, please?" I ask and Mum nods, getting out of the vehicle and bringing out her umbrella, I get out of the vehicle at the same time but I just pull my hood over my head. I pay no attention to the rain as I see it so often. Mum and Dougie hold hands and watch as I play in puddles and run straight for the pond. I see no ducks and although I'm upset, I pay no extra mind, I knew there wouldn't be any ducks. I sit on the bench and wait for Mum and Dougie to join me. Mum is waddling so it's taking a little bit longer than normal.

Once Mum and Dougie catch up, we head off to the playground. There's only two other kids there so there's no hassle. Mum and Dougie watch me closely as I play. The rain lets up and I play on the swing set freely, without a care in the world.