Sapphire was ten and she loved to play outside. It was her most favourite thing to do in the whole wide world. She loved being with nature, the tickle of grass and the fragrant smell of the flowers.  Sapphire was really happy that the place she lived in had such a big well kept garden. From the moment she woke up to when the sun went down, Sapphire would race outside and dance in the grass. Her mother would make her a lunch of cold meats and milk, which would then be left in a hamper by the front door and Sapphire would eat when her stomach rumbled.

However, today was different. Sapphire clutched a vibrant pink flower in her hand, dragged a full oversized hamper and wandered around with a sad face.  Her mummy had come home two days ago with her new baby brother. He was yellow and white, with blue eyes.

She hated him.

He was always the centre of attention her parents didn't love her anymore, they only cared about him.  

Stupid baby.

Sapphire had sneaked into her parents kitchen grabbed her lunch hamper and filled it with food and drinks, she was going to run away. Her parents had their new baby so they wouldn't miss her.

Sapphire's journey was slow as she dragged her larger than herself hamper behind her.  She had finally reached the hedge that bordered the garden, pushing the hamper before herself, Sapphire forced herself through the leafy obstacle. No hedge was going to stop her escaping!

After ten minutes, Sapphire was able to make it through the large hedge and her jaw dropped at what lay in front of her. It wasn't the road as she expected but...more garden!

Why was there a hedge through the garden? Sapphire couldn't make any sense of it.  Hedges were meant to go around your garden...unless they were there to keep something in.

Sapphire gasped, had she wandered into a prison of some sort? What terrifying monster was lurking  around in the garden that it had to be hedged in? Was Sapphire safe?

Despite all logical thought of running to safety, Sapphire decided that the mystery of the stupid hedge was one to be solved.

So dragging her large hamper once more, Sapphire investigated the secret garden.  

By Lunch time, she was tired, hungry and getting no where. The hedge was no longer in sight, but neither was anything else. Just trees, flowers and grass. She was lost and had decided her hours were numbered. Whatever scary monster lived here must have been a nocturnal one and would eat her the moment it saw her tonight.

Good. She would rather be eaten then have to see the stupid stinky, loud mouthed baby again.  He was so annoying.

Sighing, Sapphire decided it was a good time to sit down and eat.

"That was a very deep sigh for someone so young,"

Sapphire froze...was this the big scary talking monster? Oh no, it had heard her, thinking fast, Sapphire picked up a bottle of pop and threw it as hard as she could at the scary human man looking monster and ran away.

The man watched with blue eyes as the bottle fell to the ground in front of him. The cub had bad aim and also couldn't balance, she didn't get more than five feet before she tripped over her feet and face greeted the dirt. Elegant.

The man calmly walked over to the cub, who had by now curled up into a ball, and sat down next to her.

"So, you want to tell me what you are doing out here?" He asked.

"Please don't eat me Mr. Monster! I don't want to die!"

"Well, it seems you are in luck young cub. I only eat fox on Wednesday. Today is Tuesday, so your are quite safe."  the man reached over and ruffled the cubs hair.

Sapphire peaked over her arms and examined the monster man. He looked average height, with blue eyes and long dark hair pulled back in a pony. He had a kind smile on his face with a sleek eyebrow raised, waiting for her to talk.

"...Why do you only eat foxes on Wednesday?" Sapphire asked curiously.

"Well it is simple really. I have a strict diet that stops me from transforming into a big scary monster. If I ate fox today, well, the world might just explode."

The expression on the young foxes face was priceless. The cub had sat on her knees and now had a very cute confused expression on her face.  After a moment her expression changed to one of annoyance.

"That is stupid! You can't make the world explode!"

The man laughed, "How do you know?""

"The laws of science allows me to know! I do go to school you know!" The cubs hands had stuck to her hips and the man just laughed at her again.

"Okay, okay. You've caught me. I can't make the world explode. But I am a big scary monster who loves to eat foxes on Wednesday. You can call me Sky," he held his hand out to her to shake.

Sapphire stared at him for a moment, judging if he was going to be safe to associate with him, "My name is Sapphire Prower. I live on the other side of the hedge. Well, I used to. I ran away today, where do you live? Why are you out here? Do you know why there is a hedge in the middle of the garden? I always thought it bordered our garden, but it doesn't! It runs through it! If you ask me, that is stupid. Why would you have a hedge that does that?"

While Sapphire rattled on, she didn't notice the look of realisation flit across Sky's face. So this was Sapphire.

"Well, I don't live around here, I have come over from Canada this time. I've come to see my little sister. She lives here, however, she is having one of her bit-I mean she is in the middle of a temper tantrum. It can get messy when she loses her temper. You've run away today? Huh, did my fair share of that. Why have you run away little Sapphire?"

Sapphire, groaned and flumped backwards. She stared up at the clouds for a minute and Sky joined her before she spoke.
"My mummy had a baby two days ago,"

"Oh, I get it. It's tough being the older sibling."

"Ugh. He is so annoying! He cries ALL the time, he stinks up the house and he ALWAYS gets whatever he wants." She folded her arms and glared at the innocent cloud. Tears stung her eyes, but she didn't want to cry.

"I bet he always gets all the attention as well right?"

"Yes! Mummy never has time for me any more. She doesn't love me anymore, she is only interested in the stupid baby.  I hate him!"

"Oh, you don't mean that-"

"Yes I do!"

"Well, you have to understand, your brother is only little He needs consent attention and looking after. You however, are an independent young lady, you can do things for yourself that your brother can't. It doesn't mean that your parents love you less. I am sure they love you very much."

"He's still stinky."

"I am sure he is. Boys normally are. You just have to put up with it I'm afraid."

Sapphire looked at him. Sky was odd...then again, he was a monster...so it made sense. Their conversation was interrupted by an angry rumble. Sapphire's eyes widened, did he just rumble at him!

"That was you Sapphire…" Sky quickly informed her, "go and have some lunch, your hamper is over where you left it."

Sapphire ran over to her hamper, tripping slightly but managing to catch herself before she fell.

"Sky, can you eat people food or is it just people you eat?"

"Today is Tuesday. Tuesday is people food day, so I can join you." He swiftly pushed himself up and generously helped Sapphire eat her people food.

The day drifted away lazily as Sapphire and Sky talked, after food they had decided to take a walk. Sky carried the hamper and discreetly nudged Sapphire in the direction towards her house and away from the mansion that contained his sister.

It had grown dark by the time Sapphire and Sky had reached the hole in the hedge Sapphire had created.

"So, do you think you are going to go back to your stinky brother Sapphire?"

She sighed again, "Do I have to? I can smell him from here."

Sky smiled kindly, "I'm afraid so. When he grows up he wont be so bad. Think of all the things you can teach him when he is older. You could train him to do stuff for you with out him even knowing!"

"That is an excellent idea! " She reached for her hamper and pushed it back through the hedge, crawling behind it. Once on the other side, she peered back at Sky who was hunched down gazing back.

"Bye Sky! Thank-you for carrying my hamper!" she waved at him and then ran into the direction of her home.

When she opened the back door, her mother was standing over the stove. She looked up and smiled at the young fox,

"There you are sweetie, did you have a good day? I noticed you packed your own hamper today. That was kind of you to help out, thank-you."

Sapphire just shook her head. She hadn't even noticed she had gone! She glared at the baby laying in the mosses basket.
He was so annoying.

"Go and wash up darling, dinner is almost ready." Her mother called out to her.

Sapphire quickly washed her face and hands, at least she had met Sky today. He wasn't so bad for a monster. She decided she would go and try to find him tomorrow.

As she looked in the mirror at herself, she quickly decided against it. Tomorrow was Wednesday. Sky ate foxes on Wednesday.

Maybe she would just stay indoors all day tomorrow.