Stewart Island Collection, ‘A Walk in the Park’

There were bumblebees everywhere. One afternoon, Felix was stung. His little hands swelled up so much he couldn’t bend them, and for the rest of the trip he was known as “sausage fingers”. The next day, I was stung too. I hadn’t seen the bee land on my boot, and when I stepped forward it was pressed into my leg. Felix immediately switched into first aid mode.

“Mum, give me the first aid kit.”

“You need rescue remedy. I’ll put the cream on.”

He was all business, checking in on me for the rest of the afternoon.