Postby KP Presents » Mon Sep 15, 2014 2:29 am
“Sorry Bobby,” I said shaking my head, “you just took me by surprise. When do they arrive?”
“Tomorrow morning, so they get a chance to adjust their body clocks.”
“Their what?”
“Get used to our time zone. I’ll see you Saturday.”
“Sure,” I said as I put the phone down and went back in.
“Mum just said we’re all invited up to the hall Saturday,” Lisa said as I came in. “Any idea what’s going on?”
“One or two – but I can’t say anything just now. Especially as I’m not quite sure myself.”
“Well, if nothing else it makes the school run easier,” Dad said as he dropped Jenny and me off at the school gates. “You two all right for getting back tonight?”
“I’m going with Mary and the girls into town after school, but I’ll be back by six,” Jenny said.
“And the girls are coming back with me,” I said.
“Well, so long as you’re all safe – I’ll see you two tonight,” he said as he drove off.
“You know the rules?”
“I know – see you tonight,” I said as Jenny walked one way, and I walked the other. It was stupid, I know, but the years really did not mix that much.
I went over and joined the other girls before the bell rang and we went into our form rooms. As we did so, Aunt Jo was sitting at the front of the room, waiting for us all to sit down.
“Right then,” she said as she closed the door, “when I call your name out, say ‘here’. Cassandra Craig?”
“Here,” I called out, to some sniggering from the boys behind me.
“Michael Johnson, in your first French lesson you are going to discover that your name in French is a sniggering matter as well. Want to get it over with now?”
“No Doctor Frost,” the boy behind me said, as Jo carried on with the register.
Once she had finished, Jo looked round and said “now remember, from today you go to the classrooms assigned on your timetables. If at any time you cannot find the room, don’t be afraid to ask an older pupil – actually, two older pupils. That way, if you get the same answer they’re not trying to play a trick on you. Also remember, back here after lunch for register before you go to your fourth period class.”
As the bell sounded, she looked to the door and said “Walk quickly and quietly to your next room. On you go now.”
“English first,” Lisa said as we walked out, “I wonder what we’re going to be doing?”
“Just so long as it’s not another essay about what we did during the summer,” Pippa said with a groan.
It wasn’t – and the day passed fairly quickly after that. The only strange thing was the whispers behind me from some of the boys – but I ignored them and just kept on at my work.
My reward for my diligence and hard labour? Maths and PSHE homework.
“That’s a weird name, PSHE,” Lisa said as we walked back – Pippa’s mum had picked up the other three after school.
“Yeah – just sounds like talking about ourselves to me,” I said as we walked into the house.
“Hi Mum,” I called out, “Lisa and I are going up to my room.”
“All right – homework?”
“Yeah,” I groaned.
“Get it over and down with then – you’re not going to have a lot of time over the weekend.”
“We might as well do it together,” Lisa said as we went into my room, and took out our books. The maths was easy enough – it was the PSHE that was fun.
“Write a paragraph about somebody that inspires you, and why they do,” I said as I looked at it. “Oh no, who could I pick to write about? More to the point, the people who inspire me – really inspire me – I can’t write about.”
“Oh, like who?”
“Brian and Sarah?”
Lisa looked at me for a moment, and then nodded. “Point taken on that one. What about your aunt Cassie?”
“Possibly, after all she’s brave and fearless. But she’s married to my form tutor – do you think that’s allowed?”
Lisa nodded and then said “Well, I don’t know who I’m going to write about either – unless…”
“Hmm?”
“I’m going to write about a boy I know who is very brave, and has to overcome a great deal to be able to talk to others.”
“You’re not going to write about Frank Cottrell are you?”
“No – Stephen Hawkins,” Lisa said with a smile, as we started to write.
No, I’m not going to tell you who I wrote about in the end – not just now anyway. An hour later, Lisa went home and I came down to see two of my favourite people sitting in the front room – Patty and Rachel. They were both reading a book, and making notes in a jotter.
“Homework,” I said as I looked at them.
“Yes, O great and learned older cousin,” Patty said as she stuck her tongue out at me, “our mums are out, so we came here to get this done. What have you been doing?”
“Same as you, but with Lisa – want a drink?”
“Please,” Rachel said as she looked up and nodded, so I went into the kitchen where Mum was giving the twins their tea.
“Homework all done,” she said as there was a ring on the front doorbell. “Can you see who that is please Cassie?”
“Got it,” I said as I walked down the corridor, and opened it to see Louise and Fiona standing there.
“Hi Cassie,” Louise said, “Is Patty here?”
“They both are – come on in,” I said, letting them come into the room. Although they both went to a different primary school from Patty and Rachel, it was still light enough for them to sue the short cut through the woods to come and visit.
“Hey there,” Patty said as she looked up, “did your dad get back all right Louise?”
“Yeah – he arrived this morning, but Fiona’s mum said I would go back later tonight. Apparently he’s got a big surprise for me.”
“Sounds intriguing – any idea what?”
“No – all he said was that it was really big. What are you two doing?”
“Reading The Twits,” Rachel said as she put the book down, “but I’m done for now. Did you pass the farm?”
“Yeah, we did,” Louise said quietly. “Frank and Eric were doing their chores – Mark apparently was out.”
“I can guess where,” I thought to myself as I went to get more drinks.
“Before I forget, Jenny’s going to be looking after you and the twins tonight while your dad and I go to the cinema,” Mum said, “so do what she tells you, all right?”
“Yes mum,” I said as I rolled my eyes and carried the drinks through.
“So are you coming to the Hall tomorrow as well,” I heard Patty say as I came in.
“Yeah – Fiona’s mum is taking all four of us up. I wonder how Suzie’s got on at her new school?”
“According to Bobby she’s fine, if up to her eyes in homework already. We’ll find out tomorrow anyway. How are you getting there?”
“Mum and Dad are going to drive us up,” I said, “you two as well I think. Aunt Jess has to work tomorrow morning.”
“Sounds fun – can we…”
“No we can’t,” Mum said from the doorway. “There will be people to meet when we get there, who do not know us, so that is not going to happen, all right?”
“Have you seen Janey yet,” I said as Mum left the room.
“yeah – Mum took me to see her and Aunt Connie last night. She’s really cute, isn’t she?”
I nodded in agreement – she was really cute.
I smiled as we turned into the gateway of Wissenden Hall – the place was almost a second home to me now, and as we pulled up alongside the other cars I could see Bobby’s mum and dad waiting outside.
I’d put on a knee length denim skirt and a white short sleeved blouse today, with black shoes, while Jenny was wearing a blue dress with buttons down the front. Dad was wearing a jacket – a rare thing for him on a Saturday – while Mum had on a blue cardigan over her white dress.
Patty and Rachel both had on smock tops and leggings, which was fine for them as we got out, and I helped Jenny with the twins.
“Hey there,” Bobby’s mum said as she hugged my mum, “how’s the proud new mother?”
“Wondering what she has let herself in for – is she coming up later?”
“Yeah – so come on in, some of the others have already arrived.”
“There you are,” Suzie said as we came in. She had on a pair of pink jeans and a white jumper, and dragged the three of us into a corner as Jenny went over to talk to Alicia and Bobby.
“Did you tell her?”
“Tell who?”
“Louise – about who is staying with us?”
“No – I haven’t told anyone, but I do know.”
“You know – how?”
“Lisa met them when she was in the states.”
“Oh yeah – of course she would,” Suzie said as, with a masterful piece of timing, Lisa and Charlie came in with their parents.
“Hey there,” she said as she came over, “how’s the new school for you?”
“Strange, especially given Bobby and Colin are prefects now,” Suzie said. “Listen, you need to keep a big secret from…”
“Lisa? Lisa and Charlie Williamson, is that you?”
The voice had an American twang, and as Lisa slowly turned round her eyes nearly popped out of her head.
“FREDDIE!!!! What are you doing here,” she said as she hugged the sandy haired boy.
“Oh, didn’t Suzanne tell you? Mom and I are staying here for a few weeks until the wedding.”
“Wedding? What wedding? Cass, you know anything about this?”
“Oh it’s Cass now is it,” Bobby said as he came over and gave me a hug. “Freddie, this is Cassie Craig – unless you’d prefer Cass, that is?”
“I like Cassie, thank you very much,” I said as I nudged him in the ribs. “Pleasure to meet you Freddie – how come you know Lisa?”
“We met them when they stayed with some mutual friends of ours – the Dale family?”
“Oh my goodness – you know Jannifer?”
“Sure do – hey Mom.”
I looked over to see a dark haired woman walk in with Mr Boyle.
“His mom – sorry, mother, is Mr Boyle’s sister,” Bobby said. “And wait until you see who she is going to marry.”
“Quiet, they’re here,” Bobby’s dad said as he looked out of the window. We all stopped talking and waited as Mister Boyle went to open the door, and then watched as Louise and Fiona came in, both of them with scarves tied over their eyes.
Louise’s dad came in and kissed the dark haired woman, before he said “all right girls, you can take the blindfolds off now.”