Alice-Miranda at School

by Jacqueline Harvey

Alice-Miranda looked around, expecting to see her friend. “Where’s Millie?”

  “I think she’s in the library,” Ivory replied.

  Alice-Miranda began to worry. Why hadn’t Millie come to meet her? She must have seen Birdy. What if she thought she’d abandoned the hike just like Alethea? Alice-Miranda needed to see her and let her know that she hadn’t cheated.

  The crowd of girls pushed in around her, shouting over the top of one another.

  “Was it hard?”

  “We’ve really missed you.”

  “Even Alethea said something about it not being the same without you.”

  Charlie lifted Alice-Miranda onto his shoulders and, surrounded by her friends, they returned in a triumphant parade to the quadrangle.

  Miss Grimm was in the wardrobe watching.

  “Oh, good grief. Don’t tell me she did it?” she snapped. “What am I to do? That child will be the end of me.”

  Miss Higgins, Miss Reedy and all the other teachers were in the courtyard. They marveled at how well Alice-Miranda looked. She told them it was all because of Mrs. Oliver’s amazing freeze-dried baked dinners. Mrs. Oliver beamed with pride.

  While Alice-Miranda had been away, Mrs. Smith had decided to try a few new recipes and with Mrs. Oliver’s help she had already perfected a chicken curry, Mongolian lamb hot pot and a few other more exotic dishes that had never before been seen at Winchesterfield-Downsfordvale. Although she’d tried to hide it, Miss Grimm had seemed especially impressed with the curry, which she hadn’t had in years.

  Alice-Miranda was tired. All she really wanted was a shower, a fresh set of clothes and a cup of tea. After answering loads of questions about however she had managed to do it, Alice-Miranda was led by Miss Higgins back to the dormitory to freshen up quickly. Mrs. Smith had cooked brownies in her honor, so she was wanted back in the dining room as soon as possible. The other girls had been told to wait for her.

  “I’m so proud of you.” Miss Higgins pushed a curl back from Alice-Miranda’s face. “We’re all proud of you.” She smiled.

  “Thank you, Miss Higgins,” said Alice-Miranda. But she was concerned about something else. “I need to see Millie. I need to tell her that I didn’t cheat.”

  “Of course you didn’t cheat,” said Miss Higgins, surprised. “Why would she think that?”

  “It’s a long story. Could I tell you after my shower?” asked Alice-Miranda, looking serious.

  Suddenly there was a crackling sound in the air. Alice-Miranda jumped. Miss Higgins jumped too.

  “Alice-Miranda Highton-Smith-Kennington-Jones, you are to report to the boatshed immediately,” Miss Grimm’s voice roared.

  “What?” Alice-Miranda frowned. “What’s she talking about?”

  “I am talking about the regatta. The third of your challenges. You will compete against Alethea Goldsworthy this afternoon.”

  Miss Higgins looked around the room, wondering how Miss Grimm had heard Alice-Miranda’s question. She realized then that the technicians who had supposedly been fixing the security system must have been doing quite a bit more than that.

  The girls and teachers in the dining room were equally stunned.

  “But she doesn’t have to race Alethea for another week,” said Miss Reedy, puzzled. “Why ever has she brought the race forward? The poor child will be exhausted.”

  “Alethea Goldsworthy, you must also report to the boatshed immediately,” Miss Grimm’s voice boomed. “The race will commence at five p.m. and may I suggest, Miss Highton-Smith-Kennington-Jones, that you begin saying your farewells.”

  Millie had heard the announcement in the library. Alice-Miranda was her friend. She didn’t deserve this. But what if she had cheated on the hike? Millie had seen the helicopter with her own eyes. What if Alice-Miranda was just as bad as Alethea? Millie was so confused. She wanted to support her friend, but she couldn’t help wondering if it was all an act—Alice-Miranda’s kindness, her sweetness, never saying a bad word about anyone?

  Meanwhile, in the dining room, Miss Reedy raised herself to her feet.

  “Quiet, girls. We must head to the lake immediately. I will ask Mrs. Oliver and Mrs. Smith if they can bring the tea. We must be there to support Alice-Miranda.” She glared at Alethea.

  “Why? Why would you support that little brat? She cheated on the hike, you know. Didn’t you see the helicopter on Wednesday afternoon? She’s nothing more than an upstart seven-and-a-quarter-year-old cheat!” Alethea screeched.

  “What? Like you?” Danika stood up and glared at Alethea across the table. “You cheated last year, Alethea. You called your dear daddy and had him send the helicopter for you, then you spent the rest of the week at the Downsfordvale Manor Spa.”

  “Why, you lying—” Alethea reached across the table, as if she was about to strangle Danika. Shelby and Lizzy held her back.

  The whole room erupted.

  “I know someone who’s definitely out of that group,” Ashima said, and grinned.

  “We’re all out of the group,” Lizzy called. “Come on, Shelby and Danika, let’s go. We’re sick of being told what to do. We’re not your slaves, Alethea.”

  “I’m going to cheer for Alice-Miranda,” said Shelby. She glared at Alethea, who was screaming like a madwoman.

  “Girls, girls, be quiet,” Miss Reedy yelled.

  Miss Grimm was watching this outrageous scene from her wardrobe. “She cheated. The Head Prefect cheated.… ” Ophelia’s heart sank.

  “Miss Higgins, there is something important I need to tell you.” Alice-Miranda and Miss Higgins were striding toward the lake.

  “Yes, of course, what is it?” Miss Higgins was alarmed by the urgency in Alice-Miranda’s voice.

  “I know all about Miss Grimm,” she began.

  “What about Miss Grimm?” Miss Higgins’s hands began to tremble. She stopped and faced Alice-Miranda.

  “I know all about Amelia Grump and Aldous and the engagement and why Miss Grimm has a broken heart and why she has locked herself away in the study for all these years,” Alice-Miranda blurted.

  Miss Higgins gasped as though she had a bug caught in her throat.

  “Don’t be afraid. It’s all going to be fine,” Alice-Miranda continued.

  “I’m not so sure. But we haven’t got time for that now. It’s nearly five p.m. and I can already see Alethea in her boat.” Miss Higgins began to run toward the boatshed, with Alice-Miranda at her side.

  Mr. Charles was by the water, with the Emerald tied up ready for Alice-Miranda to jump straight in. Just as she was about to push off, she noticed three adults walking toward the lake.

  She turned to Miss Higgins. “There are Mummy and Daddy. And they’ve brought Mr. Grump too.”

  Miss Higgins felt faint. “Oh, this is going to be bad, very bad.” She closed her eyes and said a silent prayer. “There’s no time, sweetheart, you need to get out there.”

  Miss Higgins gave the Emerald a shove and the little boat glided out into the middle of the lake.

  Alice-Miranda grabbed the rudder and ducked under the boom as the sail thudded across the boat. She caught up to Alethea just before the start line.

  “I’m going to kill you,” Alethea spat. “I hate you!”

  Charlie had waited as long as he could to make sure Alice-Miranda was almost level with Alethea. He raised the starter gun into the air and fired. The girls were to sail around the island three times.

  Miss Grimm was watching the race through the closed-circuit television camera mounted on the boatshed. Alice-Miranda was gaining on Alethea, but Ophelia was confident that the brat wouldn’t be able to beat her. Alethea’s new skiff had cost thousands and apparently a donkey could have sailed her and won.

  “Go, darling!” Cecelia Highton-Smith shouted from the bank as the boats rounded the island for their first pass. Alice-Miranda was behind and Alethea seemed to be pulling away.

  “Come on, Alice-Miranda, use the wind, use the wind,” her father called.

  T
he whole school was cheering loudly. Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Oliver had forgotten all about the tea and were jumping up and down as if on pogo sticks.

  “Come on, my girl, you can do it!” Mrs. Oliver shouted.

  “Beat that brat!” Mrs. Smith screamed over the top.

  Alethea was almost five lengths in front as they completed the first lap.

  In the meantime, Millie had been unable to concentrate in the library. She ran out of the building and down to the water’s edge. She immediately recognized Alice-Miranda’s mother from her photograph.

  “Hello, Mrs. High— Cecelia, I’m Millie.” She smiled.

  “Hello, Millie, this is my husband, Hugh, and this is a friend, Aldous. Alice-Miranda met him in the mountains on Wednesday and I rather think she rescued him,” said Cecelia.

  “So she didn’t get picked up?” Millie frowned.

  “No, of course not. Birdy and Cyril came for Mr. Grump. I wanted to tell you but Alice-Miranda had sworn me to secrecy. She wanted to explain it all herself.” Cecelia smiled.

  Millie felt a surge of relief. Alice-Miranda wasn’t a cheat. She was her wonderful best friend. She ran to the water’s edge just as the Emerald passed.

  “Go, Alice-Miranda, go!” she shouted over the top of everyone.

  Alice-Miranda looked over and saw Millie waving and cheering. She felt so relieved—her mother must have explained everything. She turned her focus back to the race.

  She was catching up with Alethea. As they were about to finish the second lap, Alice-Miranda was only a couple of lengths behind. Alethea’s boat seemed to be lying lower in the water and the Emerald was gaining all the time. A gust of wind propelled Alice-Miranda forward and she was almost level. Then Alethea reached backward and hit a switch on the stern of her skiff. Suddenly it took off at a ridiculous pace.

  “She’s got a motor,” Danika shouted, pointing at the froth behind Alethea’s boat.

  “She’s cheating again,” Lizzy called.

  Alice-Miranda was now half a lap behind. Her heart began to sink. She didn’t want to have to leave Winchesterfield-Downsfordvale. She belonged here.

  “Go, darling, go!” her father urged. “Use the wind.”

  A huge gust propelled her forward again and she began to make up some ground. Alethea’s boat really did look to be sinking. Alethea must have realized it too, because she started bailing the water with her hands.

  “Look!” Millie shouted as the boats came back into view. “The Emerald’s just nosed ahead.”

  The spectators shouted in chorus, “Go, Alice-Miranda, go!”

  The finish line was only meters away. Alice-Miranda was ahead. Alethea was up to her waist in water but somehow her boat was still moving forward. Just as the girls were about to cross the line, Alice-Miranda surged ahead and Alethea’s boat sank like a brick.

  The crowd erupted. Alice-Miranda looked behind her to see a waterlogged Alethea clinging to the mast of her skiff.

  “Alethea,” she cried. “Swim over here.”

  Alethea was crying ferociously. “No, go away. I hate you!” she screamed.

  Charlie was already motoring toward Alethea in the dinghy.

  “Well done,” he called to Alice-Miranda. “Don’t worry. I’ll get her.” He sped toward the crumpled mess in the middle of the lake.

  Alice-Miranda sailed to the jetty, where her father lifted her out of the Emerald and onto the shore. Everyone was cheering and clapping. Her mother hugged her, then Mr. Grump did, and then a long line of girls and teachers took their turns congratulating her.

  The celebrations seemed to last for ages. Alice-Miranda had done it. She had earned her place at Winchesterfield-Downsfordvale. Everyone had seen her do it. The test results were a formality.

  Ophelia Grimm had watched as the events unfolded. Alice-Miranda had won the regatta fair and square; she’d conquered the hike and passed the test with flying colors. On the other hand, Alethea—the child she had put so much faith in—was nothing but a cheat. Sitting in her wardrobe watching the contest, Ophelia realized that her life was a lie. She was a fraud—here she was in charge of a school, a magnificent school with wonderful children, and yet she had shut herself away from it all. Her judgment of people had been clouded for so many years. She had forgotten to do what she should always have done: trust her instincts. Ophelia stood up, straightened her skirt, put on her blazer and strode out of the study and into the afternoon sunshine.

  “Look!” Millie pointed at the figure walking toward the lake. An eerie glow surrounded the woman as the sun shone behind her. “Is that … Is it Miss Grimm?” Millie shouted.

  The whole school gasped as they caught sight of Ophelia. The girls buzzed:

  “What’s she doing?”

  “Why is she here?”

  “She can’t make you leave.”

  Miss Grimm strode toward the crowd with her head held high. Not a word was spoken as she reached them.

  “I am not here to expel you, Alice-Miranda,” said Miss Grimm. “I am here to congratulate you. Your test results.” She held up the paper with 97% emblazoned in the top right-hand corner. “I know when I am defeated. You have secured your place here and I will not … I will not set you any further ridiculous challenges. I have been a very sad and bitter woman these past ten years. I wonder if perhaps you could consider forgiving me.” Miss Grimm stared at the surprising child.

  “Oh, Miss Grimm, of course I forgive you.” Alice-Miranda ran forward and wrapped her arms around Miss Grimm’s middle. There was another collective gasp from the school. Miss Grimm didn’t seem to know what to do. Her eyes welled and suddenly she did what any self-respecting grown-up would do. She hugged Alice-Miranda right back.

  “I have someone here who wants to see you,” said Alice-Miranda, pulling away. She motioned to Mr. Grump, who was standing behind her father. Miss Grimm looked up.

  “Oh!” It was Miss Grimm’s turn to gasp. Tears flooded her eyes. “Is it really you?” She swallowed. The temptation to turn and run back to the safety of her study was almost too much. But for some reason her legs were frozen to the spot.

  “Ophelia.” Mr. Grump strode forward. “Ophelia, I am so sorry. I ruined everything. I’ve spent so many years trying to forget. But I could never forget you. Can you ever forgive me?” Aldous hung his head.

  The whole school seemed to have something caught in their throats. Tears fell like waterfalls.

  “Aldous, how? I thought you were …”

  “I can explain everything—if you will just give me another chance. I know I don’t deserve it, but I—I love you.”

  “And I love you too.” Ophelia fell into his arms and he peppered her face with kisses.

  At long last Jacinta broke the silence. “Three cheers for Miss Grimm. Hip, hip, hooray! Hip, hip, hooray! Hip, hip, hooray! And three cheers for Alice-Miranda. Hip, hip, hooray! Hip, hip, hooray! Hip, hip, hooray!”

  As the sun set that evening, for the first time in a long time Winchesterfield-Downsfordvale truly felt like the happiest school on earth.…

  Miss Grimm and Mr. Grump were married within a month in the chapel at Winchesterfield-Downsfordvale. Miss Grimm had a beautiful bouquet of hollyhocks and daffodils, jonquils and irises. Every one of the girls, staff and the parents said it was the best party they had ever been to. Ophelia thought about a hyphenated surname but decided to stick with Grimm.

  Miss Higgins was married three weeks later to Constable Derby. She’s back at work because Miss Grimm said that she simply couldn’t live without her.

  Jacinta Headlington-Bear won the national gymnastics championships for her age group.

  Mr. Charles won the local garden competition and was particularly complimented on his flowerbeds.

  Mrs. Oliver perfected her formula for FDF—Freeze-dried Foods—and is in the process of establishing an organization to feed the starving people of the world. Mrs. Smith spent two weeks of her holidays helping Dolly in the laboratory and the other time with her grandchildren in Amer
ica.

  Alethea Goldsworthy left Winchesterfield-Downsfordvale in rather a rush. She is currently enrolled at Sainsbury Palace School, where there is a very large new library under construction.

  And if you’re wondering about the new Head Prefect … Well, Miss Grimm decided to break with tradition and offer it to Alice-Miranda. But Alice-Miranda refused to accept, saying that Danika would do a much better job. After all, she had plenty of time. She was still only seven and one-quarter.

  The Highton-Smith-Kennington-Jones household

  Alice-Miranda Highton-Smith-Kennington-Jones Only child, seven and one-quarter years of age

  Cecelia Highton-Smith Alice-Miranda’s doting mother

  Hugh Kennington-Jones Alice-Miranda’s doting father

  Dolly Oliver Family cook, part-time food technology scientist

  Cyril Helicopter pilot

  Mr. Greening Gardener

  Birdy Bell Jet Ranger helicopter

  Winchesterfield-Downsfordvale Academy for Proper Young Ladies Staff

  Miss Ophelia Grimm Headmistress

  Miss Louella Higgins Personal secretary to the headmistress

  Miss Livinia Reedy English teacher

  Mr. Josiah Plumpton Science teacher

  Mr. Cornelius Trout Music teacher

  Miss Benitha Wall Sports teacher

  Cook (Mrs. Doreen Smith) Cook

  Charlie Weatherly (Mr. Charles) Gardener

  Howie (Mrs. Howard) House mistress

  Shaker Another house mistress

  Students

  Millicent Jane McLoughlin-Best friend and roommate McTavish-McNoughton-McGill

  Madeline Bloom Friend

  Ivory Hicks Friend

  Ashima Divall Friend

  Susannah Dare Friend

  Jacinta Headlington-Bear Talented gymnast, school’s second-best tantrum thrower and, surprisingly, a friend

  Alethea Goldsworthy Head Prefect, school’s very best tantrum thrower and enemy of most girls

  Danika Alethea’s friend

  Lizzy Alethea’s friend

  Shelby Alethea’s friend

  Other