by Anne Digby
'Who is Laura?' asked Ingrid in bewilderment, still sitting bolt upright in bed as Rebecca squeezed past her. 'What is happening? What does Laura do?'
'She plays hockey!' retorted Rebecca, over her shoulder.
'Hockey? Oh!' A look of boredom crossed Ingrid's face. She watched them, all gathering round Tish's bed in a great huddle. Hockey? What a fuss.
'Sssh, please!'
She snuggled back down under the blankets and tried to get off to sleep again.
The others washed and dressed. They all ran over to the sports centre to look for themselves and then returned to the big kitchen on the ground floor to cook some breakfast and hold a conference.
Aba had gone off to discuss things with the two Annes and make her own plans. She was very upset.
'Tavistock are just doing it for revenge,' she told them. 'Because I stood against Laura in the summer, and I won. Now they're trying to make things nasty for Tish. They're saying really nasty things. It's all my fault! They must have been planning and planning to get their own back.'
'Tish will beat Laura!' said Ann Ferguson scornfully.
'It's pathetic!' agreed Anne Finch. 'Let's make a poster of our own.'
Down in the kitchen, they were all talking at once. Only Tish kept silent, frying up the sausages and eggs and looking thoughtful. Posters and lamp-post stickers had been scattered all along the route that led across the school grounds to the sports centre. They looked dashed-off and crude: DISH TISH, DOWN WITH COURT HOUSE; that sort of thing. It wasn't like Laura, somehow.
'What a sneaky way of going about things!' Sue was saying indignantly. 'Holding Laura's name back till the last minute –'
'They must have planned it all along!' interrupted Elf.
'–springing it on us at the last minute. They've had all week to work on an election campaign, when we didn't even know there was going to be an election!'
'And they've got a crowd of helpers! Third Years – from other houses!' exclaimed Rebecca. 'And it's not even their business. Third Years aren't allowed to vote tonight!'
It was seeing a crowd of new Third Years fly–posting the grounds early in the morning, while she was out jogging, that had given Aba the first shock. She'd raced over to the sports centre and there, sure enough, was Laura's nomination up on the board, with several signatures underneath. It must have gone up late last night.
'It's not fair!' said Margot.
'Tavistock are just dragging in anybody to help them get Laura in,' complained Elf. 'That's all wrong. Aba said she saw Nicola Hodges – she's in Norris and that's a fact!'
'Oh, her!' Tish spoke at last. 'But Rebeck's right. Third Years can't vote, so what does it matter? Only the Fourths. They'll make up their own minds.'
'But we can't take all this lying down!' Margot protested. 'We've got to retaliate! At least it's Sunday. There's time to make some posters –'
'You could get up a band, Sue!' said Elf enthusiastically. 'Let's have a cheerleader and march round the school grounds this afternoon!'
'No!' said Tish.
They both looked at her in surprise.
At that moment the kitchen door opened and some of Court's own new Third Years looked in. They were the three who'd been in Tish's team the year Trebizon won the Junior Gold cup – and they were bursting with indignation.
'Anyone who wants to stand against you's got a cheek, Tish!' said Wanda.
'Anyone except Joss Vining herself!' echoed Eleanor.
'Are you planning your campaign?' asked Sheila eagerly. 'We've come to offer help. We'll do anything –'
'Tear all their stickers down!'
'Stick up some of our own!'
'We're not planning a campaign,' said Tish abruptly. She looked uncomfortable. 'Look, there isn't going to be a campaign. Thanks, but that's definite.'
They started to protest. Sue and Rebecca exchanged glances.
'Don't argue!' said Rebecca. 'Tish knows what she's talking about. It's much better not to have a campaign this time. Just let people vote – just let the best person win.'
After they'd gone off grumbling Margot and Elf just gaped at the others in amazement.
'Are you crazy?' asked Margot. 'What's going on?'
'It – it's just awkward, that's all,' murmured Sue. She looked at Tish beseechingly. 'Isn't it Tish?'
'What's the big secret?' asked Elf, suspiciously. 'What do you three know that we don't know? Come on, Tish. Out with it And give us some food for goodness' sake!'
So of course, Tish just dished up the breakfast and explained about the master plan.
It took a long time for Tish to explain about the team she wanted for the seven-a-sides tournament, and why. Almost as long as it had taken to explain to Rebecca and Sue.
They were all so engrossed that none of them noticed the kitchen door open behind them, just a crack.
There was somebody outside, listening.
Margot and Elf, not having the same interest or expertise as Sue and Rebecca when it came to hockey matters, began to argue with Tish, even after she'd explained.
'Whatever you say, you can't pick the whole team from Court House!' said Margot.
'It looks terrible!' agreed Elf.
'I don't care what it looks like,' said Tish stubbornly. 'But that's why I can't have a campaign. I don't want Eleanor or Aba or Jenny – or you two,' she looked at Rebecca and Sue, 'getting implicated. Or anybody in Court House, come to that. Not the way my team's going to turn out!'
'We're implicated already,' Rebecca pointed out. 'We signed for your nomination. It's just – well, who'd have dreamt Laura would want to stand?'
'It does look bad,' said Sue. 'Now there's going to be an election.'
'Oh, cheer up, you two,' said Elf suddenly. She couldn't bear to see them looking so worried. 'Tish is right. No Court House campaign, nothing. Because that'd look even badder! If she wins, it's just got to be a natural selection!'
'Which she will,' said Margot, with feeling. 'Of course you'll win, Tish. And we'll keep your ideas secret. Won't we Elf?'
'Dead secret!' nodded Elf.
The door flew open and somebody burst in.
'Whisper, whisper!' she shouted angrily. 'Secret, secret!'
She was in her slippers and dressing gown, stamping one foot in tearful rage.
'I have been looking for you everywhere! All the excitements going on, I am the last person to hear! Nobody bothers to wake me up. I am just left out in the cold!'
The other five looked at each other in horror.
It was Mara. They'd clean forgotten about her.
Nothing like this had ever happened before. It had been simply the shock – the excitement – the rushing around!
'I've been standing outside this door for ten whole minutes!' choked Mara. 'Just waiting – just waiting – to see if any of you would remember that I even existed.'
They were still dumbstruck. In dismay, Tish glanced towards the empty frying pan. All the plates were empty now, too! They couldn't even share their sausages. Mara saw, and burst into tears.
'You didn't even cook me any breakfast!'
'Oh, Mara,' said Rebecca. 'Please don't . . . we feel awful . . .'
'It's the single room!' said Sue in despair. 'It's you being stuck away in that single room –'
It was just the worst thing to say. It enraged Mara further.
'You are all horrible!' She turned on Tish: 'If you are thinking I shall come to the election and vote for you, you are wrong! You have forgotten about me and I shall forget about you!'
She turned to leave, giving Tish a last smouldering look.
'With such secrets and things to hide,' she said darkly, 'perhaps it would be better if nobody voted for you.'
She walked out. They were left silent.
'Do you think she really meant it?' Rebecca asked Sue later.
'No, of course she didn't. Not Mara! Oh, it's so awful about the rooms, Rebecca. Isn't it?' Then, after a while, Sue added: 'Mara knows perfectly well t
hat Tish is going to win the election by miles.'
'It feels really strange, not putting up stickers, or marching round with banners or anything, doesn't it?' said Rebecca. 'It's making the day drag a bit.'
'I've been sounding out a few people,' said Sue. 'I know Tish is going to win! She's playing it just right. In fact I can't think what possessed Laura to stand.'
'Nor me,' said Rebecca.
As it turned out, they did put up a poster. Just one. The two Annes had made a beautiful one and it seemed a pity to waste it. Laura's camp had been allowed to put one up inside the sports centre. It was a good likeness of Laura, painted by Verity Williams, who was an excellent artist. It carried the slogan: YOU CAN BE SURER OF LAURA.
The two Annes' poster just showed a girl scoring a goal and underneath the simple message: PLEASE VOTE FOR TISH ANDERSON.
So, after Tish had inspected and approved it, they all pinned it up alongside Laura's on the doors of the gym. The election would take place in there at 6.30 p.m. and every Fourth Year girl would pass through.
'It's just what's needed, isn't it?' said Rebecca, stepping back to admire it. 'A dignified announcement. A polite reminder to people to vote for Tish as they go into the gym.'
That was what it was when they left it, just after four o'clock.
It was something very different when they came back.
ELEVEN
A SENSATION IS CAUSED
'Where's Mara?' Rebecca asked crossly, yet again. 'It's nearly half-past six. We'll have to go!'
They were still at Court House, all sitting on the stairs and waiting for Mara to come back. Tish was playing it very cool. She'd pretended she was in no hurry to get to the sports centre. 'I don't want to stand around over there looking eager. We'll just stroll over when it's time for the election.'
But secretly she'd been hoping that Mara would come back in time. She kept looking at the front door.
'It's no use, Tish. She's not coming,' said Sue. 'We'll have to go now.'
'She's still in a big sulk!' sighed Margot.
'Looks like it,' said Tish. She shrugged and got to her feet. 'Come on then. At least that's one vote I know I'm not getting.'
'Two!' said Rebecca sourly. 'Ingrid, remember?'
Earlier, when pressed, Ingrid had said with great seriousness: 'For me to vote would be very irresponsible, Rebecca. Besides, I'm going over to help Hilda Watkins with her French prep.' Hilda was a Third Year who'd been at the ice rink. 'You must remember, Rebecca, I do not know one side of a hockey stick from the other. Side? Is that right? Or is it end?'
'End.'
'Thank you, Rebecca!'
Now, Tish just laughed. 'Oh, I don't care about Ingrid!'
The five friends left Court House, waved off by a crowd of the new Third Years. 'Good luck, Tish!' 'We know you're going to win!' 'Up with Court!'
The rest of the Fourth Years in Court House had gone on ahead.
Rebecca and Tish and Co. were just about the last to arrive at the sports centre. They entered the big foyer and passed the door of Miss Willis's office, which was open. She was on the phone, but she pressed the voice cut-out for a few moments and gave them a cheery wave. 'All ready for the election? I'll get along to the gym in about five minutes. They're making a lot of noise down there. Tell them to shut up.'
When they turned the corner, they saw that the double doors of the gym were half-open. There was a solid wedge of girls spilling right out of the gym and halfway up the corridor.
There was a great hubbub of excited chatter. Something was causing a sensation!
It was Tish's election poster.
'Here she comes!' yelled Roberta Jones.
It was suddenly unnerving.
As Tish advanced down the corridor, Rebecca on one side and Sue on the other, the three of them were loudly booed. The booing and jeering got louder and louder, reverberating in the big gym. Then, everybody turned their backs on them and pushed out of the corridor and into the gym so that the doors swung shut in their faces.
Rebecca froze as she saw a sheet of blue paper pinned to the middle of Tish's poster. Thick blue paper, with typewriting on it.
It was the thing that Tish had promised to hide! It should have been in her locker!
The mock announcement of the team for the national seven-a-sides – all typed out and signed by Tish! Rebecca blenched.
I have now selected the team for the above tournament, as follows . . .
Beyond the double doors, there could be heard great hoots of laughter, interspersed with more booing and cat-calling. Tish had gone a sickly white.
Her four friends tightened round her in a protective knot.
'What made you put it up, Tish?' gasped Margot.
'You were going to keep it back –' exclaimed Elf.
Rebecca lunged forward and tore the blue sheet down.
'Tish didn't put it up! She wouldn't be so daft!'
'It's just a dirty trick!' exclaimed Sue. 'Somebody's been in our room! You didn't put it up, did you, Tish –?'
Tish just looked stunned. She opened her mouth and closed it again.
'Of course she didn't!' said Rebecca, scornfully. 'Come on, you others. Let's try and explain.'
They all marched into the gym, Rebecca clasping the crumpled blue sheet. There was a sudden silence.
Joanna Thompson and some others came up to them.
'Is it a forgery, Rebecca?' asked the girl from Norris House anxiously.
'Of course it is!' cried Aba. 'Isn't it, Tish?'
'Tell them, Tish!' exclaimed Elizabeth Kendall. 'Tell them you didn't do it!'
A few yards away, Laura Wilkins stood in the middle of a crowd of supporters. She looked rather subdued, but her supporters looked triumphant.
'Of course she did it!' cried Anne Brett.
'She made a mistake – she put Laura in the team!' laughed Tara Snell.
'Laura can't be allowed to play in the national tournament – she's not in Court!' said Verity Williams, acidly.
The hubbub started again. Some girls from Sterndale started chanting and slow-handclapping:
Down with Court. Down with Court.
Ishbel Anderson's a rotten sport.
Judy Sharp, a great fan of Tish's in Norris House, shrieked above the din.
'Come on, Tish! You tell them! Tell them you never typed out all that rubbish –!'
There was a sudden hush.
Tish was still a sickly colour.
It was left to Rebecca to try and explain. She waved the blue sheet. She shouted:
'It isn't a real announcement! It's only a mock–up. It was meant to be private! It was something Tish typed out in the holidays, just thinking maybe –'
The rest of her words were drowned in a storm of booing and cat-calling.
So it wasn't a forgery! Tish Anderson had typed it out!
'Shame!'
'But it's a good team –' Rebecca cried out, helplessly.
'It would be the best team on the day, that's all!' yelled Sue, impatiently.
'That's right!' shouted Tara Snell. 'You two are in it!'
There were fresh gales of laughter. Tish just took Rebecca and Sue by the arm. 'Come on!' She shook her head, hopelessly. 'It's no good, is it?' Tish could see that even her strongest allies like Judy and Joanna and Aba and Elizabeth, were looking bewildered and upset.
Then the door opened and Miss Willis marched in, blowing two sharp blasts on her whistle.
'What a horrible racket!' she observed. She glared round the gym and waited for the girls to quieten down. 'You're supposed to be Fourth Years, not two year olds. What was all that about?' They fell silent.
'Right,' she said briskly. 'If you must have an election for Head of Games, then let's have it and get it over with.'
Voting was by a show of hands.
Miss Willis didn't like the result at all.
'Whatever's the matter? Why have some of you abstained? Why bother to come at all if you can't make your minds up? Now come on,
I'm going to take the vote again.'
But it was still the same result.
Twenty-five votes for Laura Wilkins. Ten votes for Tish Anderson. Eighteen abstentions.
A tide of emotion against Tish Anderson had swept Laura Wilkins home to victory.
Miss Willis raised her eyebrows. Secretly she was very surprised. But she walked over to Laura, smiled and shook her hand. 'Congratulations, Laura. I now officially appoint you Fourth Year Head of Games. Come to my office when you're ready and we'll have a look at the programme.'
Laura looked pleased and proud, though a little overwhelmed.
Tish had now made a marvellous recovery and walked straight over to the victor.
'Lots of luck, Laura,' she said. 'Well done.'
'Thanks Tish.' Laura reddened. 'I – I expect I'll need it. But they all wanted me to stand.'
'It's just as well they did,' said Tish. 'They didn't like me or my plan one bit. If there'd been no election they'd have been stuck with me and they'd have been stuck with my plan. Because I promise you –' Tish allowed herself just one moment of anger: 'I'd never have changed it, Laura!'
'Phone for you, Rebecca!' called Eleanor Keating. They'd all walked back through the front door of Court House at that very moment. 'Did Tish win?' she asked eagerly, as she handed Rebecca the phone.
'Does it look like it?' asked Rebecca. A more doleful procession trudging into the downstairs common room to watch TV would have been hard to imagine.
'Hello?'
'Rebeck!'
Her spirits at once lifted. It was Robbie.
'Got on the bus for Wednesday, then?' he asked.
'The last seat!' said Rebecca. At least something had gone right today! She'd been over to Norris three times that morning, before catching Mr Douglas at home. His wife was the housemistress there and they had a flat at the back. He'd been out in his minibus, taking some of the Catholic girls to Mass in the town. To Rebecca's relief, there was a seat for the rugby matches going begging this term.
As Garth College were playing St Christopher's away, fifteen miles distant, it had to be the GCSC bus or nothing.
'I couldn't believe my luck!' Rebecca told Robbie. 'He's got all his regulars from last year and the bus would definitely be full, except Amanda Hancock's left! Did you know she got Fs and Gs in all her GCSEs again? Isn't that lucky!'