The Shoestring Club

by Sarah Webb

  Jamie digs me in the ribs. ‘Hear that. Your man likes singing. He’s ideal for Pandora. Where did you get him? He looks too old for my list.’

  ‘The lady he was just singing with, Hester, she’s one of our customers. Declan is her son.’

  ‘Single?’

  ‘Separated. But still pretty cut up about it.’

  ‘You sure?’ He gestures at Declan. Pandora has just started singing and Declan is smiling at her, clearly impressed. She does have a beautiful voice, clear and bell-like. When it comes to Declan’s line, he sings the lyrics as if he truly means every word and Pandora is the centre of his universe. Pandora starts to blush – and it takes a lot to make my sister pink up. Jamie’s right, it certainly looks like some sort of spark has been ignited.

  Arietty appears beside us in her work boots and zoo uniform, reeking of elephant. ‘I’m so sorry, Beatrix was having a really bad day and I couldn’t leave until she settled. Did it work? Has Pandora found anyone yet?’

  ‘Apparently so. Look!’ I point at Pandora and grin.

  I shoo Pandora out the door at nine. She wants to stay and help tidy up, but Declan has invited her to join him for a bite to eat and I’m trying to persuade her to accept. They’ve been chatting away like old friends in-between their multiple karaoke stints – together and solo – and she seems to genuinely like him. Dad is at home with Iris, so she doesn’t have to worry about rushing back.

  ‘Are you positive it’s OK to run off, Jules?’ she says, lingering in the doorway and peering at the boxes of empty beer bottles Declan and Jamie have lifted towards the front of the shop.

  ‘Yes. Dec seems like a really nice bloke. Have fun.’ I wiggle my eyebrows at her.

  ‘It’s not like that,’ she insists. ‘He just wants to say thank you for the karaoke and everything. See, not all karaoke fans are complete nerds, Jules.’ She brushes her hair off her face and smiles at me. Her hair is a mess, most of her red lipstick has worn off and she’s kicked off her heels in favour of ballet flats, but I haven’t seen her looking happier or prettier in a long time.

  ‘Enjoy yourself, sis,’ I say. ‘You deserve it.’

  ‘Thanks, Jules. But I feel bad leaving you to tidy up.’

  ‘Get out of here,’ I say and swat my hand at her. Then I wave at Declan who is waiting patiently in a taxi at the far side of the road. Hester left earlier, delighted with ‘her’ matchmaking. If she only knew!

  I go back inside and start clearing the bottles from the Pac-Man console. I’ve gifted the Stretch Armstrongs to the Polish lads, who were thrilled, said pulling the arms was a lot more fun than lifting weights.

  ‘I’d better get going,’ Arietty says. ‘Sorry I can’t stay and help. I want to get into work early. I’m worried about Beatrix.’

  ‘Me too,’ Jamie says.

  I grin at him. ‘You’re worried about an elephant?’

  ‘What? No! I mean I have to work tomorrow, and tonight in fact. I need to sort out the errant Shoestring website before people start trying to order things.’

  I pretend to sob into my hands. ‘I’m being abandoned. Tragic. So tragic. But looking on the bright side, there’s a good chance our plan worked. Plus we now have a partner in crime – Hester. I bet she could convince Declan to take Pandora to a fancy dinner or something. Mwah-ha-ha-ha.’ I give an evil laugh and rub my hands together. ‘Our plan for world domination is coming together nicely.’

  ‘What plan?’ Bird says, appearing at my side with a mop in her hand. ‘And I want words with you, Jules. In private if you don’t mind.’ She looks sharply at Jamie and Arietty.

  ‘Sorry folks,’ I wave my fingers at them. ‘Granny Shu has spoken. Talk to you both tomorrow.’

  ‘Would you mind if I had a quick look at your computer system while I’m here, Bird?’ Jamie asks. ‘There’s a glitch I’m trying to sort out. Might be a network problem. Nothing to worry about, but I’d like to get it sorted before tomorrow morning.’

  She nods. ‘Of course, Jamie.’

  Once Jamie has disappeared into the office and Arietty has left, I ask Bird, ‘So Granny Shu, what’s eating you?’ grinning to myself at my Seussian rhyme.

  Her eyes are flinty. ‘Are you drunk, young lady?’

  ‘No! ‘Course not. I had a couple of beers with my old mate, Dec. Just to keep him company you understand. And hey, isn’t it cool? Declan and Pandora I mean. Aren’t they just the most adorable couple? Did you catch their version of ‘Summer Nights’? Declan’s wella, wella, wella, uh bit was hilarious.’

  But her expression hasn’t changed. ‘I was watching you. You had at least six bottles of beer. And you promised, Julia.’

  My cheeks flare up. Damn it. I hadn’t realized Bird was spying on me. ‘It was a party. The beer was there and I—’

  ‘Plus you were supposed to be working, not pouring beer down your gullet. I’m not impressed. In fact I have a good mind to drag you back to Sheila.’

  ‘I had a blip, as I said, the beer was there—’

  Bird cuts me off. ‘You keep saying that – the beer was there – but you can’t drink just because the opportunity arises. You have to learn to abstain sometimes. You say you don’t have a drinking problem, darling, but at this stage you need to prove it by keeping away from alcohol. I thought that’s what we’d agreed.’

  ‘I’m sorry, with all the karaoke and meeting Declan and everything, I got carried away. He kept fetching me drinks and I didn’t want to be rude. I was only keeping him company, honestly. I didn’t need a drink.’ I say this a little louder than I’d intended.

  ‘Then why are your eyes shifting all over the shop, darling?’ she asks.

  ‘They’re not.’ I meet her gaze and hold it. ‘I just fancied a beer, that’s all. And I’m not drunk, honestly.’

  ‘That’s also worrying. After six beers, you should be.’

  ‘Bird, please. You’re blowing this all out of proportion. I’m working hard aren’t I? I haven’t been late for ages. And I’m getting on well with Pandora.’

  She sighs. ‘I suppose. OK, Julia, I’ll give you one more chance, but blow it and you’re straight back to Sheila, understand?’

  I feel a hiccup coming on so I swallow it down and turn it into a cough instead. ‘Yes, I do, honestly.’

  She studies my face. ‘I have to tell you, darling, I’m not one hundred per cent convinced. Don’t make a fool out of me.’ Finally she hands me the mop. ‘The floor’s horribly sticky from all the beer spills. And as part of your penance, you can wash it.’

  Chapter 18

  After a few days of a hawk-eyed Bird following me around at work and at home – making sure I’m not up to any mischief, banishing open wine bottles from the fridge and forcing Dad to finally cancel Mum’s wine club subscription – things start to settle down, until Wednesday morning when Pandora puts the shop phone down in a complete flap.

  ‘Jules, help! Declan’s just asked me to a charity ball. On Saturday night. And I have nothing to wear.’

  I smile at her, as all the pieces start clicking into place. I try not to look too smug as I say, ‘Remember that Farenze dress, Pandora? I have something to tell you . . .’

  Once Pandora got over the initial shock, she took the dress time-sharing idea surprisingly well, especially now it means she has something to wear for the charity ball. Hester and her husband were supposed to be going, but Hester’s arthritis is acting up apparently, so she gifted her tickets to Declan and insisted he invited Pandora along as his guest. Good old Hester. Clearly on the same wavelength as Bird and Daphne – matchmak- ing schemers the lot of them. Compared to them, I’m a rank amateur.

  Bird and Daphne are off to a flower-arranging talk on Saturday night with the Mothers’ Union (thrilling stuff), and Dad’s at a poetry reading with one of his book clubs, so I’m on babysitting duty while Pandora turns Cinderella.

  ‘Make sure Iris is in bed by eight,’ Pandora tells me as she lingers in the hallway of Sorrento House, checking her hair in the age-s
potted mirror. She’s rolled it into a chignon and dotted it with sparkly silver clips, standing out like diamonds against her black locks. She pulls at the waist of the Farenze. ‘Are you sure I look OK?’ she asks nervously.

  ‘Stop fretting. You’re going to knock him dead, sis, honest.’

  She asked me for some styling advice on Friday, and I borrowed a thick silver Lara Bohinc clench belt from the shop which emphasizes her neat waist, and teamed it with a vintage 1920s beaded bolero (another shop find), silver peep-toe shoes and an orange clutch bag to give the outfit a colour pop. She looks stunning.

  ‘Like a princess, Mummy,’ Iris adds. She can’t take her eyes off Pandora. ‘Would you like to wear my tiara?’

  ‘That’s so sweet, darling.’ Pandora tickles her under the chin. ‘But I’d hate to lose it.’

  ‘I wouldn’t mind. It’s only a pretend one.’ Iris dashes upstairs, holding up her nightie so she doesn’t trip.

  I laugh. ‘Guess you’re wearing a plastic tiara then.’

  Pandora smiles. ‘I’ll pop it in my bag in the taxi. Speaking of which, I think I hear a car outside.’ Her eyes twinkle. ‘God, I’m so nervous. I haven’t been on a date in yonks. Not with someone I actually like.’

  ‘So you like Declan, huh?’ I grin.

  ‘Yes,’ she says simply. ‘And don’t go saying anything stupid when he gets here, OK? Promise me.’

  ‘As if. I’m hurt, truly hurt.’

  ‘Then why are you smiling?’

  I laugh and give her a hug, breathing in a mix of Chanel No. 5 and hair spray. ‘Have a ball, Cinderella.’

  ‘I’ll try.’

  There’s a knock on the front door and I draw away. ‘Must be Declan. I’ll get it if you like.’

  Pandora takes a deep breath. ‘Thanks, Jules.’

  Declan is standing there, looking equally nervous. I beam at him. ‘You scrub up well. Black tie suits you.’

  His tuxedo is perfectly cut, accentuating his wide shoulders and his shoes are so shiny and unscuffed they’re clearly brand new.

  ‘Hi, Jules.’ He kisses me on the cheek. ‘Good to see you. Is Pandora ready?’

  ‘She certainly is. Come on in.’ I stand back to let him step into the hall and as soon as he sees Pandora, he whistles.

  ‘That dress is beautiful, Pandora. You look . . .’ he sighs. ‘I don’t know how to describe it.’

  ‘Like a princess,’ Iris pipes up helpfully from halfway down the stairs. She runs down the remaining steps, slips a small hand into Pandora’s and then presses herself against her mum’s side. She’s a little shy with strangers. Especially men. I’m surprised she’s taken to Arietty so easily. Once I finally remembered to give Iris’s picture to her, Arietty rang Iris on my mobile to say thank you, then brought it into work with her to show the other keepers and the elephants. It’s now in pride of place on the noticeboard in the ‘elephant kitchen’ and Iris is thrilled to pieces. Arietty has promised to arrange another zoo visit for Iris soon. Animals and children seem to be Arietty’s thing.

  Declan smiles at her. ‘And you must be Iris. Your mum has told me lots about you. I have a daughter a little bit older than you.’

  ‘What’s her name?’ Iris asks.

  ‘Rachel. She’s ten.’

  Iris’s eyes light up. She loves ‘big girls’. ‘That’s so cool. Can I meet her? You’re mummy’s new boyfriend, aren’t you? So me and Rachel are kind of like sisters. I’ve always wanted a big sister.’

  Pandora blushes deeply. ‘Sorry, Declan, Iris gets a little carried away sometimes.’

  But Declan doesn’t look bothered. In fact, he’s beaming at Iris. ‘And Rach has always wanted a little sister. You could say it’s a match made in heaven. And yes, of course you can meet her. How about next weekend? If that’s OK with your mum.’ He looks at Pandora.

  She nods silently. But for some reason her eyes are flicking around the room and she looks upset.

  ‘Do you mind if I borrow Pandora for just a second?’ I ask Declan. ‘I need to fix her belt.’

  ‘Sure. I’ll tell the taxi to wait.’ As Declan walks back outside, I ask Iris to go upstairs and pick a bedtime story for me to read to her. As soon as we’re alone, I drag Pandora into the kitchen by the arm.

  ‘What’s wrong?’ I say in a low voice.

  She bites her lip, her eyes filling up. ‘Things like this don’t happen to me. Declan’s too perfect. He must be hiding something. Maybe he has a criminal record.’

  I snort. ‘A criminal record? With Hester as a mum? I highly doubt it – she’d kill him. Look, stop worrying. I know neither of us have had the best luck with men so far, but maybe Declan is one of the good guys. Give him a chance.’

  ‘You’re right. I’m being ridiculous.’ She takes another deep breath and presses her fingers against the bottom of her eye sockets to mop up the stray tears that are threatening to smudge her mascara. ‘I’m ready.’

  We walk back out into the hall, where Iris is chattering away to Declan about her trip to the zoo, a well-loved copy of The Cat in the Hat in one hand (it used to be Pandora’s, then mine), a plastic tiara in the other.

  ‘Does Rachel like the zoo?’ she asks.

  ‘She loves the zoo,’ he says firmly. ‘She’s mad about animals.’

  ‘Does she have a pet?’

  ‘Yes. Sammy. He’s a Labrador.’

  ‘What colour?’

  ‘Light brown.’

  Iris looks like she’s died and gone to heaven. ‘Mummy, Rachel has a dog! Oh, and here.’ She passes Pandora the tiara.

  Pandora places it carefully on her head. ‘Thank you, pet. My outfit is now complete.’

  Iris looks ecstatic. She claps her hands together and squeals, ‘Mummy, now you’re Princess Pandora.’

  Declan chuckles. ‘Are you ready now, Princess Pandora?’ He offers her his arm.

  She nods. ‘Yes. I do believe, I am.’ She looks at me and mouths, ‘Thank you.’

  I kiss my fingers and blow them at her, feeling a little teary myself, like a proud mum waving her daughter off to a gradu-ation ball.

  As they walk out the door, arm in arm, Iris leans in towards me. ‘Do you think they’ll get married, Auntie Jules? Me and Rachel could be bridesmaids. I could wear my tiara.’

  I laugh a little. No point in throwing cold water over her Disney-coloured dreams. ‘You could. Now, bed young lady. You heard your mum. I’ll come up and read you that story in a minute.’

  She pouts. ‘You always let me stay up late. You promised I could play my Wii, remember?’

  ‘All right. You can have twenty minutes and then it’s bed with no moaning, understand?’ I’m such a pushover.

  She grins. ‘Cool! Thanks, Auntie Jules.’

  She runs into the living room and I follow her in. By the time I get there, she’s already waving her white Wii wand at the television screen.

  ‘It’s not working Auntie Jules. Can you fix it?’

  I chew my lip. When it comes to electronics, I’m a hopeless case. Pandora is Inspector Gadget in our house, always knows how to unfreeze the Sky box or fix the Wii. I take the wand off Iris, take the batteries out, put them back in again and try once more to get the ball to roll down the bowling lane. No joy.

  ‘Sorry, pet. You could watch some telly,’ I suggest, but from the wobble of her lips, she’s not impressed.

  She flops down on the sofa, her head bowed. ‘I really wanted to beat you.’

  ‘I know, but your mum can fix it in the morning. We can have a game tomorrow.’

  ‘You don’t get up before lunch, Auntie Jules, and I have a party in the afternoon. And Mum’s always too tired to play with me.’

  Sadly she’s right on all counts. I blow out all my breath and sit down beside her on the sofa. Then I have a sudden brainwave. Jamie! Surely fixing a Wii console would be a walk in the park for a computer guru? I pull out my mobile and punch in his number.

  ‘Are you ringing Mum?’ Iris asks hopefully.

  I shake my
head and press my finger against my lips. ‘Hey, Jamie. We have a bowling emergency.’ I explain the situation and he promises to come straight over. When I tell Iris she jumps on my knee and gives me a big bath-fresh hug.

  ‘You’re the best, Auntie Jules.’ She stays there and looks up at me. ‘Is Jamie your boyfriend?’

  I laugh. ‘Not likely. He’s my friend.’

  She looks puzzled. ‘Can boys and girls be friends? When they’re big I mean?’

  ‘Of course.’

  ‘Mummy doesn’t have any. Friends who are boys I mean. She just has Rowie. And you.’

  ‘We’re not friends, we’re sisters.’

  ‘Sisters can be friends too. I’m going to be friends with Rachel. Declan said.’

  I stroke her hair. She hasn’t even met the girl and already she’s making plans. Her face drops a little and her eyes widen. ‘But what if she doesn’t like me? Rachel I mean.’

  I kiss the top of her head. ‘What are you talking about? What’s not to like? You’re my niece, and I’m fabulous. So that makes you fabulous too. It’s genetic.’

  She grins. ‘Mummy doesn’t say you’re fabulous, she says you’re a mess. I heard her talking to Bird in the kitchen earlier.’

  ‘Did you now?’ I look at Iris, and she gazes back at me innocently. I try to keep my irritation in check, it’s not her fault that Pandora has such a big mouth. She shouldn’t be discussing me in front of Iris, in fact she shouldn’t be discussing me at all. I thought we were getting on OK for a change, but she’s clearly been sniping behind my back. Thanks a lot, Pandora. Next time you can bloody well style yourself and mind your own daughter for a change.

  Iris is looking at me. ‘Are you cross with me, Auntie Jules? You look cross.’

  ‘No, pet, not with you.’

  The doorbell rings and I lift Iris off my knee to answer it, grateful for the distraction. I pull open the door and Jamie gives me a warm smile.

  ‘Hey, Jules. Looking good.’

  I’m wearing cut-off denim shorts, red tights, an ancient Blondie T-shirt and one of Bird’s old cashmere cardigans that has a hole in the left elbow.