“What are you thinking about?”
Wes asked her. She looked up at him, his shadow laying over her and so blocking the sun from her eyes.
“I don’t think I’ve ever felt happier.”
She sighed. Wes leaned over her and kissed her and as usual her immediate thoughts went straight to her dream that was now recurring on a regular basis. She had spoken to Corrinne and Clia about it, both offering their views. Corrinne had simply said ‘Hals you know this means you want it to happen don’t you?’ whereas Clia had said ‘Sweetie, I think you’re dreaming about it because you’re not sure about the real thing.’ Because of this Hally was still just as confused in her own mind. But she still thoroughly enjoyed Wes’ kiss and kissed him back.
Gregg and Corrinne returned carrying ice creams and laughing about something that had happened at the shop. Handing out the confections and still chuckling they managed to tell the others what they had seen. A little girl had been given the wrong ice cream, her brother getting hers instead. Their mother had been about to swap them over when the girl too impatient to wait had tried to do it. As she leaned towards her mother and the mother leaned to her, the ice cream now beginning to melt in the heat, slipped off the cone and down the front of the mother’s dress. Picturing the scene Hally and the others laughed eating their own ice creams.
They left the park around six in the evening heading for home. Hally and the girls had called their parents earlier to let them know what their plans had been for the afternoon and now the three were all going to Hally’s. Wes was working that evening and Gregg and Rhys were going to get some materials with Wes’ dad as he’d given them the time off earlier. Mum, dad and Nathan were all enjoying the weather in the garden when they arrived. A large jug of lemonade was on the table on the deck and dad had the barbeque going.
“Thought we would eat out here this evening.”
Mum said. Hally went into the kitchen and brought out glasses and filled them with lemonade for each of them.
“So how does it feel now the exams are all over?”
Dad asked. They all three spoke at once exclaiming how wonderful it was.
“Whoa! Can’t understand a single thing you’re saying.”
Dad said backing away as though he was afraid but laughing at the same time. Hally went to her father and standing on tip toe planted a kiss on his cheek.
“Now don’t go cremating the sausages.”
She giggled. Dad waved her away saying.
“Cheeky little monkey.”
The girls all giggled and pulled over garden chairs to sit near mum.
“So, now we can really get down to preparing for your prom.”
She said to them. They all nodded enthusiastically.
“I’m so glad the school decided to change the rules this year.”
Corrinne said happily sipping lemonade.
“Oh me too. I can’t imagine going without Rhys.”
Clia said.
“What rules?”
Dad asked coming over with a plate of perfectly cooked sausages and putting them down on the table. Nathan, ever hungry came galloping over and mum put a sausage in a roll adding ketchup and handed it to her son.
“Well, before, the year elevens had a prom and the sixth formers had their own. And you could only take a guest from your own year group who had to go to the school. Well over the last couple of years, the numbers have gone down at each prom ‘cos so many people have boyfriends and girlfriends who aren’t the same age or go to our school. So this year they are combining the two proms into one and we can bring any guest. Well only if they are under twenty. So of course that means I get to go with Wes and these two get to take their guys too.”
Hally told her father happily, at the same time slicing open a roll and loading it with sausage, mustard, brown sauce, ketchup and onions and taking a bite.
“Well that sounds like a good idea, so long as no one brings along one of those delinquents to ruin it for everyone.”
Dad said seriously loading his own roll the same way as his daughter.
“Oh, nothing like that is going to happen. We had to give the name and address of our guest when we ordered our tickets so the school could vet everyone first. They made it clear to us all that they wouldn’t accept anyone who they believed would cause trouble.”
Clia told dad. He nodded approval as he took a huge bite from his hot dog, the sauces spurting from both ends and splattering his clothes. They all laughed, including mum, although she frowned saying.
“Colin Mackeller you are worse than Nathan.”
Dad dabbed at his shirt with a paper napkin grinning at his wife.
“I know but you love me anyway.”
As though there had been no interruption in the flow of the conversation Hally said.
“Well we did hear that Penny and a couple of her friends are not going because the school said no to the boys they wanted to bring.”
“Well that’s a blessing then.”
Mum said. Dad had now added burgers to the plate of sausages and was putting one in a bun for Nathan who was actually waiting quite patiently, he too with sauce down his T-shirt.
“You’re having some salad and rice with that darling.”
Mum told him spooning some onto a plate. Nathan pressed his lips together tightly but didn’t argue with his mother. Lately he had been trying the fussy with his food trick but mum was far too tough to let him wear her down. He had tried throwing the odd tantrum, folding is arms, refusing to pick up his cutlery, and clamping his mouth tightly shut when he didn’t want to eat a particular food. However mum held firm and using various tactics was winning the battle. Now he took the plate and giving a sulky look slowly put tiny amounts of salad and rice in his mouth. After a while when he thought no one was looking, Hally noticed him forking larger amounts in and smiled to herself.
Later that evening when Nathan was tucked up in bed and the barbeque was cooling down, Hally sat with her parents and friends on the deck enjoying the summer evening. It was still very warm and small moths and night insects fluttered about especially close to the tea lights on the table. Mum and dad had a glass of wine each and the girls were sipping mum’s lemonade, which they all preferred to the sweeter shop bought soft drinks.
“Have you two got everything for the prom?”
Mum asked Corrinne and Clia. Hally wondered why her mum was asking this because they had discussed their outfits many times with mum present.
“Yes I think so.”
Said Clia.
“Mmm…me too.”
Corrinne agreed. Mum nodded and then stood up.
“Won’t be a minute.”
She said disappearing into the house. Hally looked at her friends and shrugged. Dad smiled.
“Just wait.”
He said. A couple of minutes went by then mum returned with a bag in her hand. She sat back down and took a sip of her wine prolonging the curiosity now aroused in all three girls.
“What have you got there?”
Hally asked.
“Just a little something for all of you.”
Mum said lifting three identical boxes out of the bag. The girls gave her very surprised looks and dad gave them a very knowing look. Mum handed each girl a box and they looked at each other, none of them wanting to be the first to open their box. Silently they came to an agreement and almost at the same time lifted the lids. All three gasped with delight. Nestled on silk cushions each girl found a beautiful delicate tiara, each one identical, tiny bright crystals gleaming in the candlelight.
“Mum these are gorgeous.”
Hally said emotionally.
“Oh thank you!”
Corrinne exclaimed. Clia sat speechless and as they looked at her they saw tears flowing down her cheeks. Mum was instantly on her feet putting her arm around her daughter’s friend.
“Clia, what is it?”
Clia wiped away her tears and with a little sob said.
“Oh I just
got all choked up. Stupid I know. It is beautiful, thank you so much.”
Mum gave her a little hug and returned to her chair.
“You three have had a tough year. Not just school. Corrinne and Clia, you have given Hally so much support through so much and you have helped us as a family through a very difficult time. You are both like daughters to Colin and me. So well we wanted to give all three of you a little gift just to add to how special your prom night is going to be.”
The girls stood up and hugged both of Hally’s parents then settled back down taking the tiaras out and trying them on, exclaiming to each other how gorgeous they looked and how the boys would be stunned.
So it was with visions of sparkling jewellery, ball gowns and handsome boys that Hally went to bed. She slept deeply and dreamed of princes and princesses, dancing and glamour.
Hally woke to a tapping sound and bleary eyed tried to locate the noise. Light was coming through the blinds but glancing at her clock she saw it was only just after five. The tapping came again and a little more alert she raised herself up in bed and looked around the room. There was no obvious source of the noise and she turned her head gauging where exactly it was coming from. It seemed to be emanating from near the window. Climbing out of bed she quietly crossed the room, an idea of the source forming in her head, and not wanting to disturb it if she was right. She reached the window and without touching the blinds carefully peeked through a tiny slit. A chaffinch was perched on her window ledge pecking quite furiously at the glass for no apparent reason. Hally stood silent and motionless watching the little bird. Eventually it gave up its seemingly pointless task and flew away, so Hally raised her blind and looked out. The sun was already bright and promised to be another hot day. Now she was fully awake she had no intention of going back to bed, so very quietly she gathered her things and went to the bathroom to get showered and changed.
With her hair still wet from the shower, Hally quietly made her way downstairs. No one else was up yet and she felt as though she were completely alone. It wasn’t an unpleasant feeling, she didn’t feel lonely. In fact she felt great. School was over, the summer was shaping up to be a scorcher; she had weeks of not having to worry about homework, or getting up for school and well yes, the exam results were a bit of a worry, but they were ages away, and she had Wes.
In the kitchen she unlocked the back door and opened it wide letting in the early morning sun and fresh sweet air. She poured juice into a glass, found a pack of croissants and took one out, and wandered into the garden settling on a lounger on the deck nibbling at the pastry. Dad would be up in about an hour to get ready for work so she had some time to just sit and do nothing. Birds were flitting about the lawn and feeders, the starlings as usual squabbling over scraps of food. Hally watched enjoying the activity. She loved that her garden offered such a haven to all sorts of birds. Her mum had always tried to encourage as many species as possible by hanging out a variety of foods and planting various flowers and shrubs. Consequently, many types visited the garden all through the year. Hally had often asked her mum about them and now had a fair idea of which bird was which.
“Morning Tink”
A voice said behind her making her jump and the birds to fly off. She turned and saw her dad standing near the door a mug in his hand.
“Oh you made me jump.”
She said to him and he smiled.
“You’re up very early.”
He stated. Hally nodded and relayed the tale of the tapping chaffinch.
“Yes lots of birds do that. They see their reflection in the window and think it’s another bird, a rival. They think they are attacking it.”
Dad imparted to her.
“I was wondering what it was doing. Now I know, thanks dad.”
He came over and gave her a kiss on the top of her head.
“Your welcome. Now I suppose I’d better get some breakfast and get sorted for work. Your mum will be down in a minute.”
He turned leaving her to continue watching the birds. Before long they began to appear back on the lawn and feeders.
About mid morning Wes texted her saying he had been asked to work because someone had called in sick. She was a little disappointed but knew he tried to get extra hours when he could so he could treat her and especially his daughter. So she texted him back saying it was fine. Corrinne and Clia were coming round later anyway, and then they were going into town, so she would probably see him as they were most likely to go to the Hotspot. Mum had gone round to Granddad’s after dropping Nathan at school so Hally had the house to herself. She thought she would help her mum out, so she ran the vacuum cleaner around the house and dusted too. Her mum never asked her to help with the household chores, but over the years had let her do little things when she wanted to, so now Hally often offered help.
Corrinne and Clia turned up at about eleven. None wanted to linger so Hally locked up and they all headed straight for town. It was something else that was new and exciting, to be going to the shops on a school day. It was different to going at the weekend or during the holidays and they all felt very grown up and independent. They saw adults they recognised without children in tow and expressed to each other how different and relaxed they looked shopping alone. The coffee shops were different too, the clientele made up of business people taking a break, small intimate groups of grown ups chatting and relaxing and single shoppers resting, with bags leaning nearby. The girls thought it was like a different world, and one which they could share for a short time, at least until the school holidays started.
The three headed for Chandlers deciding that they all needed new makeup especially for the prom. Inside the shop they went down an aisle to the stand that held their favourite brand. For some time they examined testers, checking out eyeshadow, nail polish, eyeliner and foundation. There was a box of tissues on the stand to wipe away the makeup they tried and discarded. Finally Hally held out a trio of cream eyeshadow to Corrinne and Clia. It was a selection of glittering shades of blue.
“What do you think?”
She asked her friends. They both examined her choice, and then Corrinne said.
“That’s perfect Hals. Those colours will go great with your blue eyes. I think I’m going for this one.”
She held up a similar trio but in shades of green. Clia sighed.
“Can’t decide between these two.”
She held up a purple set and a silver one.
“The purple.”
Corrinne and Hally said together and they all laughed. They examined lipstick shades and settled on one each, then Hally said.
“I don’t think I’m going to bother with foundation. This weather has given me such a great tan already I think that will be enough.”
“Yeah, probably a waste of money, all it will do is make your face look a different colour than the rest of you.”
Clia said. They all giggled.
“What like Pamela Sedgeley? Her makeup makes her look orange.”
Corrinne said. They giggled some more and Hally added.
“Yeah but what makes it worse is the line around her jaw line. She only puts it on her face and never blends in it.”
“Like an explosion in a juice factory.”
Clia said making them all laugh even more.
“Poor thing.”
Said Hally whilst still laughing.
“I bet no one has ever shown her how to put it on properly.”
Their laughter began to subside as they headed for the counter to pay for their purchases.
After visiting a few more shops and finding accessories they couldn’t do without for the prom, they headed for the Hotspot. It wasn’t as busy as usual and the girls guessed this was because it was a school day and was mostly populated by students. They found a table easily and Hally went to the counter to get some drinks. Wes was not behind the counter and Hally was disappointed.
“Where’s Wes?”
She casually asked the assistant who served her.
/> “Oh he’s just gone to the bank to get some change. He’ll be back in a bit.”
Hally was relieved, not sure what she had felt not seeing him there. She took the drinks back to the table and the girls asked the same question. Sitting down she told them where Wes had gone, then with her eyes downcast went on to tell them how her tummy had tumbled when she saw he wasn’t there.
“It wasn’t like just a disappointed feeling. It was…oh this is going to sound awful…it was suspicion. He told me he was working and when he wasn’t here I wondered if he told me the truth.”
She felt very sad at that moment. Clia covered her hand briefly.
“Hals, you know he dotes on you. But there are bound to be times when you feel a bit mistrusting. I mean, he didn’t exactly lie about Ellie but he didn’t come clean either, not ‘til he had to. Don’t get me wrong, I adore Wes, he’s lovely and I don’t think he would do anything underhand, but well it’s only natural to get suspicious sometimes.”
Hally sipped her cola and looked at her friends.
“Do either of you two ever feel like that?”
Corrinne mulled over her answer, but Clia gave hers very quickly.
“Anytime Rhys doesn’t text when he says he will, or come round on time I think that’s it, he’s finished with me. Then of course, he turns up with an explanation and I know I’ve been daft. I don’t say anything to him about how scared I get ‘cos I don’t want him to think I’m possessive and frighten him off.”
She finished with her lips pressed together and a little shrug.
“Blimey Clia, I had no idea you were so insecure. Did you know this Corry?”
Corrinne shook her head.
“No, I didn’t have a clue. You shouldn’t have kept that to yourself Clia.”
Clia gave a little smile and said.
“I know, but it sounds so stupid when I say it out loud.”
Hally gave her arm a little shake.
“You are always telling me not to bottle stuff up you dipstick. Anyway Corry, you didn’t answer.”
Clia turned towards Corrinne her head slightly to one side waiting for the question to be answered.
“Well Gregg never makes me feel insecure, if anything it’s the other way round. You know, he often says he can’t believe his luck going out with me.”
Fifteen Going on Grown Up Page 32