The Jack Brenin Collection

by Catherine Cooper

  ‘What do they look like when they aren’t angry?’

  ‘They’re like tiny dryads. They don’t have wings of their own so if they want to fly they shape shift into a small winged insect. Some prefer to be beetles, others butterflies or damselflies, nothing too big.’

  As they climbed over the stile into the field a pale blue butterfly flitted past them.

  ‘How you can tell if it’s a fairy?’ asked Jack.

  ‘You can’t, not unless you’d been formally introduced and they decided they liked you. Only those who’ve eaten fairy food can see them, and only invited guests are welcome to join them for a meal. Once you’ve been to a feast with the fair folk you can see them in whatever form they may take.’

  ‘Can you see them?’

  ‘Oh yes, so can Nora and the Dorysk too.’

  ‘What about Camelin?’

  ‘Fairy food wouldn’t interest him and he probably wouldn’t eat it if they offered it to him.’

  ‘Camelin! Refuse food?’

  ‘You obviously don’t know about fairy food. It looks revolting and doesn’t taste much better. It’s a test to see how polite you are. They like people with good manners. The Dorysk doesn’t mind what he eats and is quite partial to maggot pie.’

  Jack pulled a face. He wasn’t sure how polite he could be if he was offered a plate of maggot pie, especially if the maggots weren’t cooked.

  ‘Not far now,’ said Elan as they climbed over the stile at the other side of the field. ‘Once we get to the end of this lane we’ll be there.’

  ‘What are we shopping for?’

  ‘Nail varnish, scrubbing brushes and jam covers.’

  Jack looked puzzled. It wasn’t the answer he was expecting.

  ‘Is the nail varnish for you?’

  Elan laughed.

  ‘No, it’s for Ember.’

  ‘Ember!’

  ‘She’s agreed to take part in the festival and I want to give her a surprise. We’ll need scrubbing brushes to clean her feet and lots of silver nail varnish to paint her claws. I’m going to make sure she lives up to her name. By the time we’ve finished grooming her she’ll definitely look like Ember Silver Horn the Magnificent.’

  Jack laughed. He’d never imagined that he would find himself grooming a dragon.

  ‘And the jam covers?’

  ‘They’re for Nora, she’s going to make lots of blackberry jelly to take with us for the festival.’

  ‘Jelly?’

  Elan laughed.

  ‘It’s not the kind you put in trifle, this is jam with all the seeds taken out.’

  Jack thought that was a good idea. It was annoying when tiny seeds got caught in your teeth. He doubted it would matter to Camelin. The only seed he’d ever heard Camelin complain about was birdseed, especially when he’d been expected to eat it.

  When they got to the end of the lane Jack froze. On the other side of the road was the goalkeeper he’d met at the field when he’d tried to join in with a football game soon after he’d come to Glasruhen. The boy had called him names. With him was the tall boy who’d had a bloody nose when Jack had accidentally kicked the ball into his face. Three other boys that Jack didn’t recognise were walking with them towards the town.

  ‘What’s the matter?’ asked Elan.

  ‘That’s one of the boys who pushed me. The one who wrecked your bunch of flowers.’

  ‘They’re not going to bother us, come on, let’s go and get some lunch first, I can hear your stomach rumbling again.’

  Jack wasn’t sure Elan realised how strong the goalie was. It would be better if they could avoid them altogether. He was going to suggest they waited a while till they were out of sight but Elan had already started to cross the road.

  ‘Come on, it’ll be fine, you’ll see.’

  Jack wished he could feel as confident as Elan sounded but his legs already felt like jelly. He reluctantly followed her into the High Street.

  TROUBLE

  Newton Gill was busy but Jack managed to keep the boys in sight. It wasn’t too difficult because three of the gang were tall. As Elan stopped to look in the window of a teashop, two older ladies came out through the door. For a moment they blocked Jack’s view and when they’d passed he couldn’t see the boys anywhere. He scanned the High Street but they’d gone.

  ‘It looks really busy in there,’ said Elan. ‘We could go to the kebab shop across the road or the café in the square. What do you fancy?’

  ‘We’d better not have a kebab, Camelin wouldn’t forgive us.’

  ‘He’d never know.’

  ‘He’d smell it. The café sounds better. I’ve been there before with Grandad.’

  They walked down to the town square and stopped outside a black and white timber-framed building. It had several tables outside on the pavement, each with a large green parasol. Elan pulled out one of the chairs.

  ‘There’s plenty of room out here, we can sit in the sunshine.’

  Jack would have preferred to be inside and out of sight, but the café was full. It wasn’t long before they’d given their order to the waiter.

  ‘I think we’ve been followed,’ said Elan.

  Jack’s heart sank. He looked around but couldn’t see the gang.

  ‘Where are they?’ he whispered.

  ‘They? You’re not still worried about those boys are you?’

  Jack nodded.

  ‘Who did you mean?’

  ‘Someone’s just landed in the big yew tree by the church gate! Don’t let him know you’ve seen him.’

  Jack looked out of the corner of his eye without moving his head. There was a big black shape hiding in the tree.

  ‘I wonder if Nora knows he’s there?’

  There was an explosion of laughter from behind him.

  ‘Would that be Nutty Nora?’

  Jack felt a shiver run down his spine as he slowly turned around. The four boys jostled each other as they each grabbed a chair from the next table. They positioned themselves so they could all see Jack. The goalie, the tallest of the group, didn’t sit down. Instead he stood behind Jack, put his hands on the back of his chair and started tilting him backwards. His long greasy hair drooped over Jack’s face as he spoke.

  ‘I didn’t hear you, Pixie Boy. I said… was that Nutty Nora you’re talking about?’

  Jack gulped and summoned up all the courage he had to speak.

  ‘She’s not nutty. Nora is a very nice person.’

  ‘Ooooh! Get him,’ laughed the goalie.

  The other boy Jack had seen before joined in.

  ‘Taking your girlfriend out to lunch are you? Aren’t you going to introduce us?’

  Elan fixed the boy with a look. There was an uncomfortable silence before Jack spoke again.

  ‘This is Elan.’

  The goalie released the chair. He laughed as Jack lurched forwards.

  ‘Well Elan, you’ve got a right wimp for a boyfriend. Has he told you we’ve got some unfinished business with him? Isn’t that right Max?’

  The boy who’d had the bloody nose nodded and stood up. Jack could feel beads of sweat running down his forehead even though the rest of his body felt cold. Max took a couple of steps towards their table. Jack was sure he was going to start a fight when he saw his clenched fist. Should he stand up and face him? The decision was taken out of his hands when the waiter came out with their order. There was a scraping of chairs before all the boys ran off. The waiter sighed.

  ‘Were they bothering you? That lot are always causing trouble.’

  ‘We’re fine thank you,’ replied Elan.

  Jack didn’t say a word. The boys did bother him. The waiter put their rolls and drinks down and collected two empty teacups from another table before going back inside the café.

  ‘Do you know them?’ asked Jack.

  Elan laughed.

  ‘Everyone knows them. Your grandad and dad will know them too; they’ve got quite a reputation. The one who calls you pixie boy is Frank Smedl
ey. They call him Tank because he’s so big. His dad owns the scrap metal yard on the other side of Newton Gill. There are four boys in the family and Frank’s the youngest.’

  ‘What about the one he called Max, the tall one with blond hair, the one who’s got it in for me?’

  ‘That’s Max Wratten, he lives in one of the big houses at the end of Church Road. The other tall boy with the long dark hair is Danny Westbrook. His dad owns the music shop round the corner. I don’t know the other two. It’s Max and Tank who usually cause all the trouble. Tank got caught throwing stones over the hedge into Nora’s garden not so long ago.’

  ‘He really doesn’t like me.’

  ‘He’s just a bully. Don’t let him bother you.’

  ‘But he’s twice as big as me and three times as strong.’

  Jack wondered if Elan really knew what the boys could be like. It was alright for her, she wasn’t the one who’d been pushed around. If he could use his magic it would be different, he’d be able to tackle all five of them at once and they’d never bother him again. He tried to put the boys out of his mind and concentrate on his lunch. Before he took the first bite he looked up at the yew tree. Thankfully Camelin had gone.

  When they’d finished eating they set off up the High Street towards the homewares shop that they thought would sell everything on their list. By the time they got there, Jack was feeling hot and bothered. It was a relief to step inside the cool shop and be out of the sunshine. They loaded up the shopping trolley with six scrubbing brushes, twenty bottles of silver nail varnish, two packs of jam covers and three tubs of beeswax.

  ‘What’s the beeswax for?’ asked Jack.

  ‘I thought we could rub it into Ember’s scales and polish them up. We ought to take some dusters too. They’re down the other end. I’ll go and get them while you make your way to the till.’

  Jack wheeled the trolley to the bottom of the aisle and turned the corner. In front of him stood Max. He turned the trolley to the right only to see Tank standing there with his arms folded. A quick glance to the left told him Danny was blocking his way. Turning around would be pointless; he knew the other two would be behind him.

  ‘That’s a big trolley for a pipsqueak like you,’ said Max as he grabbed the front and pushed it hard. Jack staggered backwards. Tank pushed him hard on his right shoulder and Danny pushed him back on the left.

  ‘Where’s your girlfriend, got fed up of you already has she?’ taunted Tank.

  Max clicked his fingers and pointed towards Jack. Tank and Danny pulled Jack’s hands from the trolley, put their arms under his and lifted him from the ground. Max shoved the trolley down the aisle. Jack heard a crash as it hit the shelving.

  ‘Round the back with him, I owe him a punch in the nose.’

  Tank and Danny were about to set off when Elan stepped out in front of them. She narrowed her eyes and looked directly at Tank.

  ‘Put him down,’ she said quietly.

  Max laughed.

  ‘You can have him back when we’ve done with him Freckle Face.’

  ‘I said put him down.’

  One of the shop assistants appeared at the end of the aisle.

  ‘Is there a problem?’ he enquired.

  Tank and Danny released their hold, dropped Jack and ran off towards the door. As Jack stood up he noticed only Max was left.

  ‘We’re fine, thank you,’ Elan replied.

  Max glowered and murmured something under his breath as the assistant started straightening the display on the shelf.

  ‘Now if you’ll excuse us,’ continued Elan as she brushed past Max, ‘we’re busy.’

  Jack followed Elan to the abandoned trolley. They pushed it to the tills and joined one of the queues. As they waited Jack wondered if Elan had seen the look in Max’s eyes. He feared the gang would be out to get them both now.

  Camelin was waiting for them on the fence by the first stile.

  ‘Did you save me anything?’

  Jack looked down at his feet.

  ‘Aw Jack, I thought you’d have saved me a bit of cheese, it was a cheese roll you had wasn’t it?’

  ‘Did you save us any of your dinner?’ asked Elan.

  Camelin didn’t answer.

  ‘We’ll see you back at the house,’ said Elan. ‘Tell Nora we’re going to need two glasses of something cold.’

  As Camelin flew off Jack thought he saw some movement on the other side of the mound near the hedge.

  ‘What if the gang are waiting for us in the back lane?’ he asked.

  ‘They’d be very foolish if they were.’

  ‘Look, the bushes are moving, I’m sure it’s them.’

  ‘Come out,’ yelled Elan, ‘we’re not frightened of you.’

  ‘No, Elan, let’s get back, I don’t want to know if it’s them.’

  It was too late. One by one the boys appeared from the hedge and stood blocking their way. Max grinned at Jack but his expression changed when he looked at Elan.

  ‘Now we can settle this and there’s nobody here to stop us. I don’t like girls who think they’re better than me.’

  Elan dropped the bags and took two steps towards Max. She completely ignored the other four boys.

  ‘Danny, do your thing,’ ordered Max.

  Jack wondered what Danny was about to do. As he stepped forward he brushed his long hair away from his face before taking something out of his pocket. Jack dropped his bags and moved to stand by Elan. He couldn’t let her face the boys on her own. Danny flipped the lid on a small tin and threw the contents at Elan. A huge spider flew through the air and landed on her blouse. The boys laughed. Jack wondered if they were expecting her to scream. They were going to be disappointed if they did. Elan held up a finger and the large spider scurried onto the back of her hand. She turned her hand so the spider settled in her palm. Max looked annoyed. He raised his hand to bring it down on top of the spider. Danny looked horrified and yelled don’t but he needn’t have worried. Elan grabbed Max’s arm with her free hand and held it firmly in her grasp.

  ‘Ow! Let go!’ wailed Max.

  The other boys sniggered as Max tried to wriggle free.

  ‘Do something you lot, don’t just stand there. Get her off me!’

  Tank had only taken one step towards Elan when a loud buzzing made him stop. From nowhere the largest bee Jack had ever seen zig-zagged in front of Tank’s face. He waved his hands around trying to ward it off and protect himself. The others started to laugh but soon stopped when three more bees appeared. They abandoned Max and ran off across the field. When they’d gone, Elan released him. He stood rubbing his sore arm.

  ‘Hadn’t you better go and find your friends?’ she said.

  ‘This isn’t over. You got lucky this time, but we’ll get you, both of you.’

  Jack and Elan watched Max run off after the others. When he was out of sight Elan went and sat on top of the fairy mound and let the spider run onto the grass. Four large bees buzzed around her head.

  ‘They’ll transform soon when they’ve calmed down,’ explained Elan.

  ‘You mean they’re fairies?’

  ‘Of course, what else would you expect to find inside a fairy ring? The mound is in the centre and the ring extends to the edge of the trees. They’ll not stand for any nonsense, especially when someone tries to kill another creature. Come sit down and watch.’

  Jack sat next to Elan. It wasn’t long before one of the bees became a bright spark; when the intense light faded a beautiful pale blue butterfly appeared. One by one the fairies transformed, until two butterflies, and two damselflies, were flitting around their heads.

  ‘Oh wow! Will they change again into fairies?’ asked Jack.

  ‘Not at the moment, they usually change at dusk. We’ll ask the Dorysk to make an appointment so you can be presented to them.’

  ‘I’d like that.’ Jack got up and bowed to the circling insects. ‘Thank you for your help.’

  ‘We’d better be getting back. I told you
not to worry didn’t I?’

  ‘Max looked really annoyed when you grabbed his arm.’

  ‘He obviously thinks all girls are weak. Well he picked on the wrong one today.’

  Jack and Elan collected up the bags and made their way back to Ewell House. It was only when they got to the stile that he remembered what Elan had said about the fairy food. Would he be offered maggot pie when he met them? If he was, he hoped it would at least be cooked.

  Jack went up to Camelin’s loft when he’d finished his cold drink. He expected that Camelin would still be in a grumpy mood but instead he was quite excited.

  ‘Watch this,’ he said as soon as Jack sat down.

  Camelin pointed his wand at a pile of rubbish on the floor. With a flourish of his wand the rubbish rose and flew towards a wicker basket. The basket lid lifted and the rubbish flew inside. When the last piece had disappeared the lid fell back into place.

  ‘That’s brilliant!’ exclaimed Jack.

  ‘I know, pure genius, I’m never going to have to tidy my room by beak and claw again.’

  ‘How did you find out about that spell?’

  ‘Weeding by beak gives you plenty of time to think and I got to thinking… there had to be a tidying spell. When Nora and I finished in the herb garden I asked my Book of Shadows… and there it was.’

  ‘I wondered if Nora might have put a block on your book until you’ve had more wand practice.’

  ‘Oh she has, but not for every spell. I asked nicely and said please, and it opened up.’

  ‘That’s really good.’

  ‘Don’t tell Nora though, I don’t want her knowing I’m practising on my own. I promise I won’t do anything dangerous, just practical things.’

  Jack smiled. He wondered if the things Camelin thought of as practical might be things Nora wouldn’t approve of. If Jack could only use his magic on the gang it would solve all his problems but he knew he couldn’t. That really would be something Nora wouldn’t approve of. Camelin looked expectantly at Jack.

  ‘You won’t tell then?’