by Karen Inglis
Tom, who felt his cheeks turn purple, stared at the ground. Stella swallowed hard. As Charlie now stood before them she wanted to say something, but she didn’t know how.
‘She was a wonderful lady was Margaret,’ he said, gently, ‘an’ you know that better than most, don’t you?’ He gave them a warm smile then looked across towards The Island. ‘Still, she’s happy now, with Harry an’ all.’
‘I know,’ said Stella. Her arms hung heavily at her side.
Charlie stepped forward and bowed his head towards Tom. ‘I never meant to be gruff, Tom. It was just the moles. I was worried about them moles. You know how important they were to her – and Harry.’
Tom smiled stiffly, trying hard to avoid his stare. But then, as Charlie put his hand gently on his shoulder, a wave of warmth surged through him, sweeping away all of his anger. With relief, he found himself looking up at Charlie and smiling. And despite everything, it felt like the most natural thing in the world.
‘Well, it’s getting late,’ said Charlie picking up his hold-all. ‘Time for me to head off.’ He smiled and gave a friendly wink. ‘An’ don’t you go worryin’ about your secret now. It’s safe as houses with me!’ He slowly turned and plodded off.
Tom and Stella sat back down and watched Charlie disappear around the corner, Stella all the while smiling to herself as she lightly twirled her friendship bracelet. Already she had bought new threads and would begin renewing it before they started school.
Tom lay back down on the grass and peered at the sky through the great arms of the tree. How relieved he felt to be free at last from the anger and suspicion he had felt about Charlie ever since they had moved to the garden.
Half an hour later they headed in for lunch. ‘Charlie was here a while ago,’ said their mother as she dished pasta into three bowls. He left something for you both on the table there.' She smiled and winked. ‘Said it was top secret and that you should open it in private!’
Tom immediately lunged at the small brown packet that lay on the kitchen table, then dashed outside. Stella followed right behind. Tom tore at the paper, then – thump! – out fell Stella’s orange torch, battered and worn, onto the patio table. Stella clapped her hand to her mouth. Tom stood staring in silence, his heart starting to race.
‘There’s a note!’ squealed Stella.
Tom snatched up the piece of paper. As he opened it out, the creases made a perfect cross where it had been folded into four. And now, as they read what was written in front of them, neither Tom nor Stella flinched.
Dear Tom and Stella
I meant to return this torch you gave my father sooner, but what with Mrs Moon falling ill I’m afraid I forgot.
My father told me all about how he came by it – quite a story that was! ‘Flash Jack and his light,’ people used to call him – he got up to all sorts of tricks with it!
You know he worked here when I was a boy – just like my grandfather did before him. That’s how I got to know the gardens – and the magical moles!
I’m going to miss Margaret now she’s gone. I would have told her more about my family when I realised she was Emma Gladstone, but I didn’t want to add to her confusion. Still, I hope I helped her get along in her final years by helping Harry come and go though the tunnel.
Well, my time here’s spent. There’s gardens up near where I live need tending to. I’m not as young as I used to be and it’ll be easier working closer to home.
I’m sorry we can’t spend more time together. Still, I hope you’ll continue to enjoy the garden! Look after each other, won’t you – and mind them moles!
Charles Green
‘Charlie’s Jack’s son!’ gasped Tom.
He threw the note down and raced out through the patio gate into the gardens.
‘Charlie! Where are you?’ he yelled. ‘Charlie! Charlie!’ The name echoed all around the garden and up through the trees and seemed for a moment to become part of everything.
‘What on earth’s all that about?’ said their mother staring out of the door.
Stella snatched up the letter and stuffed it into her jeans pocket. ‘Just Tom gone a bit bonkers!’ she said with a smile. She grabbed the torch from the patio table and dashed through the gate after him.
‘He’s gone, Stella, he’s gone.’ Tom fought to hold back the tears as he walked back towards her.
Stella stood and gazed out across the lawn towards The Island.
‘Well,’ she said with a smile, ‘we were right after all about him using the tunnel, weren't we! How kind of him to help Margaret like that! It’s exactly the sort of thing Jack would have done!’
Tom nodded as he followed Stella’s gaze out across the lawn.
Stella took a deep breath in, then sighed. ‘At least we now know for sure that we didn’t dream all of this!’ With a huge smile, she put her arm around her brother’s shoulders and squeezed him close.
As they walked back to the house, Tom felt surprisingly calm. He knew this was the end of their secret adventure – and yet in a strange sort of way it felt like a new beginning.
‘Mum!’ he said brightly as they stepped back through the kitchen door.
Stella squinted warily at him.
‘When I’m older, mum, I’m going to buy this flat from you, and the one above, and the one above that. Actually,’ he went on, his eyes widening with every word, ‘it’s going to be my home. With real fireplaces and everything. Just like in the olden days!’
His mother chuckled. ‘Why, whatever made you think of that, Tom!’
Tom grinned across at Stella and slowly but surely drew the letter ‘T’ in the air.
Unseen by her mother Stella popped a lime-flavoured polo into her mouth and, as her ears began to tingle, she grinned across at her brother. Tom had made his mind up, and there would be no stopping him!
Also by Karen Inglis
In print and for Kindle
Visit Karen’s Amazon Author Page to order the books below for Kindle or in print.
* Eeek! The Runaway Alien (7-10 yrs)
Eleven-year-old Charlie can’t believe his luck when he opens his door to an alien one morning – a football-mad alien who has run away to Earth for the World Cup! Fun black and white illustrations throughout :)
* Walter Brown and the Magician’s Hat (7-9+ yrs)
When Walter Brown inherits a magician’s hat from his Great Grandpa Horace on his 10th birthday he discovers it has special powers and that his cat Sixpence is no ordinary cat. Magical mayhem soon follows…!
*Henry Haynes and the Great Escape (6-8 yrs)
When Henry complains that his library book is boring he gets sucked down inside and is forced to help Brian, a bossy boa constrictor, and Gordon, a very smelly gorilla, with their zoo escape plan! Black and white illustrations throughout :)
*Ferdinand Fox’s Big Sleep (3-5 yrs)
A delightful rhyming colour picture book based on the true story of a fox that fell asleep in the author’s garden.
Visit Karen’s Amazon Author Page to read reviews and order for Kindle or in print.
About the Author
Karen Inglis lives in London, England. She has two sons who inspired her to write when they were younger. She also writes for business, but has much more fun making up stories! She has a lovely cat called Misty who you’ll find on her website at kareninglisauthor.com
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This book is dedicated to my mother and father, and
to all children who love to dream.
Acknowledgements
With thanks to The Writers’ Advice Centre for Children’s books for advising me on how to reshape the plot in its early days. Also to my good friend Bridget Rendell for suggesting further useful revisions. And to my cover illustrator, Damir Kundalic. Finally, thank you to Jessica and Tom whose magical communal gardens in West London inspired this story.
Copyright © 2011 by Karen Inglis
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.