by Angie Bates
I quickly abandoned my pretend homework, and went to hunt out this fancy writing set which my Auntie Paula gave me last Christmas.
It was the first time I’d used it, actually.
I don’t mean to sound ungrateful, but I wasn’t too thrilled when I first got it, so I didn’t look at it that closely. But as I stripped off the cellophane, I suddenly noticed an eerie coincidence.
My notepaper and envelopes were decorated with cute little cartoons of baby angels. There was also a motto which said, “Angels fly because they take themselves lightly.” Isn’t that SWEET! Don’t tell anyone, but I truly felt like those angels had just popped up to show me I was on the right track.
I was incredibly sleepy after my bad night, but I forced my eyes to stay open until I’d written four letters, one for each of my friends, explaining what I’d just told my mum.
Then I slipped the sealed envelopes into my school bag and zipped it shut. I didn’t think it was wise to leave them lying around. If Amber thought it was OK to muscle in on my mates’ bridesmaids’ dresses, she might figure it was OK to read people’s letters too.
I went to bed, convinced I’d found the perfect way to put things right. But so far, it was just a theory.
When I actually went into our classroom next day, I almost lost my nerve. It was like walking into this like, icy wall of HATE. When Lyndz and Frankie saw me coming, they immediately pulled faces, as if I was this really bad smell. But I think you’d have been really proud of me, because I didn’t go to pieces. I just reminded myself that the angels were rooting for us all to get back together, then I quickly handed my mates their pink envelopes.
Frankie looked as if I’d dropped a dead mouse in her lap. “What’s this?” she said in disgust. But she told me afterwards that she was wild with curiosity to know what I was up to, because I’d had such a weird expression on my face!
The four girls read their letters under their desks, while I tried not to look. And I got this sinking feeling. What if it didn’t work?
My friends must all read at the same speed or something, because suddenly I heard these soft little sighs as they all reached the last line together.
Then to Mrs Weaver’s astonishment, Lyndz, Frankie and Kenny jumped out of their seats and rushed over to gave me a hug. (Rosie was sitting next to me already, if you remember!)
We had to wait till break before we could have our proper reunion, but it was well worth waiting for. Everyone was SO emotional, it wasn’t true!! For ten solid minutes, we all cried and hugged and mushily forgave each other. You should have seen us!
“I can’t believe you stood up to her like that!” sniffled Frankie. “That was SO brave, Flissy.”
I blew my nose hard. “It didn’t feel brave,” I said. Which was true. “I just couldn’t bear the thought of everyone breaking friends, because of me.”
And we all had another round of hugs.
But Kenny looked thoughtful. “Fliss, it’s so brilliant, what you did. But I really don’t think you should back out of your own mum’s wedding.”
“Nor do I,” said Lyndz.
Rosie shook her head. “Me neither.”
“I’ve got an idea,” said Frankie suddenly. “We’ll put our names in a hat, and whoever Fliss picks out has to stand down.”
“Cool,” Kenny grinned. “Except we haven’t actually got a hat.”
“Couldn’t we use something else?” asked Lyndz.
“I suppose,” said Frankie doubtfully. “It just seems more official with an actual hat, somehow.”
“We could borrow one from the dressing-up box?” suggested Lyndz.
We all went dashing off to ask Mrs Dwyer – she’s one of the infant teachers.
She looked dead suspicious at first. I could see her thinking, “What ARE these weird girls up to now?”
But then Frankie went on about how it was like, the ONLY possible way for us to reach the most important democratic decision in the history of the Sleepover Club, and Mrs Dwyer eventually gave in.
We had four hats to choose from. A straw hat with little daisies and violets on, a beefeater’s furry busby, a Red Baron-type pilot’s cap with fleecy ear-flaps, and an ancient Roman helmet.
We went for the helmet in the end. As Frankie said, despite being plastic, it was by far the most dignified.
Mrs Dwyer tactfully left us alone in the Year One classroom, while everyone wrote their names on pieces of scrap paper, folded them into squares, and popped them into the Roman helmet.
I shut my eyes, felt around, and drew out one of the squares.
“It’s Frankie,” I said. “Sorry, Frankie,” I added, guiltily.
“Yeah, sorry Frankie,” mumbled everyone, though you could see they were all really thrilled that I hadn’t picked them!
But to my surprise Frankie took the news really well. “Hey, cheer up,” she grinned bravely. “I mean, I’m still coming to the wedding, right?”
Honestly, Frankie’s like a different person since her little sister, Izzy, was born. I’m not being mean, but the old Frankie was a typical only child, always expecting to have everything her way. These days she’s so mellow, it’s unbelievable.
“Does everyone want to come back to my place after school, to tell Mum the good news?” I asked.
I hadn’t really spoken to Mum since last night, I realised.
“I bet she was seriously stressed when you told her,” said Rosie.
“I’ll say,” I said. “But everything’s been stressing her out lately, I don’t know why.”
“Weddings are most peculiar things,” said Lyndz, putting on a doddery old lady’s voice.
“TELL me about it,” I grinned.
Miss Dwyer put her head round the door. “Reached that world-shattering democratic decision yet, girls?”
“Yes, thanks!” we yelled.
“Well, praise the Lord and give me my classroom back!” she sighed. She stood aside and a horde of over-excited infants came thundering into the class, all yelling “YAY!” at the tops of their voices.
“Infants are so much smaller than you think, aren’t they?” said Lyndz, as we went back into the playground.
“And they have so much fun,” sighed Rosie.
Then we had one of our amazing telepathic moments. We all grinned at each other, and we did something really babyish.
All five of us linked arms and ran across the playground, yelling “YAY!” too!
Further down the playground, the M&Ms were talking to Alana Palmer. As we drew level, all three girls narrowed their eyes at us. It’s one of their favourite expressions, and it makes them look exactly like those spiteful Siamese cats in The Lady and the Tramp.
“See ya!” Lyndz yelled merrily, as we zoomed past.
“But we wouldn’t wanna BE ya!” I added.
And we all cracked up laughing.
I was so happy to be back with my friends, I can’t tell you. In a funny way, it seemed as if our quarrel had brought us closer together than ever.
We walked home after school, chatting and teasing each other, just like always. Plus, we kept telling Frankie what a star she was for the way she’d taken not being a bridesmaid. By the time we reached my house, she was practically walking on air!
But that’s NOTHING to how Mum looked when we told her the good news! She was totally ecstatic. She insisted on hugging everyone, but I don’t think they minded too much.
“I promise you’ll still get your special bridesmaid present, Frankie,” Mum said.
“Oh, goody,” said Frankie greedily, and we all burst out laughing.
After everyone had gone, I gave Mum a specially huge hug to make up for our fight. “Everything’s going to be all right from now on,” I told her.
A flicker of worry crossed her face. “I hope you’re right,” she whispered.
“I KNOW I’m right,” I said. “Actually, I think I’m getting psychic powers.”
Mum gave a tired grin. “Good,” she said. “I could really use them.�
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My mother meant it to come out as a joke, but I could hear the same scared little wobble in her voice that I’d noticed before.
I watched her anxiously as she rinsed and chopped vegetables for a salad, hoping for clues to her odd behaviour.
Whatever could it be that was making her act so sad and faraway? And why oh why wouldn’t she tell me? Mum and I always used to share everything. What could be so terrible, I wondered, that she had to keep it such a dark and deadly secret?
After tea, Mum made Amber try on Frankie’s bridesmaid’s dress.
She revolved slowly, like a cake on a cake-stand, as Mum fiddled around, twitching at seams and yanking down the hem.
Amber’s the kind of girl who couldn’t look bad if she was covered in slime. Even so, I couldn’t help feeling just a tiny bit smug. That dress didn’t look anything LIKE as good on Amber as it had done on Frankie!
I don’t know why, but all at once, Amber didn’t seem nearly such a pain. She didn’t mention her fabulous boyfriend once, all night. She also helped me wash up. Though I’m not sure if these things actually triggered my new tolerant attitude, or whether hating Amber was just getting too much like hard work.
Plus, it had dawned on me that after the wedding, Jilly’s daughter would be out of my life forever, but my great friends and my family would all still be here. Anyway, that night, for the first time, Amber and I actually AGREED on something.
We both desperately wanted to watch this funny film on TV, but no-one else was keen, so we watched it on the set in my room. To start with, we were both a bit on our dignity. It was like neither of us wanted to be the first person to laugh out loud. We’d snigger, then instantly straighten our faces. But the film was so silly that soon we were both howling with laughter.
When it was over, Amber went off to use the bathroom, and I trotted downstairs to say goodnight to Mum and Andy.
To my dismay, Andy’s mum followed me out into the hall. “I want a private word, Felicity,” she whispered.
Oh-oh, I thought. I should have guessed it was all too good to be true. What have I done wrong now?
Whatever it was, Patsy didn’t want anyone else to hear about my crimes, because she put her finger to her lips and kind of shunted me mysteriously into the kitchen. Then she shut the door.
Did I say before that Patsy always looks and sounds slightly offended?
“I just wanted to tell you,” she said in her stiff way, “that I’m really proud of you, dear.”
I was so expecting an earbashing that I actually glanced behind me, to see who Patsy was really talking to! “Proud?” I said bewildered. “Of me?”
“You’ve got strong principles,” she said. “I like that. And you’re a true friend.”
“Oh,” I croaked. “Thanks, erm, Patsy.”
“I’d like you to bring Francesca back here after school tomorrow. If everything goes according to plan, I may have a surprise for her.” And Patsy had this real glint in her eye, like she was actually enjoying our little conspiracy. It was the exact same look Andy gets sometimes, when he’s winding Mum up!
“OK,” I said, surprised. “I’ll ask her.”
I couldn’t think what Patsy was being so cloak-and-dagger about. But I really REALLY hoped her plan wouldn’t involve cabbage soup.
I was so tired by the time I switched out my light that I almost fell asleep as soon as I hit the pillow.
Only almost.
Because just as I drifted happily away to dreamland, it hit me!
I’d only got two days until the wedding! And not only had I failed to come up with any of my four somethings, but I still had no IDEA what I was going to get Mum and Andy for a present.
I thumped my pillow angrily.
Felicity Sidebotham, you total fluff-brain! I fumed to myself. How COULD you have forgotten something so important!!
Bet you thought I was telling serious porkies, didn’t you, when I said this story was going to be like a rollercoaster ride! Bet you’ve changed your mind now though, eh? And guess what! The thrills and spills aren’t nearly over yet.
But as this story is being told by that well-known butterfly-brain Felicity Sidebotham, I thought you might be feeling a bit confused by this time. So I thought I’d remind you EXACTLY where we’ve got up to now, in the wedding countdown. Can you believe it’s now actually the day before the wedding? Me neither!
Have you ever been so incredibly excited, that nothing actually feels quite real? Isn’t it the weirdest sensation in the world?
That Friday, I got up and kind of floated through the motions of my usual routine, but it was like I was watching myself in a movie, do you know what I mean? Fliss gets ready for school. Fliss leaves the house. Fliss walks down the street with a soppy grin on her face, dreaming of peach satin dresses, wedding cake and confetti!
“My mother is getting married tomorrow,” I whispered, as I walked down the same village street I walked down every day. But I’d been waiting so long, it was like I couldn’t really believe my dream was finally turning into reality.
Then I remembered that I still had my little mystery to solve. At break, I took Frankie aside and gave her Patsy’s message.
She looked amazed. “Why me?”
“I have no idea,” I said truthfully.
“Didn’t she even give you like, a tiny CLUE what it’s about?”
“She said she might have a surprise for you. So can you come?” I asked anxiously.
Frankie grinned. “Do I look like a girl who’d pass up the opportunity for a mystery surprise?”
The great thing about this particular Friday was that as well as being Mum’s wedding day minus one, it also happened to be the last day of term. This meant we had no actual lessons, YIPPEE! Which, as Kenny said, was really just as well, seeing as by this time all five of us were in like, dizzy nonstop orbit around Planet Wedding!
Frankie and I walked home together, trying to guess what on earth Patsy’s surprise could be. Some of our guesses got pretty wild!
“It’s her secret recipe for cabbage soup,” Frankie suggested. “It’s so hush-hush, she’s going to write it down in code and make me learn it off by heart. After that she’ll make me swallow it. And if I don’t, I needn’t think I’m going to get ANY pudding!”
“No, I know what it is,” I giggled. “You’ve won an entire five minutes at the Patsy Proudlove Charm School!”
But the joke was on us, as it turned out.
Andy’s mum called out to us as we were coming in through the front door. “We’re in the living room, dears,” she said. And if it had been anyone else but Andy’s mum, I’d have sworn she sounded excited.
Frankie followed me in. “Hi, everyone,” she beamed. Then her face kind of crumpled. “Oh, hi Amber,” she said bravely. “Wow, that dress really suits you.”
No WONDER poor old Frankie didn’t know where to look.
Amber was striking this really haughty pose beside the window. But that’s not all. She was only wearing her bridesmaid’s dress, would you believe! Talk about rubbing Frankie’s nose in it. Amber couldn’t have been more tactless if she’d tried. Though in passing, I DID notice that the dress looked heaps better on her than it had last night. I hated to admit it, but she looked completely amazing.
OK, now I’m going to let you in on the big secret, right?
In case you hadn’t guessed, Mum, Patsy, Jilly and Amber had cooked up a wicked little plot between them. Unknown to Frankie and me, Amber was totally acting her socks off. To be honest, she was the only plotter who managed to keep a straight face (I put it down to all those acting lessons!).
Mum, Jilly and Patsy did TRY to look innocent, bless them. But their twinkly eyes just wouldn’t co-operate. So it soon became obvious, even to us, that something very fishy was going on.
Suddenly Frankie couldn’t stand the suspense another second. “So is anyone going to tell me about this surprise or what?” she blurted.
“Da-DA,” sang Mum, and she whipped a s
econd bridesmaid’s dress from behind her back.
Frankie and I stared at it, hopelessly confused.
“Patsy and Amber have been working so hard while you were at school. They really ought to get medals,” said Mum.
“It was Patsy’s idea,” Amber chipped in.
“I still don’t get it,” I said. “What idea?”
“To make a new dress for Amber, of course,” beamed Mum. “Patsy and Amber just didn’t think it was right for Frankie to miss out.”
And my mum presented the dress to a totally stunned Frankie.
“You mean I can still be your bridesmaid after all?” she gasped.
Mum nodded, beaming.
“Wow!” Frankie breathed. Then she rushed at my mum and hugged her madly around the middle. “Thank you SO much,” she said in a muffled voice. “This is a very very happy moment and I think I’m going to cry.”
That’s one way in which Frankie hasn’t changed at all. She’s still a TOTAL drama queen!
Amber stepped forward. For the first time since I’d met her she looked really unsure of herself. “Can I hug Frankie too?” she said. “I mean, since we’re both going to be bridesmaids now.”
All this time, Patsy had been busily inspecting her nails, but suddenly she went zooming towards the door. “I think I’ll just go and make everyone a nice pot of tea,” she called over her shoulder.
But I got the definite feeling she just wanted to get WAY out of hugging range! And for the first time, it occurred to me that Patsy’s prickly hedgehog routine was actually terminal shyness.
“But how did they manage to do it so fast?” I said. “No offence, Mum, but it’s taken you AGES to make those other dresses.”
“Aha,” grinned Jilly. “You obviously haven’t heard about Patsy’s secret past!”
“Apparently Patsy used to be some kind of dressmaker in London,” Amber explained.
Mum acted shocked. “Dressmaker! Patsy used to work for a major French fashion house, darling!”
“So making one itty bitty bridesmaid’s dress was not exactly a major problem for her,” Jilly explained.