‘That must have been awful,’ Bryony said. Back in her old school in the city, she’d once been ‘under suspicion’ too when Lara Ford’s pencil case had gone missing. She’d had nothing to do with it, and had said so as well. Finally it was found behind some drawers where it had slipped, and Lara had quickly apologised. But Bryony had never forgotten how it felt when she’d simply not been believed . . .
‘I believe you, Mr Cooper,’ she said. And although she loved having the family around, she longed for them to stay because they wanted to, not because they had to.
Bryony had quite forgotten Emma standing at her side. ‘Oh! This is Emma,’ Bryony said, and Mr Cooper gave her a nod.
‘Wait, weren’t you the girl at the Market?’ he asked. ‘The one who spoke up with Bryony?’
Emma nodded.
‘Well, thank you,’ Mr Cooper replied.
Bryony then pointed out Piggy too. He looked like an ant so close to Blossom!
‘And Piggy’s got the star part in the play,’ said Bryony. ‘He’s going to pull Cinderella’s carriage.’
She thought for a moment.
‘The play’s tomorrow,’ she said. ‘At two o’clock in the primary school. I know you might not feel like it now, but maybe you could bring Meredith and Morgan? I’m sure Meredith – well, both of them really – would love it.’
Mr Cooper shook his head.
‘I’m sure you’re right about the twins. But folk wouldn’t want, well, you know . . .’
His voice trailed off.
Yes, Bryony did know. It was Christmas – a time of caring, and thinking the best of people. Yet, despite all her promises, Brook Dale had let the Coopers down.
The deep heavy silence that seemed to weigh down the air was suddenly broken by the creak of a door and Meredith came running from the caravan.
‘Bryony!’ she cried. She gave her a huge hug. ‘You came. You came to play!’
‘Yes,’ Bryony nodded, quickly blinking back a tear. ‘I came to play anything you – and Morgan – like!’
‘Morgan can’t,’ replied Meredith. ‘He’s got a tummy ache so he’s inside, drawing.’
‘Well, you’ll have us all to yourself, then!’ said Bryony. ‘This is Emma. She really wanted to meet you too.’
Meredith smiled at Emma, but as she did, clung on extra tightly to Bryony!
Mrs Cooper now appeared with some of Blossom’s old blankets which she kindly used to cover Red and Piggy. As they were stopping for a bit, she said, she wanted to keep the ponies nice and warm.
Bryony and Emma thanked her. Then Meredith announced she was ready to play and reeled off a long list of games.
‘Wow!’ laughed Bryony. ‘That sounds like lots of fun!’
They started with hide-and-seek, which was followed by chase. Then twirling and doing handstands! After that, they played catch and then even tried juggling fir cones.
Finally, they built a snowman and Meredith gave him a lovely bright hat and scarf. Mrs Cooper even brought out a carrot for a nose to finish him.
Although Meredith appeared to like Emma, Bryony was clearly her favourite. Bryony thought this was so cute. Emma had Will to look up to her, and Meredith now felt like the little sister Bryony had never had.
When Emma nipped in to quickly meet Morgan, Bryony gave Meredith a go on Red.
‘I want to jump a fence!’ Meredith cried. ‘That fence by the holly, I can jump it!’
‘Um . . . maybe next time,’ Bryony smiled. ‘And maybe a fence not near any prickles, just in case!’
Bryony and Emma stayed for lunch too. They had the most delicious cheese on toast, which they ate inside the cosy caravan. Then Bryony read the twins another chapter of Alice. By the time she’d finished, Meredith certainly had her sparkle back!
Bryony could hardly bear to leave. ‘But I really do have to go now,’ she said. ‘Red and Piggy need a rest.’
‘Oh.’ Meredith’s little face fell.
‘But I’ll see you again,’ said Bryony. ‘Very soon.’
Meredith and Mrs Cooper walked the girls back to the ponies. Then, handing over the blankets, Bryony and Emma jumped on and Bryony gave Meredith a little wave.
‘Mum, I love Bryony!’ Bryony heard her say as Red trotted off through the snow.
‘Oh, Em!’ gasped Bryony. ‘Did you hear that?!’
‘So sweet!’ replied Emma. ‘But . . .’
‘What?’ asked Bryony.
‘Well, maybe try not to get too attached. Because, you know . . . they’ll be leaving.’
And Bryony suddenly heard herself whisper, ‘Too late.’
*
‘Hello, girls!’ said Hari’s mum as she let Bryony and Emma inside.
‘Hi!’ said Bryony, and Emma nodded back with a smile.
Hari’s house was very tall and made from red bricks. Bryony thought it was ever so pretty. It had a lilac front door and a porch with panels of square-shaped stained glass in pinks, greens, yellows and light blues.
The Super Six were meeting here to get their costumes ready for the play. The girls were accessorising some beautiful dresses they were borrowing off Hari’s older sisters, and Josh and Finn were going to make some sashes for their Ball suits.
‘Looking forward to the play, then?’ Hari’s mum asked, now leading them down the narrow hallway.
‘Yes!’ replied Emma.
‘Me too,’ said Bryony. ‘So much!’
Hari’s mum nodded. ‘Not much longer to wait. Better get those ball gowns finished! Harita and the others are already in the craft den, you know the way.’
Hari’s mum, who was also one of the town doctors, sewed quilts in her spare time, so had converted the garden shed into a cool crafting workshop.
‘Thanks,’ said the girls, heading through the kitchen and out of the back door on the other side. A set of garden steps led to a narrow path down to the bottom of the garden. Everything was covered in thick snow, including Hari’s big trampoline on the lawn.
They followed the path to a little wooden shed with pots of winter violas on the windowsills. Today, in the snow, it reminded Bryony of a ski lodge and Georgina suddenly crossed her mind. Huh! She was going skiing after all. Yet again her scheming had paid off.
Bryony quickly brushed the thought away. Mum had told her she must have more fun, and that having a break at Hari’s would help her think more clearly about the mystery. She was determined, then, to really enjoy this afternoon!
‘Come on, Em.’ Bryony opened the shed door and they hurried in to see the others.
‘Wow!’ she gasped.
‘Ooo!’ cried Emma. ‘Amazing!’
It looked like a rainbow had exploded in there. There were dresses of every colour! Pink, yellow, green, blue, orange, purple – and the brightest red. Bryony really didn’t know where to start!
‘Come and pick!’ Hari called. ‘Look! There are tons to choose from!’
‘I’m having this turquoise one!’ Alice beamed.
‘Lovely!’ smiled Bryony, thrilled to see that Alice seemed genuinely happy to be in the Ball Crowd. And in these dresses, Bryony thought, the Ball Crowd would seriously sparkle!
Josh and Finn needed bright sashes and cummerbunds too. They’d be wearing suits but Mr Pettifour had instructed them to add ‘a pop of colour’.
‘Hmm, orange for me, I think,’ said Josh.
‘And could Will have some too?’ Emma asked. ‘I need to make him a pumpkin costume.’
‘Sure!’ Hari nodded. ‘And Mum’s got tons of cushions to pad him out with.’
Bryony chose her dress and it was great fun sewing on sequins, beads, and lace, and making flowers out of felt and ribbons!
It turned out that Finn was fantastic at ‘accessorising’. He’d read books on it (surprise, surprise!). By the time they’d finished, they all had a costume they were proud of.
Emma’s gown was emerald green, Alice had her turquoise, Hari had wanted something really zingy so had chosen a shocking pink, Finn’s sa
sh and cummerbund were purple, and Josh had gone for scarlet in the end, to kindly save all the orange fabric for Will’s pumpkin costume.
As for Bryony, her gown was silvery-blue. She’d also stitched on some shiny lime-green sequins which sparkled like real jewels.
They even made a feathery plume hat for Piggy which they’d clip in his long shaggy mane.
‘But I’m not sure,’ said Emma, ‘you’ll even be able to see it. His hair still looks like candyfloss!’
‘Fear not!’ cried Bryony in an-over-the-top voice and bowing low like a medieval lord. ‘For it shall be decreed, that tomorrow morn, Seaview Stables shall becometh a Piggy Pamper Parlour! And his impossible locks shall again be detangled. And he shall really looketh the part!’
Alice kindly offered to lend a hand too and Emma and Bryony were so grateful.
‘I could even braid him!’ said Alice enthusiastically.
That night the play’s dress rehearsal went quite well. Jed was still in his (not allowed!) wellies, but treading on Georgina’s toes instead of Alice’s now. Georgina was fuming, which made it all the more entertaining!
The two Miss Ps were still squabbling too, but that was to be expected. Tonight it was over who had the highest hairdo. Both, apparently, had spent hours at the hairdresser’s – and were threatening to go back!
‘You wait till tomorrow afternoon,’ snapped Miss Pigeon. ‘My bun will be EVEN higher!’
‘Huh! Mine too!’ Miss Parsley boomed. ‘With BOWS in!!’
Bryony knew she’d have to sort her own hair out too. Never a happy thought. If only there was the equivalent of a mane-detangling spray for people with impossible curls! She quickly consoled herself with the happy thought that her ball gown, at least, was impeccable. Plus, she and her friends easily had the best ‘pop of colour’ costumes in the room!
‘Well, darlings!’ twinkled Mr Pettifour at the end. ‘We’re getting somewhere finally, aren’t we? Now, keep practising those lines. Jed – no wellies tomorrow. And please arrive promptly at one o’clock which will give us an hour to do make-up and hair before it’s “Showtime!” at two!’
He dismissed them with a dramatic wave of the arm. ‘And get lots of beauty sleep tonight!’
‘I hope you’re not looking at me?’ scowled Miss Pigeon.
‘Or me!’ yelled Miss Parsley, and Mr Pettifour swallowed hard.
‘O-of course not!’
Bryony walked home with Emma, who was staying with her for a sleepover. After a steaming hot fish pie for supper, the girls retreated to Bryony’s bedroom.
As the Coopers’ moon gazing hare had been sold, Bryony had decided to knit Mum a Christmas scarf. Bryony loved her own scarf so much and hoped the one she’d knit for Mum would become her favourite too. Yesterday she’d spent the last of her pocket money on buying lots of balls of wool, and she had started the scarf late last night after the Friendship Jars. She still had loads to knit though, and it wasn’t going well.
‘Oh, no,’ sighed Bryony, dropping yet another stitch. That was hole number eight right there.
‘But at least,’ said Bryony, ‘it’ll be made with tons of love. And that’s the main thing, right?’
Emma smiled back with an encouraging thumbs up.
‘Yeah,’ nodded Bryony.
‘Made with tons of love . . .’ She’d make sure to write that on the label!
Bryony had been right about those high clouds yesterday. When she peeped through her curtains on Christmas Eve morning, small fluffy snowflakes were drifting from the sky and making the garden look simply magical.
‘Oh, Em. I do love this place!’ she cried as a robin bobbed along her windowsill.
‘Let’s go and have breakfast. And then,’ smiled Bryony, ‘it’s Piggy pamper-time and the play!’
Emma’s jaw dropped. ‘Piggy. I’d forgotten. What if he doesn’t detangle?’
‘He will,’ nodded Bryony grabbing the spray. ‘Between this, and Alice’s expert braiding, he’ll look great!’
The girls got washed and dressed at breakneck speed. Quickly folding the scarf she’d now finished for Mum, Bryony hid it under her pillow. It was a little bit wonky and had eleven holes now. But Bryony did have some very pretty wrapping paper and, as well as writing the tons of love bit, she also planned to decorate the label!
The girls followed the dreamy smell of breakfast downstairs. Grandpa was in the kitchen cooking bacon and eggs. Bryony remembered he’d come over early to pick up some garlands Mum had made to decorate Cinderella’s sidecar.
‘Hi, Gramps!’ cried Bryony.
‘Hello, girls,’ he smiled back. ‘Right, who’s hungry, then?’
‘I am!’ called Josh, already at the table, and Bryony and Emma both nodded and went to join him.
As they sat down Mum came over with some apple juice.
‘Sleep well?’ she asked.
‘I did,’ nodded Emma.
‘Me too – eventually,’ Bryony said. ‘I was doing . . . something until quite late. But no asking!’
Breakfast was delicious. It was just what they needed to set them up for the day.
‘And can we have the same tomorrow?’ asked Josh. Grandpa would be spending Christmas Day with them.
Tomorrow! thought Bryony. It was Christmas Day tomorrow. She couldn’t wait!
‘Of course you can, Josh.’ Grandpa grinned. His bacon and eggs with all the trimmings was becoming a Christmas tradition. Bryony liked that. Making traditions. Like they used to have back in the city. They were different ones here. But that was okay. She was learning that ‘different’, like a new pony, just needed time to settle in.
Tomorrow after breakfast, Bryony would insist they opened their stockings by the fire. Then right after that she’d pop along to Seaview to wish Red a happy Christmas too. When she got back, they’d exchange family presents and soon there’d be wrapping paper everywhere! Josh would most likely plant a gift bow on Berry’s head because some things never change. The cat would swipe it off and grumpily march away to strop under the Christmas tree!
Bryony smiled. Making memories really helped her feel part of Brook Dale. But she felt her smile start to fade as she thought of the Coopers again. How out of place they must feel here now. And they couldn’t even leave . . .
For them, and kind old Mr Thimblefold, Christmas would dawn under a cloud of worry as heavy as the snow clouds above town. Unless, thought Bryony, she could solve the case. Solve the case and prove them innocent!
But how? Now that Christmas Eve was here, she was fighting a battle against time. Between ponies, plays, Friendship Jars and carol singing – when would there be time for hunting out more clues? Or mulling over the few they already had? She had to keep thinking!
After breakfast the girls needed to go and see Red and Piggy. They were gathering their things when they were stopped in their tracks by a hurried knock at the door.
Bryony opened it.
‘Hi, Bry!’ whispered Finn. ‘I’ve got news!’ Bryony quickly invited him in. Mum and Grandpa were busy in the lounge so the children had the kitchen to themselves.
‘What is it?’ asked Josh.
‘You okay?’ Emma asked.
‘Yeah,’ replied Finn. ‘It’s about the case.’
Bryony gasped, ‘You found something out?’ and Finn nodded.
‘Remember on Mr Brook’s notepad,’ he said, ‘you saw the word LAPADA?’
‘Yes!’
‘So, LAPADA,’ went on Finn, ‘actually stands for London And Provincial Antique Dealers’ Association. Bry, Cuthbert and Fig – the names you saw on the box – they’re antique dealers! They polish and restore things made from silver too.’
‘Hey, Finn, how come you know this?’ asked Josh. He looked really impressed.
‘I told my dad what we’d already found out,’ said Finn, ‘and we did a bit of searching on his laptop last night.’
‘Hang on!’ said Bryony. ‘Cuthbert and Fig polish and restore things, you said?’
Finn
grinned. ‘The penny’s just dropped, hasn’t it?’
‘Yes!’ cried Bryony.
‘Not for me . . .’ frowned Josh, and Emma also looked blank.
‘Those other letters on Mr Brook’s notepad!’ replied Bryony. ‘P and R – they stand for Polish and Restore!’
‘Restore?’ asked Emma.
‘It means repair,’ answered Bryony.
‘It sure does!’ said Finn. ‘Cuthbert and Fig have a shop on Pudding Lane. Me and Dad street-viewed it on the laptop. Really swish!’
‘Finn, you’re a genius!’ Bryony beamed. ‘Listen, me and Em have to go now but we’ll pick this up again as soon as we can.’
‘Okay!’ nodded Finn. ‘I’ll go fill in the others.’
‘Good plan!
Finn left, and as Bryony gathered up her riding things, her brain was working nineteen-to-the-dozen. At last they were starting to get somewhere with the case. But still her thoughts were in a bit of a jumble.
As the silver was now being cleaned – or restored – could this be some sort of clue? She couldn’t see how. But maybe she just needed more time . . .
Then there were those passers-by Mr Thimblefold had glimpsed just moments after the silver had been dumped in his shop. The lady with the brown furry headband. The man with the beanie hat and ginger hair. And those penguins! Suspects? Or just random people on their way home?
‘Come on, Em,’ said Bryony. She’d let her brain mull all this over as the day unfolded.
‘Ready!’ smiled Emma, zipping up her coat.
‘Oh, wait!’ said Mum, reappearing with Grandpa. ‘Take these too.’ She took two brown paper bags from the fridge and gave the girls one each.
‘Sandwiches, in case you don’t make it back for lunch,’ Mum said.
They thanked her and decided to take their costumes for the play too. Bryony also got her Friendship Jars. These had to be left in a classroom in school to be collected by the postman after the play. Emma’s dad was going to drop hers off.
The girls headed out. It was a beautiful morning! The sun was shining through the snowflakes and everything was twinkly and bright.
Snowflakes, Silver and Secrets Page 11