Clementine Rose and the Birthday Emergency

by Jacqueline Harvey

  Aunt Violet appeared holding another cup of tea and balancing a plate of sandwiches. ‘Has she woken up at all?’ the woman asked. She placed the sandwiches on the tray at the end of Clementine’s bed.

  ‘Just for a few seconds and then she drifted back to sleep,’ Clarissa answered.

  ‘Well, what are we going to do about her party?’ Aunt Violet said.

  Clarissa sighed. ‘I guess we’ll just have to postpone it until she’s better.’

  ‘We can’t do that. She’s been so excited,’ Aunt Violet said, shaking her head.

  ‘I suspect Clemmie will still be in hospital on Sunday, and I’m afraid we have a wedding at the house next weekend and that huge family reunion the weekend after,’ Clarissa explained. ‘I can’t cancel either of those. I’m sure Clemmie will understand.’

  Aunt Violet pursed her lips. ‘I suppose you can’t cancel them, but if I was turning six I doubt I’d understand.’

  Clementine yawned. ‘Hello,’ she said, opening her eyes.

  ‘Oh, Clementine, are you feeling all right?’ Aunt Violet rushed to the child’s side and kissed her forehead.

  Clementine nodded. ‘What’s that in my arm?’ she asked. A tube was poking out of it, which was connected to a bag of liquid hanging on the tall stand beside the bed.

  ‘It’s a drip, darling. It’s so that you can get all the fluid and medicine you need,’ Lady Clarissa explained.

  ‘Like Lavender,’ Clementine said.

  Lady Clarissa nodded. ‘It won’t be there for too long, sweetheart.’

  Dr Everingham appeared at the door and smiled. ‘Good evening, sleepyhead. How are you feeling?’

  ‘My tummy doesn’t hurt anymore,’ Clementine said.

  ‘That’s good news.’ The man looked at the chart at the end of the bed, then checked Clementine’s pulse and took her temperature.

  ‘Can I go home now?’ Clementine asked.

  ‘I’m afraid that you’re going to have to stay here for a couple of days, Clemmie. You can probably go home on Monday morning.’

  Clementine remained silent for a while as her eyes filled with tears. ‘Monday … but that’s too late,’ she whispered.

  ‘For what?’ Dr Everingham asked.

  Clementine’s lip trembled. ‘My party.’

  Uncle Digby felt a heavy pang in his chest and for a moment wondered if he was having another turn. Aunt Violet sniffed loudly.

  ‘I feel much better now, and everything’s ready and everyone in my class is coming and Will and Drew said they’d come too,’ Clementine said to the doctor.

  The man smiled gently. ‘We need to keep an eye on you and make sure there’s no infection. Perhaps you can have your party next week.’

  Clementine shook her head. She knew there was no way her mother could fit a party in with all the other work she had to do. She swallowed hard and tried to stop the tears.

  ‘It’s all right, sweetheart,’ Lady Clarissa said. ‘We can have our own special celebration right here with just the four of us.’

  Aunt Violet huffed in the background. ‘Stupid appendicitis,’ she mumbled.

  ‘What did you say, Aunt Violet?’ Lady Clarissa asked.

  ‘Never mind,’ the woman muttered. ‘Leave it to me, Clarissa. I’ll let everyone know.’

  She gave Clementine a peck on the cheek, then turned on her heel and headed out the door.

  ‘What’s got into her?’ Uncle Digby said.

  Lady Clarissa shook her head. ‘Who knows?’

  ‘I’ll come and see you again tomorrow, Clementine,’ Dr Everingham said. ‘You’re welcome to stay overnight, Clarissa. I’ll ask Matron to make you up a bed in the next room. The hospital’s very quiet at the moment.’

  ‘Why don’t I go home and get you some things?’ Uncle Digby suggested.

  ‘That sounds perfect,’ Clarissa replied. ‘Could you bring some of Clemmie’s books? A story would be nice. Wouldn’t it, darling?’

  Clementine gave a little nod, brushing the tears away angrily. ‘Stupid appendicitis,’ she muttered.

  Lady Clarissa had just dozed off when she woke with a start. ‘What’s that, Clemmie? Are you all right?’

  ‘I’m thirsty,’ Clementine replied, ‘and starving.’

  Lady Clarissa leapt from her chair and quickly poured her daughter some water.

  Clementine smiled. ‘Be careful, Mummy. You’ll get the dizzies.’

  Clarissa helped Clementine to sit up and handed her the cup.

  A man wearing what looked like a shower cap poked his head around the door. ‘Good morning,’ he said cheerfully. ‘Would our patient like something to eat?’

  Clementine nodded. ‘Yes, please.’

  The man walked in with a tray. On it was a small box of cereal and a jug of milk, two pieces of white toast and a dish of butter and jam.

  ‘Would you like a cup of tea, Lady Clarissa?’ the man asked.

  ‘That would be lovely. Thank you, Ernie,’ Clarissa said with a smile. She poured the cereal and milk into the bowl and placed it in front of Clementine, who dug in and ate a large spoonful.

  ‘I’m full,’ the child declared after swallowing the bite. ‘You should have the toast, Mummy. I don’t feel like it. My tummy hurts but it’s different to before.’

  ‘Don’t worry, sweetheart. I’ll see if the nurse can give you something to help it settle down,’ her mother replied.

  ‘Good morning.’ An older woman in a nurse’s uniform walked into the room. Clementine had met her the day before and knew her as Sister Vivien. ‘How’s our patient today?’

  Clementine looked up at the woman’s kindly blue eyes. ‘My tummy feels funny, like someone is playing the drum on the inside where my ’pendix was,’ she explained.

  ‘Aha.’ Sister Vivien nodded. ‘That’s because you’re getting better. It means that the blood is flowing all around there, but sometimes that causes discomfort. I’ll get you something for the pain and I can take that drip out now too.’

  ‘Will it hurt?’ Clementine asked. She looked at the tube, remembering that there must be a little needle under her skin.

  ‘It might be uncomfortable for just a minute, but it will feel a lot better afterwards,’ the woman said. The nurse looked at Clarissa. ‘Did you get any sleep last night, dear?

  ‘No, not much, but I’m fine,’ Lady Clarissa smiled.

  Sister Vivien was right. Uncle Digby and Aunt Violet arrived a little while later to find Clementine feeling much better. They both kissed her good morning and Aunt Violet asked Clementine lots of questions about how she was feeling before heading off again, saying that she had lots of work to do and promising she’d be back later.

  ‘Do you think anyone will come and visit me today?’ Clementine asked Uncle Digby.

  The man shook his head. ‘I’m afraid that Aunt Violet has put everyone off. She said that she wants you to have time to rest, so it looks like it’s going to be a quiet day, Clemmie.’

  Clementine’s face fell.

  ‘I think that’s probably a good idea, sweetheart,’ her mother said. ‘You need to get your strength back.’

  ‘What for?’ Clementine thought about her birthday party. ‘Can Lavender come and visit?’ she asked, perking up at the thought.

  Lady Clarissa shook her head. ‘I don’t think the hospital would approve of having a pig in the ward,’ she said. ‘But I’m sure that she and Pharaoh will be looking after each other at home and missing you like crazy.’

  ‘I hate my birthday week,’ Clemmie said. ‘First Lavender was sick, then me, and now my party is kapoops.’

  ‘I think you mean “kaput”, Clementine,’ Uncle Digby said.

  ‘I think kapoops is better,’ Clementine said stubbornly.

  Uncle Digby sighed. ‘I think you’re probably right, Clemmie.’

  ‘We’ll still have your party, darling,’ Lady Clarissa said. ‘It will just have to be a little bit late, that’s all.’

  ‘It’s not the same,’ Clementine insiste
d. ‘This was my first proper big-girl party and it was supposed to be on my real birthday.’

  ‘I know, but nobody knew that you were going to get sick.’ Clarissa tried her best to think of a way to cheer up her daughter.

  ‘We should just forget about pirates and princesses,’ Clementine said miserably. She lay back down on the bed. Even though her grumbly appendix was gone, she didn’t feel much better at all.

  Aunt Violet had been noticeably absent all afternoon, and when she finally showed up she was more mysterious than ever about what she’d been up to.

  ‘Have you been modelling again?’ Clementine asked. ‘They didn’t do your hair and make you all beautiful this time.’

  ‘No,’ the old woman said, ‘and I’m glad you think I’m looking so dreadful today.’

  ‘I didn’t say that,’ Clementine sniffed.

  ‘Those are pretty.’ Aunt Violet pointed at a huge arrangement of irises and a giant card that had arrived earlier.

  ‘They’re from school,’ Clementine said.

  ‘All the children in Clemmie’s class wrote lovely messages in the card too,’ Lady Clarissa added.

  ‘And the teachers,’ Clementine said.

  ‘How sweet,’ Aunt Violet replied. ‘Now, why don’t I read you a story while your mother runs some errands?’

  ‘Thank you, Aunt Violet. I won’t be long,’ Clarissa promised as she gathered up her handbag. She planted a kiss on Clementine’s forehead and hurried out the door.

  ‘My book’s just there,’ Clementine said, pointing to the side table.

  ‘I don’t fancy that one,’ Aunt Violet said. ‘It’s not my sort of thing with all those bottom jokes. What about this one?’ The old woman reached into her handbag and retrieved a hardcover book. It looked a bit tatty and was missing its jacket.

  ‘What is it?’ Clementine asked.

  ‘I found it in the library at home this morning. It was one of my favourites as a girl.’ Violet Appleby settled herself in beside Clementine, who snuggled into her great-aunt and waited for her to begin. Aunt Violet opened the front cover. ‘A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett.’

  ‘I don’t want a princess story.’ Clementine turned away to face the other wall.

  ‘But this is rather lovely,’ Aunt Violet insisted, and began to read it aloud. ‘She was such a little girl that one did not expect to see such a look on her small face. It would have been an old look for a child of twelve, and Sara Crewe was only seven. The fact was, however, that she was always dreaming and thinking odd things and could not herself remember any time when she had not been thinking things about grown-up people and the world they belonged to. She felt as if she had lived a long, long time.’

  Clementine closed her eyes, but after a couple of pages, she rolled back to face her great-aunt. ‘What happens to her, Aunt Violet?’ she whispered.

  On Sunday morning Clementine awoke to the sound of the tea trolley rattling down the hallway. She looked at the empty chair beside her bed and was just wondering where her mother was when Lady Clarissa appeared in the doorway.

  ‘Hello, darling,’ the woman said, gliding into the room. ‘Did you sleep well?’

  Clementine nodded. ‘I was dreaming about the book Aunt Violet was reading to me yesterday. I can’t wait to find out what happens to Sara Crewe at Miss Minchin’s. What are you holding, Mummy?’

  Lady Clarissa produced a small parcel from behind her back. It was beautifully wrapped in pink paper and tied up with an aqua ribbon. ‘Happy birthday, Clemmie,’ she said, and leaned down to kiss the top of her daughter’s head. ‘I know this is not the way we planned to spend your special day, but we will make it up to you, I promise.’

  Clementine sat up in her bed. She smiled as she tugged at the ribbon, then carefully picked at the sticky tape one piece at a time until the wrapping paper fell away to reveal a little red box.

  ‘It’s something that belonged to my mother a long time ago,’ Lady Clarissa said. ‘She gave it to me when I was your age, and I thought you should have it now that you’re a big girl.’

  The box was the deepest of reds with a curved top and a tiny latch, which Clementine flicked open. She pushed back the lid and gazed at the gold signet ring nestled inside the silk lining. ‘It’s beautiful,’ she breathed.

  Lady Clarissa nodded. ‘Try it on.’

  Clementine took the ring and slipped it onto her right ring finger. ‘It’s perfect,’ she gasped, before hugging her mother tightly. ‘Thank you so much, Mummy.’

  Her mother smiled and hugged her back. ‘I’m so glad you love it. I always have. Happy birthday, darling.’

  An hour later Clementine was up and dressed and engaged in a vigorous game of Snap with her mother when Uncle Digby arrived. He hid behind a huge bunch of pink gerberas and began to sing ‘Happy Birthday to You’.

  Clementine giggled with delight. ‘Stop singing, Uncle Digby, or you’ll wake up everyone in the hospital.’

  He poked his head around the flowers and winked at Clemmie. Then he walked to the bed and gave the child a big hug.

  ‘They’re so pretty,’ Clementine said. She strained to look past the man. ‘Where’s Aunt Violet?’ she asked.

  ‘I’m not sure, dear,’ Uncle Digby replied. ‘She raced off without a word this morning. It was all very mysterious.’

  At that moment Sister Vivien appeared at the door with a wheelchair. ‘I thought you might like to go for a walk around the garden on this fine day,’ the woman said with a smile.

  ‘That’s a marvellous idea,’ Lady Clarissa agreed.

  Uncle Digby clapped his hands. ‘Indeed. It’s a beautiful day out there.’

  Sister Vivien picked up a parcel that was sitting on the seat of the wheelchair and took it over to Clementine. ‘Mrs Mogg popped in and left this for you. She said she was sorry she couldn’t stay, but there was a problem at the shop and she needed to get back.’

  ‘Oh dear, I hope everything’s all right,’ Lady Clarissa said with a frown. ‘It’s very kind of Mrs Mogg, isn’t it, Clemmie?’

  Clementine nodded. She picked at the sticky tape and pulled the spotted paper open, revealing the most beautiful pink dress, a sparkling tiara and matching silver slippers.

  ‘Mummy, it’s my princess dress,’ Clementine said. ‘Isn’t it lovely? I wish I could have worn it to my party.’

  Lady Clarissa held up the gown.

  ‘Why don’t you put it on anyway, Clementine?’ Sister Vivien suggested. ‘If you can’t be a princess on your birthday, when can you?’

  Clementine glanced expectantly at her mother, who nodded. She scrambled off the bed to get changed and was soon looking fit for the royal palace. Clementine climbed into the chair and Sister Vivien wheeled her into the quiet hallway.

  ‘I wonder where Aunt Violet is,’ Lady Clarissa whispered to Uncle Digby. ‘Surely she wouldn’t miss Clemmie’s birthday.’

  ‘I was just thinking the same thing,’ he replied with a nod.

  The pair followed Sister Vivien and Clementine down the corridor and through a door that led into the garden. Sister Vivien pushed the chair down a long path, towards a white building at the end.

  ‘The hospital has the most wonderful summer house,’ the woman said. ‘It’s lovely to sit out here, Clementine. It will be a bit warmer than the garden. I hadn’t realised there was a bit of a breeze.’

  Uncle Digby frowned. He couldn’t even feel a breath of wind.

  Clementine considered the dark building. Although the walls were made of glass, the shutters were closed and Clemmie didn’t think it looked very summery.

  ‘I’d rather stay in the garden,’ the child said softly.

  Lady Clarissa and Uncle Digby exchanged quizzical glances. They would too.

  Sister Vivien pushed on, right up to the front door, which Uncle Digby opened. The place was swathed in darkness.

  ‘Goodness me, it’s terribly gloomy in here,’ the nurse tutted. ‘These shutters should be open. I just need to find the swi
tch. I think it’s right … here.’

  All of a sudden the lights flickered on and the entire place erupted. ‘SURPRISE!’

  Clementine recoiled in her chair, and her mother and Uncle Digby almost went through the roof in shock. The child’s eyes widened as she took in the scene before her. Glittered bunting crisscrossed the ceiling, which was filled with balloons, and her princess posters and Uncle Digby’s Pin the Eye Patch on the Pirate adorned the walls. Best of all, every single one of Clementine’s friends was there, calling and shouting and wishing her the best birthday ever.

  Clementine turned and looked at Lady Clarissa. ‘Mummy, you’re so tricky.’

  The woman shook her head. ‘I’m afraid it wasn’t me, darling.’

  Clementine turned to Uncle Digby, but the man held up his hands. ‘Don’t look at me, Clemmie. I had nothing to do with it.’

  ‘Then who?’ Clementine scanned the room.

  She saw Mrs Mogg and Father Bob, and there was Ana and Pierre and Odette and Tilda and Teddy, Mintie, Poppy, Sophie, Angus and all her friends from school.

  ‘Mummy, look at Lavender!’ Clementine exclaimed when she spotted the little pig dressed as a pirate and cradled in Basil’s arms.

  ‘Drew! Will!’ Clementine gasped when she realised it was them. Will was dressed up as a pirate, with a parrot on his shoulder and an eye patch too. His father had on a black beard and a wooden leg. The pair grinned and waved at Clementine.

  The noise died down and all eyes turned to the birthday girl. The crowd parted and there, standing to one side of the room, was a beautiful princess in a floor-length navy gown and a sparkly tiara atop her head.

  ‘Who’s that?’ Clementine gasped. She looked closer and suddenly realised exactly who it was. ‘Aunt Violet!’ Clementine pushed herself out of the chair and rushed to the woman, throwing her arms around her waist. ‘You got dressed up and you said you wouldn’t.’

  Violet Appleby, her cheeks aglow. ‘Actually, it was quite good fun trying on some of my old gowns.’

  ‘Did you do all this?’ Clementine stared up at her great-aunt, her eyes like pools of blue ink.