by Judy Stubley
‘We both know what you implied, Anna, and I will not stand for it.’ Lucy had never felt so furious. ‘You lay one finger on my sister and I’ll break your head in,’ she flung at Anna, who returned her look with one of disdain.
‘You and who else’s army?’
At that point a gentle voice broke through their angry words.
‘Hi, Lucy darling. Have you brought a friend home for tea?’
As Lucy heard her mother’s voice she realised her anger had gone too far. Her mum came up and put her arms round her and gave her a huge hug.
‘Hallo!’ she said as she turned to a suddenly uncomfortable Anna. ‘I’m Lucy’s mum and you are?’
‘Anna Ibsen, Mrs. Chase,’ was the subdued reply.
‘Lucy was right about you then, Anna,’ Jo Chase said with a smile. Anna immediately looked cornered. ‘She said you were beautiful and you are.’
Lucy looked at Anna, as her mother spoke and noticed the surprise and then the look of pleasure that briefly crossed the other girl’s face. It was then Lucy remembered how she thought Anna must have a reason for her behaviour and she felt ashamed of her own angry outburst. It was as if she’d learnt nothing during her travels in Storyland.
‘Is it alright for Anna to come to tea, Mum?’ Lucy turned to Jo Chase.
‘Of course, dear.’ Mrs. Chase then turned to the completely confused Anna and asked:
‘Will that be OK with your parents?’ When Anna couldn’t answer she went on, ‘We’ll ring them when we get home and ask shall we?’ And then Jo Chase put an arm round the shoulders of each girl, as she walked them back to the house.
Lucy noticed how uncertain Anna became when she rang home.
‘My mother would like to speak to you, Mrs Chase,’ she said, a worried look on her face. Jo Chase took the phone off her and listened for a moment before she said:
‘Of course she’ll be no trouble, Mrs. Ibsen. We’re delighted to have her. My husband will drop her home after tea.’
Jo Chase got the two girls to help her prepare tea and lay the table and then asked them to go next door and collect Sophie. The two girls walked there in silence, but as soon as Sophie joined them, her non-stop chatter, her immediate and cheerful acceptance of Anna as a friend and ally melted the atmosphere.
Tea time at the Chase house was a noisy fun-filled occasion. Jo Chase always wanted to know how her daughters had got on at school and was particularly keen to know how Lucy’s exams went. In between the news, the family shared jokes and silly stories and all three included Anna as much as possible, though both Lucy and her mum noticed this friendly welcome brought unshed tears to Anna’s eyes.
After tea, Sophie got the two older girls to play a game with her and soon even Anna was laughing and enjoying herself. They were still sprawled over the lounge floor playing ‘Operations’ when Roger Chase came home.
‘You must come again, Anna,’ Jo Chase said, as she said goodbye. Sophie rushed up and gave the older girl a big hug. Again, Lucy saw Anna’s beautiful eyes fill with tears.
‘I’ll come too, Dad,’ she said and got in the car.
Though Lucy and her dad chattered away, Anna became very quiet, only answering questions with the briefest of replies.
‘No need for you to get out of the car,’ she said, with a nervous look at her front door.
‘I must see you safely home, young lady.’ Roger Chase smiled at her.
‘You needn’t get out Lucy,’ Anna almost pleaded.
‘Nonsense!’ and Lucy ran up the path and turned and waited as Anna came slowly behind her.
Mr. Chase rang the door bell and all three waited. After what seemed several minutes a very beautiful woman came to the door. ‘Beautiful but cold,’ Lucy thought. ‘My mum would have rushed to the door, hair in her eyes, flour in her hair and a smile that lit up a room.’ Mrs Ibsen was immaculate, she was elegant, but there was not a spark of friendliness or warmth in her expression, as she shook Roger Chase’s hand.
‘Thank you Mr. Chase,’ she said politely, and then she turned to Anna and without any greeting or show of affection said: ‘Your father wants to see you in his study. Immediately.’ Her voice grew impatient.
Lucy had seen enough. She’d seen the sudden look of concern cross Anna’s face and felt sorry for her erstwhile tormenter.
Anna thanked Mr. Chase and Lucy and turned to go and see her father. Lucy noticed how her whole body stiffened, as if she was nervous. When Anna got to the study door she paused and knocked.
‘Come.’
Lucy could hear that from the front door. The voice was strong, deep and foreign. Instinctively, she ran after Anna and walked in behind her, much to the other girl’s concern.
Mr. Ibsen was a big bear of a man. He sat at an enormous mahogany desk overflowing with books, papers and files. He didn’t look up as his daughter came in.
‘Have you done your French revision?’ he asked. His accent reminded Lucy of Baba Yaga.
‘Yes Father. I did it in the lunch break,’ Anna replied, as she tried to push Lucy behind her. But Lucy was having none of it. There was no doubt; Anna was scared of her father. True, he looked fierce, but nothing compared to some of the story book people Lucy had met recently. She pushed past Anna and went right up to his desk.
‘How do you do, Mr. Ibsen. I’m Lucy Chase – I’m in Anna’s class.’ Surprised, Anna’s father looked up and stared intently at Lucy.
‘Pleased to meet you, Lucy Chase. And have you done your French revision?’ Lucy liked the way he rolled his rs. She looked right into his eyes and smiled.
‘Oh yes! But I’ll need to do some more before I go to bed. I’m not a natural with languages, like Anna. She’s streets ahead of all of us.’
Mr. Ibsen smiled when he heard that.
‘Really! Zat’s nice to know, young lady. And vat are you good at Miss Chase?’
‘I’m OK with Maths. Anna and I are about on a par there and History is one of my better subjects, but I’m useless at sports. I wish I was as good at netball and hockey as your daughter.’ By the time Lucy had finished speaking Mr. Ibsen was beaming and Anna was open mouthed in amazement.
‘I’d better go, Mr. Ibsen. Dad’s outside waiting to take me home.’ At that Mr. Ibsen got up and held out his giant hand to Lucy.
‘Nice to meet you, Lucy. You must come again. Now, let’s go find your father.’
As the two men stood in the hall and chatted, Anna pulled Lucy into the porch.
‘I don’t know what to say, except thank you, Lucy. I’ve never known my father be so friendly.’
‘It’s obvious he loves you, Anna: he’s just a bit brusque, but I can see he loves you a lot. Just don’t be scared of him. I expect he finds that difficult to deal with.’
‘I think he’s worried I’m going to be cold and distant like my mother,’ Anna said sadly. ‘I didn’t know how loving mothers could be, until I met yours. Please accept my apologies for my behaviour. I’ve been unforgivable.’
‘Apology accepted. Now let’s change the subject. Would you like this?’ Lucy handed Anna her final four-leaf clover.
‘You’d give that to me? Why?’
‘Please accept it. I think you need some good luck in your life.’
‘Thank you, Lucy.’ Anna took the gift and stared at it, a smile lighting her face. ‘I’ve always wanted one of these. Where did you find it?’
‘I didn’t. An Irish friend brought me some from Ireland, when he came over for a holiday.’
‘A boyfriend?’ Anna said with a little giggle. Lucy giggled even more as she thought of Thomas Murphy.
‘No – an old friend and I mean old!’ At that moment Mr. Ibsen and Mr. Chase came out. Mr. Chase put his arm round his daughter and told her to say goodbye. To Anna’s joy, her father also came and put his arms round her, as they waved cheerio to the departing car.
Lucy settled into the car seat and smiled. She knew she would never be bullied by Anna again and they might one day become friends.
‘How do you know that?’ Lucy sat bolt upright in surprise.
‘Your mum heard you tearing into her and put two and two together. You’ve got a wise mum.’ Roger Chase laughed. ‘She felt sure if you two spent some time together you’d sort it out.’
‘And she was right,’ Lucy smiled. ‘Clever Mum. Dad,’ Lucy suddenly looked sad, ‘I’m lucky. I’ve got you, Mum and Sophie – you all love me. Anna is an only child and her mother seems to only love herself, while her father expects too much from her.’
‘I agree her mother is a rather cold fish, but I think her dad’s heart’s in the right place.’
‘I love you Dad.’
‘I love you too Lucy, and Mum and I are so proud of you. You were right in thinking Anna had a good reason to be a bully. I understand why you wanted to work it out for yourself, but that’s not the best way for everyone.’
‘I know that, Dad,’ Lucy replied, as she thought of Frances and the dreadful time she’d gone through. ‘But I was so sure Anna wasn’t normally a bully, if you know what I mean.’
‘I know what you mean, sweetheart.’
***
That night, after everyone had gone to bed, Lucy felt her mobile vibrate under her pillow. The message ran: ‘Come to the bottom of your garden. Love Twinkle.’
Lucy crept out of bed and took her blue cloak from its hiding place. She tiptoed quietly downstairs and out of the back door. By the time she was half way there she found she could slip the cloak over her shoulders and, as she did so, her nightdress disappeared and she saw she was, once again, wearing her blue dress with the white apron.
As Lucy reached her father’s shed, which was on the edge of their garden, she saw string after string of fairy lights and a beautiful bonfire blazing, where her dad used to burn the garden rubbish. Then, as she came round the last bend, she saw Twinkle and Speed and realised the fairy lights were just that: Twinkle’s little helpers were holding hands and creating a wonderful grotto effect around the fire.
Twinkle and Speed came quickly up to Lucy and greeted her with affection. Twinkle gave her a kiss while Speed whinnied and put his nose into her neck.
‘What a wonderful surprise! What’s going on Twinkle?’
‘It’s a party to celebrate your first successful story travels, Lucy. Come and meet some old friends.’
Twinkle led Lucy into a circle of little helpers and there sitting on Mr. Chase’s garden bench were Cinderella and Prince Charming. Cinderella got up and ran to hug Lucy and made her sit between them. Both girls were thrilled to see each other again. Then into the fire light stepped Ash with his wife Princess Bernadette, whom he introduced to Lucy with great pride and a royal flush on his honest face. Finally, and to Lucy’s surprise and joy, in leapt Thomas Murphy.
Lucy had shaken hands with Ash and his Princess, aware of their Royal status, but she just threw her arms round Thomas and gave him a great big kiss on the top of his head, after carefully removing his hat, which she then returned. The little man turned quite purple and his hat went into a rapid spin, which made everyone laugh and helped break the ice.
‘Vasilisa, Baba Yaga, Yeh-Shen and the Wise One, could not make it because of the distance, but they send you their best wishes,’ Twinkle told Lucy. ‘Now let’s get on with the picnic.’ Twinkle’s little helpers flew about feeding everyone with delicious food, which ended up with light and succulent fairy cakes.
They had just finished this wonderful meal when a huge wind blew up and the ground began to shake. Moments later into the circle strode Manannan Mac Lir with Max tucked into his pocket. Lucy and Speed rushed over to welcome the late comers and so the party continued until the dawn began to rise and it was time for Lucy to say goodbye.
Eventually there was only Twinkle and Speed left (and of course Twinkle’s little helpers). Lucy put her arms round Speed’s neck.
‘Goodbye for now, Speed.’
‘Au revoir, Lucy my pet,’ Speed snorted. ‘You do well in that exam tomorrow.’
‘I will.’ Then Lucy turned to Twinkle. ‘Thank you, Twinkle. That was a lovely surprise.’
‘You deserved it, Lucy. You’ve done well.’
‘I’ve had a wonderful time. I’ve met so many amazing characters and seen so many amazing places. I only wish I could tell the world about them.’
‘But you can, Lucy,’ Twinkle said with a smile.
‘But how? You told me rule number one…’
‘I said you must tell no one you’re a story traveller. I didn’t say you couldn’t tell stories.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Every story traveller that ever was has felt the same. So they’ve become story tellers. We never said you couldn’t tell your story, just not that you are a story traveller.’
‘Oh Twinkle, thank you, thank you.’ Lucy threw her arms round the fairy. ‘I do love you.’
‘And I love you too, Sugarplum,’ Twinkle said. ‘Now off you go, back home.’ So Lucy made her way back to bed and slept though a dawn of magical dreams.
The next morning on their way to school Lucy turned to Sophie and told her:
‘I’ve got a new story to tell you to-night.’
‘Oh good! What’s it about?’
‘Wait and see. But I can tell you it starts like this: ‘Halloo…Halloo… Sophie stirred a little and tried to pull up her duvet.’
Notes
1 stuck up
2 mischief makers
3 very annoying
4 Gosh, really
5 Hurry
6 Goodbye
7 idiot
8 controlling
9 yes
10 no