The True Colours of Coral Glen

by Juliette Forrest

  The moths scattered and the wrecker bird vanished through the ceiling, leaving behind a falling trail of every-colour-under-the-sun glitter.

  Lyart knelt next to me, water dripping from him.

  The ice must have melted when Muckle Red was destroyed!

  My hand grabbed his arm. “It’s Moonzy. There was nothing I could do.”

  His Secret Garden Ivy eyes clouded and his head swivelled to see where she was lying. To both of our astonishment, Moonzy’s fingers twitched.

  Lyart helped me to my feet and, together, we hurried to her side. She opened her eyes. “I remembered The Mythical Birds of the World book, Coral. The wrecker bird shows up to bring comfort to those in grief. I knew if you thought I was no longer alive, you’d be distraught, and that the bird would do everything to get out, so it could make you feel better. It’s because of your tears that it left the coffin and broke the spell, Coral.”

  I stared at her in wonder. Moonzy was about the smartest person I’d ever known. “You gave me a terrible scare. Please, never do that again.” I hugged her tight, even though it made her wince.

  Lyart checked his pocket watch. “Coral, we only have a couple of minutes left before midnight.”

  “Go, while there is still time.” Moonzy smiled at me.

  Lyart snatched my hand and the cavern whirled around us. I screamed as my body was shaken to its core.

  CHAPTER

  17

  Above me, the shapes of trees were outlined by the stars, arranged in intricate patterns. The air was clear and sweet; I gulped it in, not sure if I was asleep or awake.

  “Coral?” Lyart pulled me to my feet and saw the quizzical expression on my face. “You’ve just experienced speed-of-light travel, courtesy of the fact I’m a ghost,” he explained as he broke into a sprint. “We don’t have a zeptosecond to lose!”

  We ran between trees so tall, planets spun on the tips of them.

  I wasn’t sure if I was imagining it, but I thought I spied Dusky Parakeet sparkles every time I moved. “Where are we?”

  “The bridge between earth and heaven.” Lyart gazed at the horizon beyond the trees, which stretched out in the longest line I’d ever seen.

  “I thought you couldn’t leave the graveyard?”

  “I can’t – this place is connected to it. Come on!”

  We slipped down a bank, soft Buttered Corn sand cushioning our feet. At the bottom, we crouched behind some dune grass, dewdrops hanging from its blades like Christmas baubles.

  A Deep Secret ocean sighed in front of us, its foam-tipped waves whispering on to the sand, teasing the land with its presence, before rushing away again.

  The Hallow moon hung low, the last of its rays touching the figures gathered on the shore. One by one, they waded into the sea, Golden Nectar beams strobing out from their bodies until they became small globes filled with the light of a thousand moons. Set loose from the bonds of the earth, they flickered and rose playfully, the same way as sparks do from a fire, until they joined the stars, where it was hard to tell one from the other.

  “I’m too late!” I held my breath, scanning the shore until finally I spotted her, wading into the water. Every emotion of hurt, guilt, rage, pain, loss and bewilderment I’d felt since Gran had left us returned, making my heart squeeze and flutter, and my limbs heavy.

  “Her crossing has started,” said Lyart.

  “Oh, Lyart. No, no, no…” Tears clouded my eyes as I sprang up. I wiped them away frantically, never wanting to lose sight of her again. I tore across the tide-flattened sand, weaving my way between the other souls.

  I called her name as I reached the waves. Long flashes of Golden Nectar light flared out from Gran’s body. I waded through the water towards her, a heartbeat away from telling her how sorry I was for what had happened and how much I loved her. As I stretched out my arms, she became a ball of light and danced around in the air, just beyond the reach of my fingertips. She climbed up, illuminating the whole sky Stardust Highway. I caught the scent of geranium and rose on the wind. My tears blinded me as I lost her to the heavens.

  The sweet breath of the sea was replaced by the scent of chilled stone, damp leaves and freshly dug earth.

  My eyes burned and my throat hurt. “Why did you bring me back to Halloway?”

  “That place is not for those who still have their lives to live here,” he answered.

  I pressed the palms of my hands into my eyes. I could no longer hold everything in. “I left her all alone, Lyart. She’d asked me to tidy my room and I sneaked out to meet a friend.” I dropped my hands to my sides. “If I’d stayed at home, none of this would have happened. I would have known she wasn’t well and saved her, and she wouldn’t be a trillion miles away.” I glared up at the Wrought Iron sky, the anger in my eyes flashing brighter than the stars. “She always put me first and the one time she needed me, I wasn’t even there. What if she had been calling me for help? Or if it was me going off without saying a word that made her ill in the first place? How can I live the rest of my life with this going round and round in my head, every second of every day?” My voice cracked like a dropped mirror. “She must have been so disappointed in me for what I did. I know I am.”

  “There’s something I want to show you, Coral.” Lyart rolled up his sleeves.

  I stood, trembling and raw, as if the top layer of my skin had been peeled away, exposing all my nerve endings.

  Raising my eyes, I noticed a crowd of children had gathered beside Gran’s grave.

  I stepped away in fright.

  Lyart smiled. “It’s OK, Coral. They’re here because they want to thank you.”

  “Why?”

  “Their hearts were released to them when Muckle Red perished.” Lyart placed both hands on the top of Gran’s headstone.

  The children whispered and shuffled closer together, linking arms. A Deep Universe cloud formed above their heads. As it lit up, images flickered to life as though a film was being played.

  I could see a woman with Pain au Chocolat hair, in a hospital bed, holding a baby wrapped in a Cottage Rose blanket. A man was seated next to her. He picked up the baby and cradled it, kissing its head. The woman smiled and reached out to stroke the baby’s cheek.

  I blinked.

  It was Mum and Dad; not as they were now but when they were younger.

  Was the baby me?

  The image swirled and broke up as the cloud darkened. I was about to ask Lyart what this was, when the cloud illuminated once again. This time, I saw the sun dancing on water in flares and sparkles. A girl was standing at the end of a wooden jetty. I recognized my swimsuit with the Bashful Pink flamingos on it. I leapt off the pier into the loch. Seconds later, my head broke through the surface and I pulled off my goggles as I whooped and splashed around.

  It was me at Loch Tay!

  I smiled at seeing myself so happy and carefree.

  Lyart’s eyes were closed in concentration.

  What was this?

  I appeared in the mist again, this time sitting cross-legged under a sign that said: Please do not eat in the library. I had a large storybook balanced on my lap and Tatty the squirrel was tucked under my arm. I was busy jabbing my finger at the pictures, completely unaware I was being watched.

  The cloud above the earthbound filled with the familiar colours of Saltbay beach. My curls lifted in the wind and my cheeks were flushed Wild Morello Cherry. “I love you, Gran,” I mouthed, before running over the sand to chase a swallow, ice cream clutched in my hand.

  The mist burst into a kaleidoscope of reds, yellows, blues, greens and purples. Stained-glass windows emerged from the fog and the choir sang their hearts out. My eyes shone candlelight-bright as I beamed at Gran and snuggled into her.

  When the church faded, the clouds began to dissolve, vanishing into the sky.

  The children stepped away, melting into the trees in the background.

  Lyart let go of the headstone and straightened up.

  Tears strea
ked down my face, luminous with the radiance of stars.

  Moonzy hurried over to give me a hug. “Those were your gran’s last thoughts before she passed away.”

  Goosebumps rose on my arms, my skin alive with tingles.

  Lyart tugged his sleeves back down. “Coral, when loved ones leave us, their minds are never filled with pain, hate or fear, but with the things that brought them the greatest happiness in their lives.”

  My eyes welled up again; the graveyard rippled as though in a heatwave.

  “I swear, I’d do anything for someone to heart me that much,” said a familiar voice.

  “Skaw!” I sniffed, wiping my nose. “You’re OK!”

  The worm was perched on Moonzy’s shoulder, dabbing at his eyes. “These are no’ tears, by the way. The cold’s nipping them.”

  “Would you believe I found him inside Muckle Red’s coffin before I left?” said Moonzy. “It was Skaw who’d gnawed through the ropes around the wrecker bird, which meant it could escape. I thought that was pretty brave of him considering the bird almost ate him for dinner. Couldn’t leave him behind after that.”

  Skaw gazed adoringly at Moonzy.

  “I loved you as Tatty the squirrel – but it’s wonderful to finally see the real you!” I said to her.

  Moonzy laughed, flushing Piggy Bank.

  I faced Lyart. “I don’t know how I can ever thank you for showing me Gran’s memories.”

  “You’ve kept a world of children safe from Muckle Red – your thanks aren’t needed,” said Lyart.

  “You’ve got a gob on you and anger-management issues, but you’re one of the bravest lassies I’ve ever met,” piped up Skaw.

  Moonzy prodded him with her finger.

  “Make that two of the angriest, gobbiest, most courageous lassies I’ve ever met,” he said.

  Moonzy grinned. “I think you and me might just get along after all, Skaw.”

  The worm dropped his head as though he was thinking about how to word something that wasn’t going to be easy to say. “I’m so sorry I never believed you about Muckle Red.” He bit his lip. “Would it be OK if I stayed to help keep the graveyard safe? It’s the only way I can think of to make up for everything and besides, there’s nowhere else on the planet I’d rather be.”

  Lyart glanced from Moonzy to Skaw. “How would you two like to join me in becoming Keepers of Halloway? I think you’ve both proved yourselves more than worthy of the job.”

  Moonzy let out a squeal and leapt forward to hug Lyart.

  Skaw flattened himself against her neck to avoid being crushed, his Slate in the Rain eyes watering again. “Nothing would make me prouder.”

  The gate to the graveyard squeaked open; we stared at one another as footsteps raced up the path.

  “Coral!” shouted Dad.

  “Are you here?” Mum’s voice was thin with fear.

  Moonzy gasped. “You never made it home after Miss Mirk’s house. They’ll think something awful has happened to you.”

  I walked slowly out from behind Gran’s gravestone. I’d survived Carline Deedclathes, Sully Tarn, Miss Mirk and Muckle Red, only to be killed by my parents for disappearing off without telling them where I was going.

  I took a really deep breath. As I braced myself, I noticed the heavy weight inside me had gone, and I knew I could deal with whatever Mum and Dad were going to throw my way.

  “There she is!” Mum veered off the path, dashing over to me and giving me a huge hug. Dad joined in and we stood, together, in silence for a while until Mum let go and knelt to clasp my face in her hands. “Coral, we’ve been worried sick.”

  I was done with telling lies.

  “It was my fault.” My chest shuddered. “The morning Gran died, I was supposed to be tidying my room, but I sneaked out to meet Isla instead and I’m so, so sorry.”

  Dad produced a tissue and dabbed my tears, before pressing it to his own eyes. “Your gran hadn’t been well; she didn’t want to worry you and asked us not to say a word.” His eyes softened. “One of the hardest things to come to terms with is there was nothing any of us could have done. You mustn’t blame yourself for what happened. We need to accept it was her time to go and know she couldn’t have been any more loved than she was.” His voice wobbled. “We were the lucky ones to have had her in our lives. I’m sorry, Coral; I was so wrapped up in my own feelings of loss, I couldn’t see yours.”

  I hugged Dad, feeling the warmth of his arms around me.

  Mum stood, tucking my hair behind my ear. “Come home, Coral. Your gran would want us all to be together, supporting each other through this. It’s what will make her happy, wherever she is.”

  Mum and Dad gave each other a knowing look. “There’s a surprise waiting for you at the house,” she added.

  I knew from their expressions, God had returned. After I had made a fuss of him, I’d tell Mum and Dad everything about Miss Mirk. Although it was tempting to leave her where she was, she badly needed help, along with all the poor creatures she’d stolen.

  Mum and Dad took my hands and we strode over the grass. They didn’t have a clue earthbound children lined our path all the way to the gate. And nor could they have guessed some of them were even up in the trees, swinging their legs and waving. But I bet they could sense the lightness in the graveyard now Muckle Red had gone for good.

  Lyart, Moonzy and Skaw waited for me at the gate. But with Mum and Dad by my side, all I could do was give them one of my grins, with teeth and dimples for good measure.

  “I’m missing you already. It won’t be the same without you here.” Moonzy wrinkled her nose up. “Come back soon.”

  “Some baneshanks have invaded one of the tunnels; you could join us in getting rid of them if you want?” I pulled a face and Lyart laughed. “We’re always here for you, if you need us.”

  Skaw’s lips quivered. “One of my hearts will always belong to you, Coral Glen.” He buried his head into Moonzy’s shoulder and she patted his back.

  As we passed through the gate, I stopped for a last glimpse of the graveyard. The breeze rushed around playfully and leaves whirled down from the trees, excited to meet the ground at long last.

  The pain of losing Gran was the worst I’d ever known. She’d left an empty space in my life, as infinite as a black hole, which could never be filled. But I realized, in the times that I missed her the most, she’d be in my head and heart, waiting for me, and I took great comfort knowing she’d always be there.

  Up above, the brightest star shone Stardust Highway, its radiance coating everything in a thin layer of silver. Even the wrecker bird looked metallic, swaying on the branch over Gran’s headstone. As it spread its wings and glided towards the weeping willow, I saw rainbows falling from its beak and the beauty of it stole my breath. The graveyard filled with a song that could mend broken hearts and bring hope to all souls on earth.

  Mum, Dad and I huddled together as we strolled along the pavement, heading for home. I blinked and could have sworn I saw a peculiar flash of colour – like the first glimmer of light at dawn – and I knew, deep down, there would come a time in the future when everything would once again be Sunshiny Days.

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  When I was a girl, I heard whispers that my grandpa had been glimpsed at a family christening, even though he had passed away several years earlier. I liked the thought that death hadn’t stopped him from enjoying a good shindig and it was this idea that inspired me to write the book. Wherever my grandparents should be now, I miss them all terribly.

  I would like to thank Polly Nolan for all her wisdom, cheer and guidance. She still makes me cry with her kind words and I suspect my spelling may also bring a tear to her eye.

  I hit the jackpot with Lauren Fortune. Armed with her baguette magique, she improves everything beyond recognition and is helping me become the writer I want to be.

  I couldn’t be prouder to be published by Scholastic and I’m lucky to have so many brilliant and hard-working people on the team.
I’d like to thank the sublimely talented Jamie Gregory for his artwork and Jessica White, who has the patience of a saint for fixing all my errors.

  A fair amount of last year was spent hidden away, writing, which meant sightings of me were as rare as the Iberian chiffchaff. I am grateful to my family and friends for still speaking to me.

  Thank you to Robert for chauffeuring me to events and for making me forget about my nerves by driving like Crazy Larry.

  I owe a huge thanks to everyone who has championed my writing, especially Scott Evans. Standing out from the crowd would be impossible without the enthusiasm and dedication of teachers, librarians, parents, book reviewers, booksellers, book clubs, bloggers, festival organisers, award panels and, of course, the kids themselves.

  I am greatly indebted to Scottish Book Trust, whose continuing support is invaluable.

  And lastly, thank you to you. Yes, lovely you, who have taken the time to read this. You are wonderful, so you are.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Juliette Forrest has worked as both an art director and a copywriter for some of the best advertising agencies in the UK and in 2014 won a New Writers Award from the Scottish Book Trust. Juliette lives in Glasgow where she runs her own freelance copywriting business.

  Scholastic Children’s Books

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  First published in the UK by Scholastic Ltd, 2019

  This electronic edition published by Scholastic Ltd, 2019

  Text copyright © Juliette Forrest, 2019

  The right of Juliette Forrest to be identified as the