by Helen Rolfe
By the time the tree was trimmed they were all hungry and Sam and Audrey set off for the local fish and chip shop. They left Layla at home to box up the brownies ready to pass to the bin men tomorrow. Layla had told her teacher what they were doing and she was very impressed by the sound of The Kindness Club and their apparent ‘thinking outside the square’ to include bin men as well as the postmen.
The scent of fish, hot potato and pie filled the lounge when Sam and Audrey returned and they all opened up their parcels onto trays on their laps. Both Sam and Audrey were astounded that they hadn’t been ushered over to the table; Gran never liked food eaten anywhere other than the kitchen or at the table and although Audrey had got away with snacks in her bedroom, mealtimes were totally different.
‘Can we turn off the lights?’ Layla asked. ‘We’ll eat by the lights of the tree and nothing else.’
Gran even agreed to that, and as Charlie turned off the main lights in the room, she contentedly sat in her chair, enjoying the piece of fish in its golden batter. Sam perched on the hearth beside her mum’s chair and it reminded Audrey of the way she’d liked to sit at her dad’s feet on a Sunday morning when she was little. He’d read the paper on his lap while she watched cartoons and as long as she knew he was there beside her, she was happy.
‘I can’t see what colour my sauce is,’ Layla declared.
‘You know it’s red,’ Charlie told her. ‘We can’t put the lights on, it’ll ruin the atmosphere. And besides, it was your choice, remember.’
As they finished their food parcels, slowing towards the end given the enormous portions, Layla mentioned the Mapleberry village tree again. ‘It looks so good all lit up, Veronica. You should see it.’
‘Plenty of folks sharing it on the village Facebook group page. One of my new online friends put up a video of it too, although she wasn’t too good at holding her hands steady – I think I saw more of people’s coats than the tree itself.’
‘Can we go tonight, Daddy? Please? Audrey said she was going with her mum.’
Charlie and Sam exchanged a look. ‘We don’t have to do it tonight.’
Gran picked up on the subtext immediately. ‘I’ll be right here when you all get back. I’m too full to even get up so I’m going to enjoy some peace and quiet for a while.’
‘Are you sure, Gran?’ Audrey asked, as twenty minutes later the others were bundling into their coats, gloves and scarves.
‘Very sure. You lot go, you’ll enjoy it. I’ve got my knitting to work on.’
Layla started to ask what she was working on and Audrey sensed the next question would likely be whether she could see it, so she encouraged her out of the door after Sam and Charlie.
The rain had eased off by the time they reached the field but the ground squelched beneath their feet where the mud was thicker at the entrance. Beside the impressive tree that had to be at least fifteen metres tall, possibly more, Audrey stood with Layla looking up at the mesmerising twinkling lights. Sam and Charlie were side-by-side behind them, equally as quiet as they took in the magic.
‘So much better than in the daytime,’ Sam declared. ‘I love the short days in winter.’
‘No way – I’m a summer guy, the long days and warm evenings,’ said Charlie.
Layla winked at Audrey and leaned in to whisper, ‘They like each other.’
Audrey shushed her. ‘They’ll hear you.’ But she didn’t hate the idea as much as she once would have, the thought of her mum making a new life for herself. Maybe she needed to and once she did, she’d see that Audrey could too. Although where that life would be and what shape it would take, Audrey didn’t really have any idea. What she did know that back at number nine Mapleberry Lane was a woman who should be here with them tonight, looking up at the inky sky dotted with a handful of stars. On a clear night here in Mapleberry, they seemed to dazzle in a magical way that made you sigh and revel in the season. Gran had a sadness Audrey couldn’t pinpoint, but slowly, bit by bit, she was changing. Because Gran needed a new life too; Audrey just wasn’t sure whether she realised it yet.
Audrey took plenty of photos of the tree. She knew Gran had already seen lots, but she’d taken shots from all angles to make sure nothing was missed.
Sam took out her phone and took some pictures too. They all changed positions so they could each be in them and when a woman walked by and offered to take a photo of the whole family, they happily agreed.
‘She thought I was your sister,’ Layla announced proudly as they made their way back to the house. She slipped her hand into Audrey’s. ‘I hope you don’t mind.’
‘Of course not.’ In fact, she quite liked it.
‘It’s so cold out there,’ Audrey declared the second they got home. They’d dropped Layla and Charlie at their house. ‘How’s the knitting going?’ she asked, poking her head around the lounge doorway.
Gran must’ve shoved it all in the bag, thinking Layla was going to show up again, because she was pulling it all back out again now. ‘Not much more to do.’
‘Tea?’ Sam trilled, although she’d already gone to the kitchen and Audrey heard the kettle flick on.
Gran got out of her chair and came through to the kitchen. ‘I’m going to stand up for mine,’ she declared as Sam dropped tea bags into cups. ‘My joints will cease up if I’m not careful, all this sitting is bad for me.’
Audrey saw the rich plum woolly hat sitting on the arm of Gran’s chair. ‘Layla’s going to love it.’
‘I hope so.’
‘You could make me one too.’
‘You’d wear something I knitted?’ Gran didn’t seem convinced.
‘Sure, why not?’
‘Because you’re way too fashionable.’
‘Don’t put yourself down. If you knit it, I’ll wear it.’
Gran began to laugh. ‘Careful what you say, young lady.’
Audrey set down her cup and showed Gran the pictures she’d taken of the tree. Sam showed her all of the photographs of the four of them: the one where Layla was laughing as Charlie lifted her onto his shoulders and she was the tallest of them all, touching branches way up high; the picture that captured them looking like a family to anyone who didn’t know any different. Audrey just wished Gran’s smiling face had been a part of that particular shot.
Audrey picked up her tea again, the steam pleasantly warming her face. ‘How’s the cyber boyfriend, Gran?’
Sam almost slopped her tea. ‘The cyber what?’
‘His name is Morris,’ said Gran, ‘and I’m seventy-one-years-old, young lady. “Boy” is not the correct term. I prefer “manfriend”.’
‘He’s been messaging Gran,’ Audrey told Sam. ‘He’s got a photograph too, want to see? As long as you don’t mind, Gran.’
‘I’ve got nothing to hide,’ Veronica dismissed.
On Gran’s laptop Audrey opened up Facebook, found Morris and clicked on his photograph so it filled most of the screen. Gran didn’t seem at all bothered at their scrutiny; in fact, she seemed rather proud to show him off.
‘Mum,’ Sam gasped, ‘Morris is a silver fox.’
Audrey laughed. That was such an old phrase, but Gran seemed happy with it. Audrey wondered what phrase could sum up Alex. He was good-looking – tall, on the rowing team, he was funny and seemed to attract a crowd, and he had a slight Irish accent that all the girls went on about. And sure, he’d looked her way more than once, smiled even, but it didn’t mean he was keen on her. Although according to Vicky, his eyes had followed her in the café the other day when they were all in there – he hadn’t looked at any other girl.
When they’d finished stalking poor Morris, Audrey clicked away from his photograph and onto the Facebook residents group to see if anyone else had posted photographs of the tree. She paused at a post that caught her eye. It had a photograph of an old lady who had to be at least a decade older than Gran, with a beautiful ginger cat curled up on her lap.
Gran took charge and scrolled back down the village pa
ge to read the entire post. ‘I don’t think this lady has posted in the group but her daughter posts quite often. Usually it’s things about shop opening times and home delivery slots, but this one is different.’ She put a hand against her chest. ‘Oh how sad. She says this is a photograph of her mum and she’ll be moving into a nursing home tomorrow. She says she still doesn’t have a home for her cat, Claude. What a great name for a cat. Claude…I like it.’ It was as though she was trying it on for size.
‘Why doesn’t the daughter look after it?’ Sam wondered.
Gran read some more. ‘Her son is allergic so she can’t take it. The cat’s old, he doesn’t go outside much. Sounds a bit like me.’
Audrey shared a smile with Gran and a more conspiratorial look with her mum. ‘You do it, Gran.’
‘Do what?’
‘Give Claude a new home.’
‘No, I couldn’t possibly. I’ve never had a cat, or a pet for that matter. I wouldn’t have the first clue how to care for it.’
‘But you could learn,’ said Audrey, ‘and it’s not like you don’t have time on your hands.’
Before Sam could call her daughter out for being rude, Gran began to laugh. ‘You’ve got a good point there.’ She looked from Audrey to Sam and then back again and then it was as though a light had suddenly been flicked on, something inside her simply clicked. ‘You know what, I’m going to do it.’ She tapped the table decisively with the palm of her hand. ‘I’m going to be Claude’s new owner and he’s going to love me as much as I know I’ll love him.’ She stood up. ‘I’m really going to do it.’
‘Where are you going, Mum?’ Sam asked.
Gran sat back down. ‘I don’t know!’
‘Reply to the post, Gran,’ Audrey urged. ‘Before somebody else gets in first.’
Gran leapt into action and left a comment to say she would love to take Claude; she was at home all day so he’d have company. She was about to add her phone number until Audrey told her to send the woman a friend request so they could exchange more details away from the group. ‘You have to look out for people who might be up to no good,’ Audrey warned.
‘Good point, thanks Audrey.’ She sent the request. ‘I do hope I got in first.’
So did Audrey. She’d learned to watch Gran’s expressions, particularly when she didn’t say much, and watching the rising excitement at the thought of adding Claude to her life was like one of those Wimbledon moments she and Layla had discussed. The look on Gran’s face said she wanted Claude more than she was prepared to admit.
Audrey put the dishwasher on once their tea cups were inside. ‘Hey, Gran, you can tick something else off the kindness calendar if you get to take care of Claude, and if Mum, Layla and I help you with him, we all get to put a line through the square that says “Take care of an animal”.’
Gran frowned. ‘I don’t remember seeing that on there.’
‘There are a lot of items this month,’ Audrey agreed. ‘I keep forgetting them myself.’
‘Must’ve missed it,’ Gran smiled. ‘Never mind. Now, don’t forget to set your alarm for bright and early tomorrow. Remember we’re doling out brownies to the bin men. Layla has already packaged them up.’
Audrey did a mock brownie guide salute, the way she remembered Layla doing when she talked about her brownies and when she’d made them take the Kindness Club pledge in the autumn. ‘Operation Bin Men is a-go!’
‘Goodnight Audrey,’ Gran smiled.
‘Goodnight, see you in the morning. Goodnight, Mum.’ She smiled across at her mum who looked like she was about to fall asleep on the sofa right where she was. She’d never been this relaxed when she first rocked up in Mapleberry.
Audrey headed up to bed feeling like at last they were something resembling a family, disjointed but getting there. It left a strange feeling in the pit of her stomach. It had almost been easier when she hated her home life, when she’d dreamed of being far away from all of this. Her heart sank. New Zealand. The country that had been on her wish list for ever, when ‘family’ to her consisted of nothing more than her and her mum sniping at each other, getting on edge about every little thing, when Gran wasn’t a part of her life, when Mapleberry was simply a place where an old lady lived that they didn’t have much to do with.
And now there was Layla too. She thought of Audrey as a sister and a little part of Audrey’s heart sang when she thought of her that way too. Was New Zealand still what she really wanted? Could she really go there for good and turn her back on everything and everyone else?
Why did life have to be so hard?
She hadn’t heard from her dad in over a week, not since he’d thanked her for the parcels she’d sent. He always gave her money for Christmas, a lot of cash, and she had a great time every year spending it in the sales. It was something she looked forward to but this year she’d planned on saving the money to put towards her travel. Seeing it mount up as she waited for the visa would be motivation enough to know her dream was real.
She sent off a quick email to her dad. She always found it easy to talk to him this way, better than on the phone when he had the distractions of his other kids in the background or concentrating on a road if he had her on hands-free as he drove to work. She told him all about the big tree in Mapleberry and its impressive lights against the night sky, she said they’d put up the tree here at Gran’s and she ended her message asking him what he’d done so far for her visa. He hadn’t told her anything, she assumed no news was good news, but she was getting tired of waiting and to know what she really wanted, she needed to know how far along the line she was. Whether she’d stop the process she wasn’t sure, but maybe she’d know when he filled her in.
When her phone pinged with a text message, she thought it was her dad already. Sometimes it came up with unknown number if he called from work but he never normally messaged.
It didn’t take long to work out who it was actually from and she held her breath for a second. Her palms clammy, she lay back on her bed with an enormous smile on her face. The phone hovered in the air in her hands as she read the message a few times. It was from Alex, the Alex. He said he’d seen her at the tree tonight but he’d been with his brothers so hadn’t come over to say hello, and he’d seen her dad there so was worried he wouldn’t like it.
Audrey messaged him back, fingers flying over the keys as she explained it wasn’t her dad but a neighbour. She told him how impressed she was with the tree; it was far bigger than any she’d seen before. They messaged about science class and the accident he and his friend had when one of them caught their shirt alight on a Bunsen burner, he told her about the time he and the same friend had stripped off in the boat after a race one season and gone skinny dipping. That one hadn’t gone down well with the coach but Audrey thought it was pretty funny. Alex was hot, fun, a complete escape. She stared at her phone willing him to reply and each time he did, she savoured every word, particularly the last text.
She clutched her phone against her chest. He’d asked her out. Alex Ratcliffe had asked her out!
And although she set her alarm for bright and early, she didn’t think she’d get a wink of sleep.
Chapter Four
Audrey
Gran hovered at the window the next morning when the bin trucks rolled along Mapleberry Lane and came to a standstill outside the front of the house, and after she’d counted how many men she could see, Audrey picked up the cardboard box filled with brownies to take out to them. The guy tipped his cap at her in thanks, shy, but wished her a Merry Christmas and waved over to Gran hovering in the doorway. The recycling truck came right after the garbage truck so Audrey ran down the path to grab the second box and handed them over to one of the guys she’d said hello to last week. He told her he’d take them back to eat once they’d finished their shift. ‘Thank you!’ he bellowed over to Gran with a wave. She was hovering in the doorway. ‘She’s always got a smile for us,’ he confided to Audrey. ‘Most people don’t talk to us unless it’s to moan we
’re taking up the whole street with our trucks.’
Audrey suspected it was the most conversation he’d had with a resident on the street and it gave her a little buzz to know she’d helped. ‘Enjoy the brownies, they’re the best.’
He patted a portly tummy. ‘I’m sure I will. And Merry Christmas.’
‘Merry Christmas,’ Audrey smiled in return before she went back inside to grab her school bag and head off.
Alex had texted her this morning to say he wouldn’t be at school today. To be honest she was glad as it would give her the day to settle down after he’d asked her out - not that they’d arranged a date yet, but it was coming, she just knew it. She had a test today and wanted to do well, which she wouldn’t do if she was too distracted. It was new to her, this eagerness at school, but life was far easier doing it that way.
After school Audrey let herself into the house.
‘I’m getting a cat!’ was the first thing to come out of Gran’s mouth as she charged towards Audrey.
‘The cat from the Facebook post? That’s amazing – when?’
‘The day after tomorrow. The owner is passing on Claude’s scratching post and little bed, and I’ve ordered the right food, a litter tray and some cat litter.’
‘I’m almost as excited as you are,’ Audrey beamed. She’d never had a pet either. She’d gone through a phase of wanting a dog, then a cat, then a gerbil and then an iguana, but it had never happened. She suspected she’d been so fickle, her parents and then Sam when it was just the two of them worried that if she got one, she’d soon lose interest.