Zodiac Girls: Star Child

by Cathy Hopkins

I felt slightly miffed that they had come over and met Mum and Dad in the day while I was out, yet they couldn’t rearrange things to get to our special dinner. I was determined that nothing was going to spoil our night. “I know. I’m not going to get upset about it. I think we’re going to have such fun, even if a couple are missing.”

  “That’s the attitude,” said Mum.

  Next door in my room, Yasmin was on the phone to one of her friends. “I am so out of here tonight,” she said with no attempt to keep her voice down when I walked in. “My weirdo relatives have got an even weirder bunch of people over.”

  Good, I thought, suits me. I didn’t want her around with her killjoy attitude. I went and tinkered on my computer while she finished her call. I wrote out the guest list then made neat borders around each of their names. After a while, I became aware that Yasmin was watching me over my shoulder.

  “What are you doing?” she asked a few moments later.

  “Place names,” I said as I scrolled down so that she didn’t see too much. I didn’t want her poking fun.

  She scrutinized the screen. “Neptune. Venus. Jupiter…” she read. “Are you having a fancy dress party?”

  “Sort of,” I said. I didn’t want to get into who they really were with her in case she asked too many questions and then realized that my guardian had gone walkabout. She’d love to rub my face in that.

  “Your family are bonkers,” she said.

  I smiled back. I could have said something about hers but bit my lip and agreed. “Yeah, I guess. Where are you going?”

  “Sleepover with a mate. And Pat’s coming too.”

  Yippee, I thought. I get my room back for one night and maybe Nessa will pay me some attention too. “Oh well, have a good time,” I said.

  Ten minutes later, we heard a car horn beep outside and then she and Pat were gone. I couldn’t have planned it better. I focused on my computer and set about looking at images from the web of the various planets. My idea was to print out little place cards for all of them so that they’d know exactly where to sit. When I’d finished with the place names, I printed out my last minute “To Do” list:

  Lay out outfit.

  Bath and change.

  Check food is all there.

  Set table.

  Set place mats according to my horoscope.

  Light candles for atmosphere.

  Have CDs ready, for atmosphere music.

  Put the answering machine on so that there are no interruptions.

  So there wouldn’t be a full set of planets – at least the rest of the plan was going beautifully. This evening was going to be the best ever. I couldn’t wait.

  Chapter Nine

  Star studded dinner

  At seven o’clock, the doorbell rang and I went down to answer it. It was Rachel, right on time and she looked really pretty in a dusty pink top and rose pink skirt. She had also put in star-shaped silver earrings for the occasion.

  “Perfect,” I said.

  “You look great too,” she said. “Star child.”

  I gave her a twirl. I’d put on my best dress. I’d got it for Aunt Francelle’s wedding last year. It was red with a halter neck and the material was covered in tiny silver stars. I also made sure I was wearing the pendant that Hermie had got me.

  “So set me to work,” said Rachel. “Where are we going to be?”

  I showed her into the dining room. “In here.”

  “Jupiter room, right?” she asked. “I keep forgetting which is which. I could probably do with one of your lists to remind me.”

  “You won’t need one. We won’t go in any of the rooms apart from in here and the kitchen. Jupiter is the planet of jollity and expansion so Dad thought that it seemed fitting that the dining room was done in his honour. Jupiter was also known in Roman times as the King of the Gods.”

  “Awesome. Has he been over yet?”

  I nodded. “Earlier in the week. Not that he took much notice of me though.”

  “What’s he like?”

  “Big and jolly with a black moustache and very approachable for someone who’s King of the Gods but then they’re all playing it down. I guess they have to or else they’d attract too much attention.”

  “They have to go undercover, like cops on a job.”

  “Something like that. Remember, we saw Jupiter’s deli in Osbury.”

  “Yes, Europa. Named after one of the four moons of Jupiter, you said.”

  “That’s it. You’re getting it,” I replied as Rachel looked at the painting depicting Jupiter on the wall. It was another of Aunt Francelle’s works and showed a majestic bearded man on a throne. In the background was a centaur – half man and half horse – which is the symbol for Sagittarius.

  “Luckily the dining table is round,” I said as I began to lay out the place names, “the same shape as a birth chart, so I can get people in just about the right positions as they were in the sky at the time of my birth.”

  “Right. Whatever,” said Rachel as the phone in the hall rang and went onto answering mode. “Where shall I sit?”

  “Over on the left, next to me. I’ll put Mum, Dad, you and I over there – that should work as most of the planets in my chart are over on one side so I can put them all together. Except for the Sun, that’s opposite to Saturn. See, there are a few houses in my chart that are empty. Dad said that’s because I’m an old soul. He says you can always tell an old soul because they have all the planets piled in one place as if they have a last lesson to learn in one area of their life. I’m still not sure what that is for me. I was hoping to find out this month.”

  Rachel had a mystified expression on her face. “I have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about,” she said, “but I don’t care. I’m just happy to be here.”

  I handed her some matches. “Fine. In that case, you just light some candles.”

  “That I can do,” she said as the phone rang again. “Shall I get that?”

  I shook my head. “I put the answering machine on. My zodiac phone is on in case Hermie or any of the planet people needs to get through.”

  The first guest to arrive was Dr Cronus.

  “Drinks are in the Jupiter room,” said Mum and directed him in to the dining room. She looked lovely and had settled for a smart, green silk trouser suit with a gold necklace and earrings. Dr Cronus looked like he’d also made an effort for the evening. He had on a smarter-than-usual tweed suit and waistcoat and he was wearing a red bow tie with tiny stars and planets on it. He bowed stiffly and followed Mum.

  “He doesn’t look like a barrel of laughs,” whispered Rachel.

  “He’s not. He’s a headmaster,” I said.

  “Eek,” she said as we went into the kitchen to finish the drinks. They were all set out in their jugs and labelled so that I could see which one was which, and the room smelt wonderful with the scent of fruits and mixed spices.

  Next to arrive were Nessa and Sonny. This time, she really did look like a goddess. She was wearing a white, off-the-shoulder dress and her hair was up with little diamante stars arranged through it. Mr O had a black suit and bow tie on as if he was going to a very posh dance.

  Rachel’s eyes almost popped out of her head. “They are the most glamorous people I have ever seen in my whole life,” she whispered after we’d taken Nessa’s wrap.

  “Very Oscars,” I agreed.

  Selene arrived on her own. She too had dressed up and was wearing a silver silk top with a long shimmery green skirt. Around her neck, she had a moon pendant with matching earrings in her ears. “It’s so generous of you to have this evening for us,” she said to Mum. “We so rarely get the chance to get together like this.”

  “Our pleasure,” said Mum and ushered her along the corridor to join the others.

  “Is she the Moon lady?” asked Rachel.

  Selene overheard and turned back to her. “I am, and I do believe you’re Thebe’s friend.”

  Rachel nodded. She seemed to have lost her tongue a
nd had become shy, like someone meeting the Queen.

  “This is Rachel,” I said. “And her birth sign is Cancer.”

  “Which means that the Moon is your ruling planet,” said Selene with an encouraging smile.

  “Yes,” whispered Rachel.

  “Come on then,” said Selene. “Let’s you and me go and get to know each other. Us moonstruck types have to stick together.”

  Rachel glanced at me and I nodded. Okay, so it was someone else about to have a good time with one of the planet people in my month but I didn’t mind it being Rachel. She was my best friend and I was glad to share some of the excitement with her.

  “Please come through,” I said. I could barely contain my excitement and I knew that Mum and Rachel felt the same. As our guests began to fill the dining room, Mum caught my eye and then did a little jiggy dance on the spot as if to say she was having a great time.

  By seven forty-five, Captain John and Joe had arrived and were in the dining room with the others. They were also in their best clothes and I stood at the door and marvelled at how sophisticated they all looked.

  “So who’s missing?” asked Mum.

  I did a quick count round. “Hermie, no surprise there, Mario and PJ which we knew about, and Uranus.”

  “Uranus? Hmm,” Mr O said. “He may turn up but you know what Uranus is like. The planet of the unexpected. He’ll come in his own time, in his own way and it will probably be in some kind of extraordinary or eccentric fashion.”

  We decided to give Uri and Hermie a few more minutes while the others mingled and drank Aunt Nikkya’s fruit punch. When each of them saw the names of the drinks on the menu that I’d put out, they seemed genuinely delighted.

  I poured Mr O a large glass. “It’s mainly juice,” I said as he finished the glass in one gulp.

  “Hmm, that’s good.”

  “Would you like another?”

  Mr O nodded and I refilled his glass then went around refilling the others and making sure everyone had what they wanted. It was always the same when we served Aunt Nikkya’s punch. Everyone always loved it.

  “You can tell that they feel comfortable here,” said Rachel. After half an hour we refilled glasses, and took round nuts, olives and crisps again. She looked down at her empty jug of Neptune Nightcap. “We might need more of this one soon.”

  I nodded and followed her into the kitchen and looked on the counter where the jugs were. Most of them were almost empty apart from Hermie’s.

  “Everyone must be really thirsty,” I said as I picked up a jug of Saturn Surprise to take into the dining room.

  Dad came through with another empty jug. “Need a hand?” he asked.

  “Drinks need refilling,” I said. “They seem to really like it.”

  Dad winked. “They do indeed. It’s that special Caribbean flavour that Nikkya creates. No one does it like her.”

  At that moment, Mum came through to join us and overheard him. “Do you know what her special ingredient is?”

  I shook my head. “I can taste coconut and banana but I’m not sure what else?”

  “Spices, cinnamon, nutmeg,” said Mum, “but apart from that, it’s her secret.”

  “No worries,” said Dad and he picked up a jug of Mars Mojita to take back into the guests. “It’s a hit and that’s all that matters.”

  We followed Mum back into the dining room and I glanced around. Everyone seemed happy, chatting away, laughing. Okay, so Captain John Dory’s face looked slightly flushed and Dr Cronus’s cheeks were almost beetroot and the noise level in the room had gone up a couple of decibels but that was a good sign that the evening was going well.

  Just at that moment, the phone in the hall rang again.

  “Get that will you, Thebe, baby,” asked Mum. “It’s been ringing all night – just in case it’s Pat needing something.”

  I went into the hall and picked up. It was Aunt Nikkya. She sounded upset. “Oh thank god, Thebe. Have your guests arrived? What’s happening there?”

  “Yes, just about everyone’s here. Why?”

  “I’ve been trying all night to get through but no-one was picking up—”

  “Is it something to do with the food?’ I interrupted. “Something I have to do?”

  “No. No. Just… okay Nikkya, take a breath,” she told herself. “Thebe, have you served the drinks yet?”

  “Erm… some.” At the other end, Aunt Nikkya let out a loud groan. “Oh noooooooooooooo.”

  “Why? What’s wrong?”

  “Honey. Oh god, oh lord, get them to drink some water or eat something or preferably go and lie down somewhere.”

  I felt a knot in my stomach twist tight. “What’s wrong with the drinks?”

  “Honey. It’s in the punch. Your dad sent me over a message that your guests were allergic but… oh lord, it must have fallen behind the coffee and I only just found it on a post-it note. No honey. Oh lord, that punch is full of honey, it gives that special sweetness. Are your guests okay?”

  “They seem to be,” I said. “Listen, I’ll call Dad out.”

  I dashed into the dining room and pulled Dad out into the hall and quickly filled him in on the situation. He said a few words to Aunt Nikkya then sat down heavily on the hall chair.

  “But what does it mean Dad?” I asked.

  “Oh Lord, baby girl, it’s a disaster. I looked it up in one of my books after Hermie warned us that day when he first came over, which is why I sent the message over to Nikkya.”

  “Yes but don’t forget with Mercury retrograde…”

  Dad nodded. “Expect miscommunications, misunderstandings, messages to go astray. I should have known and double checked. Oh lord what are we to do?”

  “But what will happen to them? Will they be ill? Will their faces blow up? How will it manifest?”

  Dad sighed. “There is nothing more intoxicating for them. One drop and they’ll be legless. Two drops and they’ll be singing rugby songs. Three drops and… oh lord, oh my, you get the picture?”

  “Think so. Um. I’d better go and warn Mum.”

  I raced into the dining room where I quickly filled Mum and Rachel in.

  Mum glanced around. “I think that maybe we should serve food, get some solids in them and quickly,” she whispered.

  “Good idea,” said Dad, “the effects are beginning to show.”

  I glanced around. They were all looking bright-eyed now. I picked up a fork from the table and tinged it on the side of one of the glasses. “Dinner will be served in a moment if you’d like to take your places,” I announced.

  “Wot already?” said Nessa. A few strands of her hair had come down and she was looking slightly cross-eyed. “No. Let’s ’ave a dance first.”

  “Yes, let’s dance,” agreed Selene who was also looking squiffy. “Put some music on someone.”

  “Yes, yes, music,” said Dad and he went over to the CD player and read out all the titles he could with anything to do with the stars or the sky in them. “What do you fancy? Starlight Express? Moon River? Music from The Planets?”

  Everyone started laughing hysterically as if he was the funniest comedian who ever lived. It wasn’t that funny, I thought, as I watched tears roll down Joe’s cheeks. Finally, Dad picked a disco CD and put it on. Within moments, they were all dancing away merrily. All with their own style: Selene doing a dreamy dance with swaying arms, Dad and Nessa started jiving, Dr Cronus put his arms around Mum and began waltzing, Joe did some Greek dancing and Captain John Dory attempted to do Irish riverdancing which made Rachel crack up laughing. When the second track started up, Nessa called out, “Make a line, let’s do the ’okey Cokey. Let’s do the conga.”

  Dad looked over, shrugged and held up his hands as if to say, what can we do?

  “Great party this,” said Mr O with a grin as they formed a line and off they went round the room, each one with their hands on the hips of the person in front.

  “If you can’t beat them, join them,” said Mum.

&nb
sp; “Just what I was thinking,” said Dad. “Maybe it will be all right after all.” And he and Mum joined the line.

  “You put your left leg in, your left leg out, in, out, in, out, shake it all about…” they sang together. Selene and Dr Cronus were looking a bit shaky, and he was still flushed in the face, but that didn’t stop them.

  “I think it’s going to be okay,” Rachel said with an anxious glance at them. “They’re only dancing.”

  I told myself to relax. Only dancing. Only dancing. Relax. Relax. But my inner knot was getting more and more knotted as it twisted and turned inside of me. Oops, I thought, as I watched my esteemed guests and realized that they were behaving like a bunch of drunken relatives at a wedding.

  Rachel turned to me and grinned when Nessa bumped into a cabinet and Mr O almost tripped over a chair. “There’s nothing for it, Thebe, except to join them in the dance.”

  She ran over to the end of the line, put her hands on the last person who was Joe and off they all danced out into the hall and up the stairs. Unsure what to do, I ran after them.

  “Come on, join in,” called Rachel.

  “Yes, come on, Thebe,” urged Mum who seemed to have let go of any anxieties and was having the time of her life.

  “Come on, Zodiac Girl,” said Mr O.

  And then with Nessa leading, they started singing. “Ole, ole, ole, ole, vum vum, vum vum. Ole, ole, ole, ole, leg in, leg out, shake it all about…”

  I tried to get Mum or Dad’s attention. Dinner was ready. It needed to be served or else it would be burnt. And there was a thumping on the wall and the muffled sound of Mrs Janson next door yelling, “Keep that blooming noise down.”

  No-one took any notice as Nessa continued to lead the conga line. I stood on a chair and yelled at the top of my voice, “DINNER.”

  The line stopped and everyone turned to look at me.

  “We need to eat,” I said. “Sit at the table.”

  “Tee hee. Zodiac Girl hath spoken,” said Joe. “We must obey.”

  “Yes, you must come and sit down. NOW!” I said.

  Joe started giggling.