'It's a Millville paperweight,' he said hoarsely.
'American.'
'Yeah, the guy in the antique arcade said it was American,' said Miranda.
'Millville made Jersey Rose paperweights,'
said Carl.
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'Have you got some then?' Miranda asked.
'No, no. They're way too expensive,' said Carl.
'Oh, Miranda, it's incredibly kind of you, but I hope you haven't spent too much,' said Jules anxiously. 'There, Carl! Aren't you lucky? You've got your beautiful champagne flute from Sylvie a n d now your lovely p a p e r w e i g h t from Miranda.'
'Mm,' said Carl, holding the paperweight up and examining it from all angles.
I knew J u l e s was t r y i n g to be tactful, mentioning my glass too. I'd tried so h a r d but Miranda h a d effortlessly trumped me.
'It's fine, Jules. I'm glad Carl likes it,' said Miranda. 'I t h i n k it's a bit weird and clunky. OK, Birthday Boy, am I going to get a thank-you kiss, then?'
She leaned towards him, her mouth pursed.
Carl didn't push her away. He didn't kiss her nose. He kissed her full on the lips right in front of me.
'Hey, stop snogging, she's my girl!' said Paul.
'I'm not anybody's girl, I'm my own woman,'
said Miranda.
She was wearing dark lipstick. Some of it was s m e a r e d on Carl's lips, m a k i n g h i m look astonishingly beautiful.
'Oooh, Thisbe, thou art a luscious wanton-lipped wench,' Paul scoffed.
Carl quickly wiped his m o u t h w i t h t h e back of his hand. 'Thank you, Miranda,' he said.
'So will you?' she said.
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'Will I what?'
'Remember me!'
'Yeah, yeah. How could I forget?' said Carl. He looked at her, then he looked at me, t h e n he looked at Paul. 'I t h i n k this is definitely going to be a night to remember.'
Dear Jules paid for t h e pizzas and t h e n dropped us off at the Victoria Gate of Kew Gardens. It was pitch dark in the street, but the p a t h s in the gardens were lit by little lamps and t h e big glasshouses were ablaze. There were two amazing swirly glass towers at the entrance to t h e vast Palm House, one yellow, one orange, both extending great glass tentacles at every angle. Carl peered up at t h e m , noting every bubble and twirl, his eyes following each extraordinary spiral.
'Boy transfixed,' said Miranda. 'So how does Chihuly do it, Carl? Why don't all the woggly feelers break off the pole?'
'He does t h e m one at a time and t h e n slots t h e m in so they stay fixed for ever,' said Carl.
He went on explaining to h e r as t h e y wandered round the Palm House pond, their heads close together, Miranda's h a n d tucked into his elbow, slotting in so it seemed fixed for ever too. Paul and I mooched after them, disgruntled.
'Do you like Chihuly's glass?' I asked desperately.
' 'S OK,' said Paul.
'I believe you saw Carl's collection in the Glass Hut,' I said.
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'Yeah, yeah, it's kind of weird. I mean, like, obsessive.'
Well, that's Carl. Totally weird,' I said. I meant it as a compliment but Paul frowned at me in t h e gloom.
'In w h a t way?'
'In every way' I said.
'You and Carl, you're, like, an item?' said Paul.
'Well . . . yes,' I said. 'We've known each other ever since we were tiny. We go w-a-y back, Carl and me.'
'So why is your m a t e Miranda making eyes at him and giving him flash presents?'
'That's j u s t Miranda. She's so warm and generous. She's like t h a t with everyone,' I said.
'I wish she'd w a r m up a bit with me,' Paul muttered. 'Has she said anything to you about me, Sylvia?'
'Sylvie. Well. She's said some stuff, you know, girl talk.'
'Do you t h i n k she reckons me then? More t h a n Carl?'
'Definitely,' I lied.
'Well, tell you what, let's try separating them, because they're j u s t going to rabbit on about glass all evening.' He took a deep breath. 'Hey, Miranda, wait for us!'
'Come over here. Come and look at the boat on t h e lake,' she shouted from t h e d a r k n e s s .
'A boating lake – great idea!' said Paul, hurrying towards her.
I was left stumbling after t h e m in the dark, 184
lonely and left out. Then Carl bobbed out of a b u s h and seized hold of me.
'Doesn't the glass in the boat look wonderful!
And see all those round floating ornaments like giant glass figs? Chihuly calls t h e m walla wallas – mad name, but don't you think they're brilliant!' Carl felt in the dark for my face, putting his lips to my ear. 'We'll float t h e m up and down the rivers in Glassworld, thousands of them, then all the children can paddle their boats and collect t h e m in a Glassworld walla-walla water race.'
'Carl? There you are!' Miranda said. 'Oh my, look at the lovebirds!'
'We can be lovebirds too,' said Paul. 'I wish there were more boats. I'm ace at rowing. Feel my pecs!' He raised his arms.
'You keep your pecs to yourself,' said Miranda.
She consulted h e r m a p of t h e gardens. 'Let's go and find this sun piece that's meant to be even more fantastic'
We walked along to the Princess of Wales Conservatory, jostling each other in the dark, d a r t i n g forward a n d swapping places as if we were performing a complicated dance. We stood still when we glimpsed the enormous glass sun, t h e t h o u s a n d yellow spirals shining. Carl clutched my h a n d in excitement, the way he used to when we were children.
'We'll have a huge party at the palace and the glass sun will shine over us,' I whispered.
He didn't say anything because Paul and 185
Miranda were pressed up close within earshot, but he squeezed my hand. We made our way all round the floodlit conservatory, spotting the tall glass reeds amongst the real cactuses, blue bird shapes stretching their necks out of the water, green glass grass everywhere. It wasn't just Carl who was enraptured. There were large crowds going Oooh and Aaah, and flashes from cameras.
'Let's go outside in the dark for a bit – this is doing my head in,' said Paul.
'Oh, for goodness' sake, Paul, can't you see how much this means to Carl?' I said.
'OK, OK, you stay with him. Miranda and I will go and get a b r e a t h of fresh air,' said Paul, grinning.
Carl t u r n e d away from the sun. 'OK, I'm ready, let's go.'
'No, we'll stay, Carl!' I said.
'No, it's fine, really. I've h a d a good look,' said Carl. 'Come on then, you guys.'
I could have shaken him. He followed Paul out of the conservatory with a craven look on his face. Paul t u r n e d m o m e n t a r i l y a n d r a i s e d his eyebrows at me in exasperation. Miranda also looked irritated. She strode forward in her black buckled boots, Paul in pursuit, Carl keeping close and me stumbling after t h e m as Sylvie-tag-along.
'Miranda? Wait! Look, let's explore a bit,' Paul said, taking hold of her arm and trying to steer her into the trees.
'No, it's this way,' said Miranda.
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'But we've j u s t seen the whirly things and the boat,' said Paul.
'Past them. We've got to see the Temperate House. Come on, the gates close in an hour.'
'Oh, flipping heck,' said Paul – or words to t h a t effect.
'Hey, mate, we can go off exploring if you like,'
said Carl. 'Maybe we've seen enough glass.'
I stared at him. He never used the word mate and mocked anyone who did. And I knew he was desperate to see and marvel at each Chihuly piece.
'No we haven't!' said Miranda, seizing him by t h e arm. 'For God's sake, you moron, it's the best bit! They've got the Cherry Walk all lit up!'
It was like walking into a carnival dream-world. The trees were lit with coloured lamps so they glowed royal blue and emerald green.
There were strings of fairy lights and fire-eaters swallowing flame and men
on stilts striding ten foot tall through the undergrowth. It was so strange and magical t h a t Paul stopped moaning a n d Miranda stopped being bossy. We walked together, all four of us, in t h e midst of the crowd drifting down towards the Temperate House.
We stepped inside and gasped. Gigantic glass flowers bloomed everywhere amongst the real plants and trees. A great green chandelier h u n g from the ceiling like a gigantic bunch of grapes.
A tangle of gilded glass balloons spiralled almost down to t h e ground. S t r a n g e glass vegetation drifted in the little stream.
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'Look at the floats,' Carl whispered, bending down and staring at the huge blue spheres, like the biggest glass bubbles in the world. 'How can he make t h e m this big?'
'I like t h e ones like real flowers, the pink one and the turquoise one. Let us have flowers like this,' I said.
I meant in Glassworld, but Miranda took me literally.
'They'd be way way too expensive, silly. Even the simplest Chihuly piece costs thousands.'
'Especially the Macchia flowers,' said Carl.
'They've got contrasting colours on the outside and the inside. I think they use opaque glass in between, b u t I can't quite work out how.'
'It doesn't m a t t e r how. Let's j u s t enjoy them,'
said Miranda. 'They're so beautiful! Even you have to admit they're beautiful, Paul.'
'You're beautiful, Miranda,' said Paul, batting his eyelashes in a ridiculous fashion.
'You are such an idiot,' said Miranda, but she blew him a kiss all the same.
Then she blew one to Carl and he blew one back to her and then blew one to me until there was a flurry of kisses flying through the air and we were all mouthing madly, people staring at us.
'Let's get out of here before they cart us away,'
said Paul. 'Where's the way out?'
'Here's t h e way up' said Carl, and he started climbing the little white spiralling stairs all the way up to t h e balcony right at t h e top of t h e Temperate House.
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We followed, me next, then Miranda, t h e n Paul, climbing until we were right up high in the glasshouse, a few trapped sparrows circling our heads, and below us a dazzle of bright glass amongst the intense green of t h e spotlit foliage.
We stood peering down from our balcony like royalty. I felt for Carl's hand.
'I feel as if we're really in Glassworld,' I whispered.
Miranda took my hand. Paul already held hers.
We stood still, all of us linked, no one speaking.
I'll remember this moment for ever, I thought.
I am holding Carl's hand and I am happy happy happy.
It felt so magical. Anything seemed possible.
We could all four step straight off the balcony and fly like birds, our h a n d s still linked.
When we are outside in the dark I will keep holding Carl's hand. We will walk into the trees and I will kiss him, I vowed to myself.
We walked all the way round the balcony, and then down the winding stairs and out u n d e r n e a t h the glass spirals and bubbles and chandeliers, through the door into the darkness.
The Cherry Walk was crowded with people trying to see everything before t h e gates closed.
'Let's go down this path, where it's quieter,'
said Paul
'You're going the wrong way. You'll end up lost in t h e Woodland Glade,' said Miranda.
'Let's all get lost, j u s t for a little while,' said Carl.
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Yes, yes, let's!' I said.
'We'll play Hide and Seek – Sylvie and Carl, Miranda and me,' said Paul.
'No, no, that's for chickens, hiding in pairs.
We'll all split up,' said Miranda, eyes glittering in t h e moonlight. 'We'll all r u n off in different directions and the birthday boy h a s to count to a hundred, eyes closed, and then catch each of us.'
'No, that's j u s t a baby game,' said Paul.
'Oh, go on. Humour her. So w h a t do I get if I catch everyone, Miranda?' said Carl. His eyes looked oddly bright too. Maybe it was j u s t the eerie light.
'You get whatever your h e a r t desires, of course,' said Miranda, smiling. 'Right, I'm off.'
She suddenly started running, surprisingly quick in h e r boots, dodging round the corner of the Temperate House and out of sight before we could stop her.
'Go on, you two,' said Carl. 'I'll s t a r t counting.
One, two, t h r e e . . .'
Paul sighed but started running, rounding the Temperate House too.
'Carl,' I whispered, my mouth dry.
'Four, five, six – go on, Sylvie.'
'Look, we could both r u n off, they're not to know,' I said. 'Come on!'
'That's cheating,' said Carl. We've got to play now. It's OK. If I haven't found you in ten minutes come back to the Temperate House, right? Don't look like t h a t . You're not scared, are you?'
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'No!' I said, and r a n off the other way, down the whole length of the glasshouse, turning t h e corner up Holly Walk. I slowed down, counting in my head too. I stood still when I got to a h u n d r e d , s t a n d i n g behind a small t r e e , pretending to hide.
I waited for Carl to come and find me. I waited and waited and waited. He m u s t have gone t h e other way, M i r a n d a ' s way. He'd have caught her soon enough, and Paul too. So why weren't they all coming to seek me out?
I wished I h a d my mobile with me. I listened h a r d to see if I could h e a r t h e m calling me. I couldn't. I couldn't h e a r anyone now. I wasn't wearing a watch so I wasn't sure w h a t t h e time was, but I knew the gates would be closing soon.
W h a t if I got locked in? W h a t if I h a d to spend all night circling the glasshouses in the dark, fumbling through the plants, stumbling in the silent groves until dawn.
I called out, 'Carl! Carl! Carl!' My voice was high-pitched and panicky. I sounded like a bird calling in alarm. 'Carl!'
I was sure I'd been hiding at least ten minutes.
I r a n towards the Temperate House. It was still lit up, and I could see people inside. I stood there, taking deep breaths, trying to calm down. I was getting into a ridiculous state over nothing. Why did I have to be such a baby? If the others could see me now, how they would laugh at me.
There was no one waiting at the entrance. I stood there, dodging out of the way whenever 191
anyone needed to come out. People were looking at their watches and sighing. Where were the others? They couldn't all be lost. They wouldn't be so mean as to play a trick on me, would they?
Why on e a r t h h a d we all agreed to play such a silly game?
I suddenly realized this mightn't be the only entrance to such a large glasshouse.
'Excuse me, is t h i s t h e main entrance?'
I asked desperately, seizing hold of a couple.
'I t h i n k there's one on the other side too.'
'Oh no!' I thanked them and t h e n started running all the way round the great glasshouse.
More people were pouring out. There was someone using a loud-hailer, telling people t h a t the Temperate House was about to close.
'You're going the wrong way, girlie, the gate's down there.'
'Yes, yes, b u t I'm m e e t i n g someone,' I gasped, b u t I'd circled the whole glasshouse and there wasn't a sign of Carl or Miranda or Paul.
I didn't know w h a t to do. Jules was picking us up from the Victoria Gate. Should I make my way there by myself? But Carl h a d told me to meet up with him here.
I stood still, my face screwed up, unable to decide. I felt tears welling and swallowed hard, scared I was going to s t a r t howling.
'Are you all right, dear?' a woman asked. She h a d fluffy h a i r and flowery trousers like Jules. I h u n g onto h e r for help.
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'I've lost my friends,' I blurted out.
'Oh well, I'm sure you'll find t h e m soon.
Where were you supposed to meet them?'
'H
ere! I think so, anyway. But they've been gone ages.'
'Have you got a mobile phone?'
T e s , but I didn't bring it with me.'
' W h a t about your friends, do t h e y h a v e mobiles?'
'Carl does!'
'Well, Harry, lend us your mobile a s e c ' She t u r n e d to h e r husband. 'Come on, dear, your mobile.'
He didn't look too happy about handing it over to me. I dialled Carl's number. I knew it by h e a r t but I h a d to try it twice because my fingers were trembling so.
His mobile was switched off.
'Oh no, I can't get through to him!' The tears were starting to trickle down my cheeks.
'What about the other friends?'
'I could try Miranda. But I'm not sure I can remember h e r number.'
I tried once but a total stranger answered.
'Oh dear, maybe I've got t h e twos and threes muddled up.'
I tried a different combination.
'For goodness' sake, how m a n y friends are you going to try?' H a r r y said impatiently.
'I'm sorry, I'm sorry, it's j u s t I'm not sure of the number,' I sniffed.
'Stop bullying the poor little mite, Harry!
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Try again, dear. Take your time.'
I tried once more. After three rings Miranda answered.
' Y e p ?
'Oh, Miranda! Thank goodness! Where are you?'
'Hey, hey, what's up? Are you crying? What's happened? First Paul goes all weird, then you.
Where's Carl?'
'I don't know! I've been looking and looking, going round and round the Temperate House b u t I couldn't find any of you. Where are you now?'
'We're outside, Paul and me. We thought we'd p u s h off by ourselves. Paul said it was cool with you. It is OK, isn't it?'
' B u t . . .'
'We won't go back with Carl's m u m , we'll get t h e train, OK?'
'But where is Carl? He said he'd come back for me but he isn't anywhere. Oh, Miranda, don't go!'
'But we're nearly at the station now. Paul, you pig, you said Sylvie wanted us to clear off. Paul?
Stop it! Do you mind?' Miranda giggled. 'Hang on while I prise him off me.'
'Does he know where Carl is?'
'I don't know and I don't care,' I heard Paul say.
'What was t h a t ? Why's he being like that?'
'I t h i n k they've h a d some sort of fight,' said Miranda.
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