by Anne Digby
Within a matter of seconds, all that changed. It happened when the introductions took place.
'Virginia – you know Rebecca, of course?'
'Yes.' The older girl gave Rebecca a friendly smile. 'You've moved up into Court now haven't you?'
'And this is David Driscoll –' Robbie continued. David was bending down, tying a lace. 'I don't think you've met –'
'Of course we have!' laughed Virginia, as David stood up. 'Hallo David! Where did you get to at lunch time? I was looking for you.' She spared Robbie a brief glance. 'David's been giving me some coaching these holidays. I've been dying to talk to him all day.'
She put a hand on the older boy's arm and gazed at him, rather flirtatiously, Rebecca thought. 'David – my serve – the way you showed me. It's really beginning to work.'
'Good,' said David, shortly.
Robbie was glowering and the atmosphere had suddenly become rather icy. But Virginia didn't even notice that Robbie was jealous. She continued to gaze at David.
'Don't you dare play really fiercely,' she said, pouting but looking very pretty at the same time. 'This is only a friendly little tournament. Give Robbie and me a chance!'
'Don't be silly,' snapped Robbie.
Rebecca glanced at him uneasily. It might have been a friendly little tournament up to a few seconds ago. As far as Robbie Anderson was concerned, it wasn't any longer. He'd show Virginia – even if he had to run himself into the ground!
He stormed through the first five games, keeping Virginia off the ball, playing to David all the time as though it were a men's singles! His mouth was set in a hard line and he played with a concentration and ferocity that took them quite by surprise. In no time at all, David and Rebecca were 1–4 down and in danger of losing the first set!
As they changed ends, a hum of conversation ran through the onlookers. Things had taken an unexpected turn! Which way was the match going to go? Young Robbie Anderson was playing some inspired tennis.
But David Driscoll was completely unruffled.
'I think I'd better sharpen up a bit, Rebecca,' he said, calmly. 'You've had a very long day. I don't want it to go to three sets. Let's stop the rot.'
He began to play with great precision and control, taking the steam out of Robbie with long, punishing rallies that slowed down the pace and then suddenly closing in to the net with whiplash volleys to score. Virginia gave gasps of admiration at some of those points.
'Whose side are you on?' asked Robbie fiercely at one stage and Rebecca could see that he was getting angry and frustrated.
The score in games levelled to 4–4, the next game was crucial.
Virginia was serving and she and Robbie were 30-40 down.
The first serve was in. David cracked it back on the forehand and then Robbie countered with a sizzling back-hand into the tramlines. Rebecca showed how fast she could move by racing over and getting the tip of her racket to it sending it back, in a high lob.
Robbie ran backwards, waiting for the ball to drop, then smashed hard towards the baseline.
'Out' called the linesman.
'Game to Driscoll and Miss Mason, 5 games to 4 –' began the umpire.
'It was in!' shouted Robbie furiously. 'It hit the baseline I saw it –' He walked over to the umpire's chair, still protesting. 'It was in – the score should be deuce.'
The umpire glanced towards the linesman who shook his head stubbornly, although in fact he had made a bad call.
'Out. Game to Driscoll –'
'It was in!' Robbie continued to argue and gesticulate and point to the baseline. In the crowd, somebody booed.
Stop it, Robbie! thought Rebecca.
David Driscoll kept perfectly calm.
'He's making a fool of himself,' he stated. 'As if it matters! He thinks he's at Wimbledon.'
'It matters to him,' she said, loyally.
The umpire ordered Robbie back on to the court and David and Rebecca went on to win the first set, 6–4.
Robbie was completely unsettled after that. In the second set some more hairsbreadth decisions went against him and at one stage he actually threw his racket down on to the court in a fury. Somebody started up a slow handclap until, red-faced and apologizing to the umpire, he picked up his racket and got on with the game.
Rebecca wanted to sink into the ground with shame for him. It upset her own game. But Robbie's antics didn't have the slightest effect on David Driscoll. He was quite unruffled – and proceeded to dominate the match. They won the second set 6–1 and it was all over.
'Game, set and match to Driscoll and Miss Mason.'
They all shook hands at the net. 'You were in good form, David,' said Virginia, admiration written all over her face. She gave him a playful push. 'Go and get your cup, then.'
'I want my partner to have it,' said David. To Rebecca's surprise he put an arm round her shoulders. 'Her first tennis trophy – I don't think it will be her last.'
Mrs Seabrook presented Rebecca with the cup and then shook hands with all four players. The onlookers clapped politely, except for Sue who gave a loud cheer. Rebecca knew that her part in winning the tournament had been a minor one, but it was a wonderful moment all the same. She walked towards the court gate intending to find Sue and her parents, and show them the cup.
Robbie got there first and held open the gate for her. 'I'm sorry, Rebeck,' he said. He mustered a smile as he looked at the cup. 'Don't let Tish use it for lemonade.' But she knew that he was feeling ashamed of himself and miserable.
'Don't worry, Robbie.' Rebecca gave him her best smile. 'I won't.'
His eyes had already strayed back to Virginia, who was chatting to David Driscoll. Rebecca hurried off.
Margaret Exton, an old enemy of Tish's, barred her way. She had arrived back at school this afternoon, a day early, because her father was buying up a sports car factory in the west country.
'Tish Anderson's brother behaved like a big ape,' she said loudly.
Rebecca pushed past her and joined her parents and Sue. There was much hugging and back slapping. They held the cup and admired it. 'But I thought your friend Tish's brother behaved rather badly,' said Mrs Mason. Miss Willis came over and joined them and then David Driscoll wandered up.
'Well, David, what do you think of her?' The games mistress knew the new part-time coach by sight. 'Do you think she deserves her place in the reserve squad? When do your training sessions start?'
'A fortnight's time. I think we'll be able to do quite a lot with her.' His manner was still formal, but he looked at Rebecca approvingly. 'My moped's over at the boarding house. I'd better get it. Can anyone remind me how to get back there?'
'I–' Rebecca felt that the question was directed at her, but she wished he hadn't asked it. She was still thinking about Robbie Anderson. Where was he? Was he still feeling awful? She wanted to see him!
'Sue –' said Miss Willis quickly, '– take David back to Court House.'
Soon it was time for Mr and Mrs Mason to drive back to London.
Their suitcase was packed and their car was parked up by the main school building. When Rebecca took her parents up there, she saw an admiring crowd gathered around the sleek silver car that was parked next to it. Mr Slade was sitting at the wheel. He had returned, to collect Virginia for her last night at home and at the same time to give Robbie a lift back to school.
Suddenly Virginia rushed past them, tugging Robbie along by the shirt-sleeve. 'Come on, Daddy's waiting! I'd better not tell him about the stew you got in to!' She gave a little laugh. 'Silly Robbie!'
Rebecca watched them go by and she sighed.
It didn't seem to bother Virginia that Robbie had made a fool of himself!
It didn't even seem to bother him any longer. He looked happy enough.
Let David Driscoll putt-putt off home, thought Robbie. Right now he was going to be driven back to Garth College with Virginia – in old Slade's new car!
He opened the gleaming door and helped her in and then got in
beside her and slammed it shut. He stared, mesmerized at the magnificent instrument panel. What a car! And what a girl! Roll on the Dance. Pity it wasn't until right at the end of October. He could think of several boys who would pester her about it. But she'd promised him – Robbie Anderson – and that was settled!
Virginia was thinking: Robbie's sweet. But I think I'm going off boys of my own age. I think I prefer them David's age.
John Slade started up the engine and let in the clutch. In his imagination so did Robbie. Smooth, skilful. They were moving away . . .
'Goodbye, Robbie!' Rebecca burst out.
He saw her, through a blur.
'Goodbye!'
She wouldn't be seeing him again until the night of the Hallowe'en Dance.
'The ball was definitely in,' said Sue, as they lay in their beds talking that night. 'But I've never known Robbie be a bad sport before. I don't know what came over him.'
'He was just desperate to win. He was trying to impress Virginia, of course,' said Rebecca. That was the part she didn't want to think about.
'He must have it bad,' said Sue. She yawned loudly.
'Tish will be furious,' said Rebecca. 'Margaret Exton won't let her live this down.'
'I was thinking how perfect it is here,' said Sue. 'Being in Court House.' Through a gap in the curtains she could see the moon sliding out from behind a cloud. 'You've just reminded me of the one drawback. We've got Margaret Exton.'
'Right.'
Rebecca was almost asleep. The moonlight caught the edge of the silver cup standing on her chest of drawers, and made it shimmer. It had been a great day. A day to remember. It was a pity that something had happened to spoil it, just a little.
She had woken up thinking about David Driscoll, but she went to sleep thinking about Robbie Anderson.
FOUR
MARA'S NEW DRESS
Whoomph! Whoomph! Thwack! Whoomph! Forehand, backhand, smash, volley! Rebecca was playing tennis against herself, pounding the ball at the wall relentlessly. The blank end wall of Norris House across the courtyard, with its smooth area of paving stones in front, made the perfect practice place.
Today was Monday September 7th and all boarders were due back. Girls had been arriving in cars throughout the afternoon and the coaches had gone to Trebizon station to meet the train girls. Tish would be here soon – and Margot and Elf! Mara would come by road. To the Greek girl's deep regret she was never allowed to travel by train on her own. Mr Leonodis was one of the world's richest men. He adored his youngest daughter and didn't believe in taking unnecessary risks.
Sue was over in the Hilary, practising her violin, and Rebecca was busy sharpening up her reflexes, hitting ball after ball, non-stop.
'Congratulations Rebecca!' shouted Josselyn Vining, coming out of Norris with some damp washing. She hung her track suit and games socks on the line to dry. She'd been playing in a seven-a-side hockey tournament at Clifford, where she lived, before being driven straight on to school. 'Hear you won the tournie here yesterday!'
'Not me, Joss!' Rebecca shouted back, going at full stretch as the ball came at a funny angle – 'Not me . . . got it! . . . my partner!'
She battered on, as Joss came up and watched her.
'Which days will you be going to Exonford?' She knew that Rebecca had got into the county junior reserve squad. She trained with the 'A' squad herself. 'Saturdays or Sundays?'
'Every other Saturday,' Rebecca puffed, 'starting the nineteenth.'
'Pity. Our training sessions are going to be Sundays this winter. We could have gone on the train together!'
Exonford was the only town in the county that had indoor tennis courts and training facilities. All the county schemes were based there. It was twenty miles away.
'Who was your partner yesterday?'
'David Driscoll,' said Rebecca, whamming another ball.
'Oh, him!' Joss played regularly for the county junior 'A' team but also, at only thirteen, had played some senior games this summer, alongside Rebecca's coach. 'All serious, isn't he?'
'Is he?' Rebecca thought for a moment. 'He's good though, isn't he? He's going to take our group.'
'You mean he's working for the county?' Joss sounded surprised. 'He told me he was trying to get a job in industry. He left Trebizon Tech. back in June with a diploma in business studies.'
'Maybe he can't find one. Maybe he's filling in time.'
All this time Rebecca had never stopped hitting the ball.
'You ought to be glad your sessions are on Sunday, Joss. You'll be needed for hockey on Saturdays.'
Joss just nodded. She was very tall with short brown curly hair and the outstanding athlete of Rebecca's year – brilliant at just about everything. She'd already played at Junior Wimbledon and next summer might enter the qualifying rounds for the senior tournament. The world-famous Wimbledon tournament! But at the same time she was already being looked upon as a future athletics prospect – and, of course, the county hockey selectors were keeping an eye on her. She was amazing – and it made her seem a little remote from the rest of them sometimes.
'Blow me, you've improved Rebecca,' she said suddenly.
'Have I?' Rebecca tried to sound casual.
'Maybe we could play sometimes?' Joss said. 'They keep the net up on the staff court all the year round.'
'Do they?' Rebecca stopped dead and caught the ball in her hand. 'You mean – where the teachers play? By the kitchen gardens? But surely not just anybody can play –'
'Who's anybody? They let you play if you've got prospects,' smiled Joss. 'I've got to dash now. Found a room for myself in Norris – got to finish unpacking. 'Bye!'
' 'Bye!' Rebecca swung her racket and thumped the ball against the wall with renewed vigour. Got prospects! That familiar tingling went down her spine again. Had she? Or was it all a bubble that was suddenly going to burst? What were the other boys and girls in the reserve squad going to be like . . . would they be better than her when it came to it . . . much, much better? Come the nineteenth, she might find out. Whooomph. Whooomph. Thwack. Forehand, backhand, smash!
She was soon engrossed again. She didn't hear somebody creep up behind her until suddenly – urmnphh! – they leapt on her back and put their hands across her eyes.
'Guess who!'
'Tish!' shouted Rebecca joyfully, then grabbed her under the knees. 'Charge!'
She lowered her head and ran several yards with Tish on her back going 'Ayahahahaha' like a Red Indian, then deliberately collapsed forward towards the ground so that they landed in a tangled heap in the middle of the courtyard, laughing helplessly.
'Congratulations!' Tish smote her on the back. 'You won!'
They scrambled up.
'You know?'
'I've just seen Sue – she showed me the room, fantastic! – and she told me! How you and Driscoll beat Robbie and Virginia and how my dear brother showed me up and Margaret Exton isn't going to let me live it down! Come on, everybody's just arrived, Mara too. Sue's just going to cut her birthday cake!'
'Yippee!'
They rushed over to Court House and in through the kitchen door. There were four girls in there. Sue was back from music practice and was cutting a rich iced fruit cake that her mother had baked and packed in her trunk. She was fourteen today. Margot Lawrence was there and so were Sally Elphinstone – Elf for short – and Mara Leonodis.
Mara's brother Anestis, who had driven her to Trebizon, was out the front somewhere with the car, getting her luggage sorted out.
'Rebecca!' they all cried. The six of them were back together!
And then the other six girls from III Alpha who'd been allocated to Court House came piling into the kitchen. Aba Amori, the Nigerian girl, Anne Finch, Ann Ferguson, Jane Bowen – who, like Mara, had been promoted from the Beta stream – Elizabeth Kendall and Jenny Brook-Hayes.
'Happy birthday, Sue!'
'Let's give her the bumps!'
'Aaaaagh!' protested Sue laughing as she was lifted high in the
air and then down again, fourteen times. 'Aaah! You rotten lot – stop it!'
There was a terrible din after that as they laughed and talked and drank coffee and ate birthday cake. In the middle of it all the door opened and the Greek boy stood there, darkly good-looking but covered in confusion, with a great frothy mass of frilled white lace in his arms. 'Mara! What do I do with this?'
'Anestis!' Mara laughed. 'Just put it on my bed –'
But the girls were already crowding round.
'Mara – show us!'
She took it from her brother and held it up.
'What a beautiful dress!' exclaimed Rebecca. She felt a pang of envy.
'Yes!' Mara's brown eyes were shining now. 'For the what is it? – the All Hallows Dance.'
'Will your father let you go to that then?' asked Elf with a gulp. What wouldn't she give to be able to squeeze into a dress like that! 'I mean, isn't he strict about you meeting boys?'
'I shall be going with Anestis!' announced Mara and gave her brother a sisterly kiss on the cheek. 'Father agrees to that. Anestis has promised to come down for it. So, you see, I shall not miss any of the fun!'
Some of them looked at each other rather blankly, especially Tish and Rebecca, as they hadn't been planning on going to the big dance and couldn't see what fun there would be to miss. It was weeks away, anyway – after half-term! But they wouldn't have dreamt of saying so right then.
'Er – like some birthday cake, Anestis?' asked Sue.
'Thank you, no.' He bowed low. 'I'm in a great rush now –' He gave Sue a beautiful smile. 'You girls must have it all.'
Mara went to see him off, still holding the dress.
'It's beautiful!' thought Rebecca once again.
Margaret Exton thought she would make Tish's life a misery.
'Poor you,' she said later, when she met her in the hall at Court House. 'Fancy having Robbie Anderson for an elder brother. Very sad.'
But Tish soon silenced her.
'You must know just how I feel,' she said sweetly. 'I wonder if he'll get himself expelled, like your elder sister did?'
The Fourth Year girl's bony face went rigid and she flounced off up the stairs to her room, flicking strands of long black hair away from her eyes. Last year Elizabeth Exton had been expelled from Trebizon – and it was partly Tish Anderson's doing that she'd been caught out.
