I am pleased for the Marshalls, really I am, but the news leaves me feeling strangely deflated. On the day they leave, I sit in the old oak, legs swinging, gloomy. I have baked panda-face cupcakes for Jasmine, packed a bag with dog chews for Sheba, painted a good-luck card for all of them. Still, it feels like I am crying inside.
Lawrie comes out of the house and down through the garden, hauling himself up into the branches beside me.
‘I don’t want you to go,’ I confess. ‘I will miss you, Lawrie Marshall.’
‘I’ll miss you,’ he counters. ‘It’s for the best, though. The further Mum is from Seddon the better. Maybe things will be OK for your family too, now?’
‘Sure they will. Your mum had the chocolate workshop running like clockwork. I can’t believe we made that deadline after all!’
‘With time to spare,’ he tells me. ‘Mum loved it. It’s been like watching her wake up, start to believe in herself again – thanks to Charlotte and Paddy. And you, obviously.’
‘What did I do?’
He shrugs. ‘Without you, I’d never have dared stand up to Seddon. He’d knocked the fight out of us – all I could do was look out for Mum and Jas, make sure the animals were fed. Then you turned up with your mad plans and suddenly everything was different, we were in the middle of this big adventure. You gave me hope. OK, at first I thought you were a little bit crazy …’
‘I am a little bit crazy,’ I agree.
He grins. ‘I know. I got to like it, after a while. It’s been so long since I had a proper friend, and I think … I know … well, you’re probably my best friend. Maybe more than a friend …’
I don’t see it coming.
I have noticed the way he looks at me sometimes, his blue eyes sad and searching, noticed a crackle of energy between us sometimes when we touch by accident. I’ve laughed off my friends’ suggestions that he fancies me, but I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t wondered if he did. I’d be lying too, if I said I hadn’t thought about Lawrie a little bit, dreamed even.
Still, I panic when he leans towards me, his fingers stroking my cheek, his lips brushing mine. I almost jump out of my skin, and that is not a good plan when you are six feet above the ground, sitting in an old oak tree.
I am pretty sure it’s not the reaction Lawrie was hoping for.
I put my hand out, touch his cheek, his lips. His skin is cold beneath my fingers, but his lips are soft and warm.
‘Hey,’ I whisper. ‘Lawrie, you’re my best friend too, but … well, I don’t think I’m ready for anything more right now. Is that OK?’
‘I guess,’ he says. ‘I’ll wait. I’ll come back one day, I promise, and we’ll both be older then and things will be different. Yeah?’
‘I hope so,’ I tell him. ‘We can write, can’t we? And email, maybe.’
‘Definitely. Listen, Coco, I hate goodbyes,’ he says. ‘Besides, I know we’ll meet again. But if we don’t, for whatever reason, there’s one thing you have to know. I will never forget you, Coco Tanberry. Never.’
He slides down from the oak tree and walks away, and by the time the taxi arrives to take them to the station I am playing the violin, thinking of a boy with sad eyes, warm lips, unruly hair that falls across his face.
I guess I hate goodbyes as well.
A week ago we took Honey to Heathrow to catch her flight to Sydney. Honey looked small, lost, alone as she walked out through the security gates, and I panicked suddenly that we might lose her forever. Living with a stormcloud like Honey has never been easy, but I don’t think I will ever get used to her not being around. In some ways, this has been the worst week of my life.
In other ways, it has been the best.
As I play, a pony comes towards me through the long grass, a rough-coated bay with a wild, dark mane and tail, her eyes soft and shining. Caramel watches me solemnly for a while, ears pricked as I play. It turns out that she really was Jasmine’s birthday pony, but of course there will be no room for her at Jas and Lawrie’s gran’s house. Fitting three people and a skinny mongrel in is one thing; finding space for an Exmoor pony is something else entirely.
‘You sent me cupcakes and jasmine flowers,’ the little girl explained to me last week. ‘Before you even met me. That was kind. And you saved Caramel and kept her safe, so … will you look after her for me now? Please?’
I promised that I would.
Just a few weeks ago I thought that if I had Caramel, all my troubles would be over; she’s mine now, pretty much, but I have a feeling my troubles are just beginning. I said this to Honey at the airport last week, and she laughed and told me that I’d be fine, that I was just growing up. Well, maybe.
I slide down to the ground, put my violin away and take Caramel’s halter, leading her up to the stable she shares with Humbug the sheep. I saddle her carefully, adjust her reins and swing up on to her back, and together we walk out through the field gate heading down, slowly, towards the beach.
Caramel tosses her head in the wind and skitters a little as her hooves sink into the sand. We turn to face the vast shimmering expanse of ocean, now streaked with red and gold as the sun drops steadily lower in the sky, and I think of another afternoon, riding Caramel across the moors with Lawrie’s arms round me. Then I shake the memory free and press my heels in gently and we bound forward into a canter, out along the beach, heads down, happy, glad to be alive.
shy, quiet, always on the outside … sometimes finds it hard to separate truth from fiction
14 years old
Born: Glasgow
Mum: Kiko
Dad: Paddy
Looks: small; slim; coffee-coloured skin; straight, dark hair with a fringe, often worn in little bunches
Style: bright skinny jeans, T-shirts, anything with a Japanese theme
Loves: dreaming, stories, cherry blossom, Irn-Bru, gypsy caravans
Prize possessions: kimono, parasol, Japanese fan, photo of her mum from long ago
Dreams: of being part of a family
www.cathycassidy.com
friendl, eccentric, individual, imaginative
13 years old – Summer’s identical twin
Born: Kitnor
Mum: Charlotte
Dad: Greg
Looks: shoulder-length blonde hair, blue eyes, big grin
Style: floppy hats and vintage dresses, scarves and shoes
Loves: history, horoscopes, dreaming, drawing
Prize possessions: her collection of vintage dresses and the fossil she once found on the beach
Dreams: of travelling back in time to see what the past was really like …
www.cathycassidy.com
quiet, confident, pretty, popular, and very serious about dance
13 years old – Skye’s identical twin
Born: Kitnor
Mum: Charlotte
Dad: Greg
Looks: long blonde hair, always tied back in braids or a neat ballerina bun; blue eyes; moves gracefully
Style: anything pink … neat, pretty, fashionable clothes and dance-wear
Loves: dancing, especially ballet
Prize possessions: pointe shoes and tutu
Dreams: of going to the Royal Ballet School, becoming a professional dancer and one day running her own ballet school
www.cathycassidy.com
cheeky, energetic, friendly, adventurous, crazy about animals
12 years old
Born: Kitnor
Mum: Charlotte
Dad: Greg
Looks: chin-length wavy blonde hair, always tangled; blue eyes; freckles; big grin
Style: tomboy: jeans, T-shirt, always messy and dishevelled
Loves: animals, climbing trees, swimming in the sea
Prize possessions: Fred the dg an
d the ducks
Dreams: of having a Ilama, a donkey and a parrot
www.cathycassidy.com
a drama queen: moody, selfish, often sad … but also bright, charming, organized and sweet
15 years old
Born: London
Mum: Charlotte
Dad: Gerg
Looks: long, ringletty blonde hair that reaches to her waist; blue eyes; creamy skin; tall; slim
Style: cool: little print dresses, strappy sandals, shades, shorts and T-shirts
Loves: drawing, painting, fashion, music … and Shay Fletcher
Prize possessions: hair, diary, sketchbook, turret bedroom
Dreams: of being a model, actress or fashion designer
www.cathycassidy.com
Which Chocolate Box Girl Are you?
Your perfect day would be spent …
a) visiting a busy vintage market
b) with your favourite canine companion on a long walk in the countryside
c) curled up on the sofa watching black-and-white movies with your boyfriend
d) window-shopping with your BFF
e) sipping frappuccinos in a hip city cafe
Your ideal boy is …
a) arty and sensitive
b) boy? No thanks!
c) a good listener … and a little bit quirky
d) polite and clever
e) good looking and popular – what other kind of boy is there?
Who’s the first person you would tell about your new crush?
a) your sister – she knows everything about you
b) your pet cat … animals are great listeners
c) your BFF
d) your mum – she always has the best advice
e) no one. It’s best not to trust anyone with a secret
Your favourite subject is …
a) history
b) science
c) creative writing
d) French
e) drama
Your school books are …
a) covered in paisley-print fabric
b) a bit muddy
c) filled with doodles
d) neat, tidy and full of good grades
e) rarely handed in on time
When you grow up you want to be …
a) an interior designer
b) a vet
c) a writer
d) a prima ballerina
e) famous
People always compliment your …
a) individuality. If anyone can pull it off you can!
b) caring nature – every creature deserves a bit of love
c) wild imagination … although it can get you into trouble sometimes
d) determination. Practice makes perfect
e) strong personality. You never let anyone stand in your way
Mostly As … Skye
Cool and eclectic, friends love your relaxed boho style and passion for all things quirky.
Mostly Bs … Coco
A real mother earth, but with your feet firmly on the ground, you’re happiest in the great outdoors – accompanied by a whole menagerie of animal companions.
Mostly Cs … Cherry
‘Daydreamer’ is your middle name … Forever thinking up crazy stories and buzzing with new ideas, you always have an exciting tale to tell – you’re allowed a bit of artistic licence, right?
Mostly Ds … Summer
Passionate and fun, you’re determined to make your dreams come true … and your family and friends are behind you every step of the way.
Mostly Es … Honey
Popular, intimidating, lonely … everyone has a different idea about the ‘real you’. Try opening up a bit more and you’ll realize that friends are there to help you along the way.
Summer Fruit Skewers
For a refreshing healthy snack on those hot summer days, try making your own garden of fruit skewers.
You will need:
Your fave fruits (the best ones include kiwis, strawberries, grapes, oranges, and watermelon and pineapple slices)
10 or more wooden skewers
Heart, flower or butterfly cookie cutters
A shoe box (this will be your garden display)
What to do:
Using a chopping board carefully cut your chosen fruit into round shapes.
One at a time, lay your slices of fruit on the board and cut into flower, butterfly and heart shapes using the cookie cutters.
Carefully insert the skewers into the fruit to create a beautiful flower display.
Making a flower:
* Cut a slice of pineapple into a flower shape and add to the skewer so it’s horizontal. Then add a small strawberry to the very top to make the centre of the flower. Add a couple of grapes to the ‘stem’ of the flower to look like leaves. Try other methods and designs too!
Top Tip!
For an extra-refreshing taste, serve with a yoghurt or cream-cheese dip!
Assemble your Flower Garden:
* Decorate your shoe box to make it look like a garden, using green paint, tissue paper, flower stickers, etc.
* Cut small holes into the top of the shoe box.
* Insert your flower skewers into the holes to create a flower border!
www.cathycassidy.com
Coco’s Lemonade
You need:
1 cup sugar
4–6 fresh lemons
Method:
Place one cup of sugar in a heatproof mixing jug and add one cup of boiling water, stirring gently until the sugar dissolves.
Use a lemon squeezer to squeeze the juice of 4–6 fresh lemons, enough to make a cupful.
Mix sugar-water and lemon juice together in a tall jug/pitcher and add 3–4 cups of water to taste.
Refrigerate for 30 mins and serve with lots of ice and slices of lemon.
For pink lemonade, slice up a bowlful of fresh strawberries and stir into the finished lemonade instead of lemon slices.
Find more yummy recipes at www.cathycassidy.com
Yummy Ice-cream Sundaes
Banana Split
You need:
1 banana
vanilla ice cream
chopped nuts
chocolate sauce
Method:
Slice the banana in half lengthways, place in a dish and arrnage three scoops of vanilla ice cream between the halves.
Decorate with a sprinkle of chopped nuts and a squoosh of chocolate sauce!
Chocolate Heaven
You need:
3 chocolate chip cookies, crumbled
4 squares chocolate, grated
vanilla ice cream
chocolate ice cream
chocolate sauce
aerosal cream
Method:
In a tall glass, layer a scoop of vanilla ice cream, a sprinkle of crumbled cookie, a scoop of chocolate ice cream and a layer of grated chocolate, and another scoop of vanilla ice cream and a layer of crumbled cookie. Top with a layer of squishy aerosol cream and decorate with grated chocolate and sauce … bliss!
Strawberry Sundae
You need:
fresh strawberries
plain frozen yoghurt
strawberry yoghurt
strawberry sauce
Method:
Cut most of the fresh strawberries into quarters then layer in a tall glass with the plain frozen yoghurt, strawberry yoghurt and an occasional squirt of strawberry sauce.
Repeat the layers until you reach the top of the glass. Finish off with the leftover strawberries and an extra squoosh of strawberry sauce!
Chocolate Box Girls: Coco Caramel Page 16
