by K T Durham
Lily continued to stare at her. “That’s amazing! Your Cantonese sounds better than mine!”
Elly panicked. She hadn’t realized she had switched to using the Cantonese language. Elves are gifted with the ability to understand and speak any language they came across. This was one elven ability she had not thought of reining in. She had so much to learn, much to adjust if she had to be convincing as a human. She really had to learn to blend in like a chameleon, as Larabeth Goldberry must have done.
Grandma clucked her tongue at Lily. “See, you should practise more!” she admonished her granddaughter in Cantonese. Then she patted Elly fondly on the shoulder before shuffling out of the room.
“How did you learn to speak Cantonese so fluently?” Lily demanded. She was annoyed; now her Grandma would have more reason to pester her about improving her mother tongue.
Greymore rumbled. Careful, Ellanor.
Elly swallowed nervously. “Oh, yes… I can understand and speak a lot of languages… it sort of runs in the family, you see… We’re all multi-lingual.”
This seemed reasonable enough. Even some humans are known to be gifted in languages, though not to the extent that elves are.
Lily sighed and flopped onto the couch. “You are so lucky!” she groaned. “I’m not very good at learning different languages. I’ve always preferred using only English, even with Grandma. Cantonese is like a foreign language to me. My parents are forever bugging me to improve. But they just have no idea how difficult it is. Everyone at school and all my friends speak English; how could they expect me to be fluent in Cantonese without ever having taken proper lessons?”
She crossed her arms and scowled. “Grandma likes to joke that I’m like a banana, because I’m yellow on the outside and white on the inside. But I just don’t think it’s very funny at all!”
Elly was perplexed. Lily had pretty fair skin. “But you don’t look yellow to me.”
Lily burst out laughing. Then she noticed Elly’s confused expression and giggled. “You see, girls like me look Chinese on the outside, but inside I think and feel more like a Westerner.”
She propped up her stockinged feet on the couch. “You know what I mean, right? The skin tone of Asian people is generally more… yellow or olive, but Westerners have a skin tone that is more pale, more white. That’s why girls like me are known as bananas.” She looked at Elly as though she expected this to be perfectly comprehensible.
Elly imagined Lily as a giant banana, and giggled. “Then, what about a white Caucasian girl who grows up in China and learns to think and feel more like a Chinese person?”
Lily thought for a moment. “White on the outside and yellow on the inside… How about an egg?” The two girls doubled up with laughter.
Then Lily sat bolt upright. “Wait, I just remembered something!”
She reached out towards a grey backpack next to the couch, rummaged around, and retrieved a thin book. She was flipping through it when she snapped her fingers.
“Oh Elly, I have a superb idea! Please, please, please come to my school fair on the twenty-eighth of January—that’s in over three weeks! My school’s just a few blocks away. Please, pretty please, if you’re still in town, do come with me! I’m still quite new to St Catherine’s, and I don’t really have any friends there. I don’t want to go to the fair all by myself.”
At this, she flopped back onto the couch and turned to Elly imploringly. “I’m auditioning for the part of Cinderella for the school musical that our speech and drama class is putting on for the end of the school year, and it’s going to be huge. It’s a modern, revamped version of the story, so it’s going to be really fabulous. Instead of tacky glass slippers, the girl cast as Cinderella will get to wear a pair of gorgeous heels by Manolo Blahnik; they’re actually sponsoring us this year! I’ve never even stepped into their store before!”
Elly had no inkling who Manolo Blahnik was. Oblivious, Lily continued. “You know, I’m not too bad at singing, and I dare say I can act better than Clare Andrews.”
She noticed Elly’s quizzical expression and sighed. “She’s this really horrid girl in my year, and it’s gotten worse now that she’s recruited a new girl to join her clique.”
She jumped up off the couch and started pacing back and forth, speaking a mile a minute.
“Clare thinks Cinderella can’t possibly be played by someone like me. To quote her, ‘Cinderella is supposed to be pretty. I certainly don’t recall Cinderella being Chinese and four-eyed.’”
She sniffed and crossed her arms indignantly. “But I’ll show her! I may not have blue eyes and long blonde hair like she does, but I can sing and remember my lines!”
Elly had once read the story of Cinderella in a tattered old volume of Grimm’s Fairy Tales that was missing about a third of its pages. She didn’t think it mattered whether Cinderella had golden, silver, or black hair as long as she was pretty, kind, gentle… and had feet small enough to fit into the dainty glass slippers, unlike her wicked stepsisters. For some reason, the Three Flamingos came to mind.
“Maybe Clare Andrews can play one of the wicked stepsisters instead,” Elly suggested with a wink.
Lily raised her eyebrows and laughed. “Yes, what a fabulous idea!”
Then Elly heard a low growl. She looked up and saw a handsome, bright-eyed husky with a plush coat of black and white fur trotting into the room, his tail swishing back and forth. I want some beef jerky! the dog panted, barking for attention. He tried nudging Lily towards the kitchen with his snout.
Lily laughed and cuddled her dog. “Oh, there you are, you sleepyhead!” she said affectionately, kissing him on the forehead. “Meet my new friend Elly! This is Soybean. He’s been with us since I was seven!”
Elly stood very still, trying to look unfazed as the dog sniffed at her suspiciously.
Then her stomach knotted when he barked and demanded to know, What do you have in your pocket?
CHAPTER EIGHT
Soybean’s New Friend
Elly gulped and put her hand on her pocket, trying to calm Hobbes, who was writhing frantically and clawing at her thigh. Soybean was now barking incessantly, shoving his face close to Elly’s dress.
Lily looked mortified as she tugged on Soybean’s collar. “Oh dear, he’s quite forgotten his manners! He usually doesn’t behave like this!”
She put her hands on her hips and glared at her dog. “Soybean, sit!”
But Soybean was on a mission. He could smell something fleshy from that girl’s pocket!
Hobbes’ squeaks were being drowned out by the barking. Scrambling around in blind fear, he squealed tearfully, “Save me, save me!”
Then Elly had an idea.
She squatted and looked at Soybean squarely in the eye. Listen and be still, Soybean. I have a hamster in my pocket. Please don’t hurt him. His name is Hobbes. Be nice to him, okay?
If you have never seen a dog look surprised, then Soybean would have been your first.
Soybean froze and fell silent, then yelped. He took several steps back before sitting on his hind legs, his tail wagging furiously. Then he gazed up at Elly with wide, adoring eyes.
Lily stared at her dog, surprised that he had calmed down so abruptly. “Soybean?” she said uncertainly, touching him on the head.
Elly smiled at her. “Soybean is really adorable! Let me give him a cuddle!” She went up to the husky and put her arms around his soft furry neck.
My name is Elly, and I am an elf; that’s why I can communicate with you like this. Now, please be a good friend and keep an eye on Hobbes. Promise?
Soybean was so happy that he could hear the voice of this pretty person in his head! Oh, he just loved people! He barked happily, eager to please his new friend. Yes, yes, yes! Whatever you say, Elly!
Elly grinned and patted him on the head while Lily looked on in amazement. “Wow, what did
you do to him? All of a sudden, he seems to worship you!”
Elly grinned. “I’ve always had a way with animals. By the way, I think he wants some beef jerky.”
Lily blinked, then picked up a packet of dog snacks that had been stashed underneath a cushion. “Here, you silly boy!” she said, tossing him several strips of his favourite beef jerky. Soybean barked excitedly and started devouring them.
Elly took a deep breath. “Lily, I think… I need your help.”
Lily looked up, surprised. “Erm, sure. What is it?”
Slowly, Elly retrieved a quivering and dishevelled-looking ball of fur from her pocket. Lily’s mouth dropped open.
Elly smiled sheepishly. “Lily, meet my friend Hobbes. I found him this morning.” She gently stroked the frightened hamster, and then explained how she had come across Hobbes at the Berry Grove Park.
“I’m sorry, I don’t want to impose this on you. But I need to ask. Is it possible for you to take Hobbes? He’s all alone, and he really needs a home. Do you think… he can stay here?”
Lily’s eyes widened further. “So this is why Soybean went berserk! He could probably smell Hobbes a mile away!”
She peered at the quivering hamster and grinned. “I’ve always wanted one of these cute furballs, but I wasn’t sure whether it would be a good idea with Soybean around.”
She glanced at her dog, who was now sitting obediently, happy as could be.
Elly gave Soybean a meaningful wink. If you had never seen a dog smile, Soybean would have been the first. “I think Soybean will be good to Hobbes. Right?”
Soybean barked happily in agreement and nodded.
Lily blinked. Did Soybean actually nod at Elly? She must not have slept well last night. She was seeing her dog do weird things.
Then she turned and looked down at Hobbes, who was trembling like a leaf, his paws shielding his face. “Aww, he is awfully cute!” she said with a giggle. But Hobbes squealed and shrank from her.
“Let me go ask my mum now!” Lily said, and dashed out of the room. While she was gone, Elly turned to Soybean and wagged her finger. “Remember, you won’t harm Hobbes,” she said sternly.
Soybean nodded vigorously and barked. I promise, Elly!
Hobbes whimpered and curled into a ball. “Elly, I can’t stay here! I’m terrified of canines!”
Elly patted him on the head. “Trust me Hobbes, you’ll be much safer and more comfortable here than out on the road with me. I need to find a way back home, and it’s occurred to me that I might put you in danger. Lily will take care of you, and Soybean has promised to be nice.”
But Hobbes cowered from Soybean, who was looking at the hamster with something close to manic zeal.
By the time Lily had bounded back, Hobbes was on the table, hiding behind a teacup. If she hadn’t known better, she would’ve sworn that Elly and Soybean were actually talking to each other. She slapped a palm against her forehead. How absurd! What was wrong with her today?
Lily laughed. “Wow, Soybean has really taken a shine to you!”
Then she gently picked up Hobbes as he gave a mighty squeak. She smiled and stroked his quivering head. “Mum gave me the green light! She made me call Dad at work to ask for his permission. Hobbes, welcome to our family!”
Elly beamed and clapped her hands in delight. “Thank you, Lily!” she cried. But Hobbes looked over at her sorrowfully. At that moment, he was the saddest looking hamster you would have ever seen.
With Elly’s help, Lily created a makeshift home for Hobbes using a shoebox stuffed with shredded tissue paper as bedding. Then she put a bowl of watermelon seeds in one corner and a little bowl of water in another. Hobbes quickly snatched two watermelon seeds and shoved them into his mouth before darting for cover, burying himself beneath the bedding.
“We’ll go to the pet shop tomorrow and get a proper hamster home for him,” Lily said, peering at the lump of quivering tissue paper. “He sure is shy, isn’t he?”
Then they both jumped when the clock chimed. It was already five o’clock!
“Do you need us to give you a ride home?” Lily asked, glancing out the window. The sky was getting dark. “Mum never lets me go anywhere by myself, even during the day when it’s still bright. She says I can’t start walking to school by myself until next year, even though everyone in my class already does that. It’s so embarrassing. I wish they would stop treating me like a baby!”
Elly quickly jumped up from the sofa. She had gotten so comfortable, she lost track of the time! “Oh Lily, please don’t worry about me, I don’t need you to take me home! I’ll be fine. I can, umm, meet my guardian on the way. Trust me, I’ll be all right. Where should I meet you on the twenty-eighth?” she asked hurriedly, hoping to distract Lily from asking more questions.
Lily was clearing the lunch plates off the table. “Let’s meet at ten o’clock. Wait, you have a guardian?” she asked incredulously. “Like a bodyguard or something? That’s incredible. What’s his name?”
Elly fidgeted. “Erm, his name is Greymore. He keeps an eye on me while my parents are away. Truly, I’ll be safe. Greymore will make sure of that. I’ll see you on the twenty-eighth, all right?” As much as she wanted to stay with Lily and have her supper with such lovely people, she did not want to overstay her welcome, especially since she had already spent half the day at the Wong household. She did not want them to think she had no home to go back to.
Thankfully, Lily seemed satisfied. She nodded happily as she stacked the plates on top of each other. “All right, then! We’ll meet in front of the bakery at ten o’clock sharp that Saturday. It’s a date!” Then she put the plates down and threw her arms around Elly. “Oh, I am so happy that we’re friends!” she cried.
“Me, too!” Elly said sincerely, hugging her back. She thought of Edellina and grimaced. How she wished she had a girlfriend like Lily back home!
Lily wrote down her home phone number and address. “In case you need to contact me,” she said, handing Elly the piece of scrap paper. “But how can I get in touch with you?”
Elly started moving towards the door. “Oh, I’ll most probably be moving from place to place, so it’ll be hard to get hold of me. I’ll call you if necessary. I’ll see you very soon!”
But Lily was looking at her dress critically. “Gosh, you’ll freeze out there with only that flimsy thing on! Did you think it was summer here or something?”
Before Elly could answer, Lily ran upstairs to her room and returned with her arms loaded with garments. She made Elly put on a long thick coat, gloves, and a woolly scarf. “Just return them when you come back properly dressed for the weather next time!” she said cheerfully.
“Thank you so much,” Elly said softly, touched by her new friend’s thoughtfulness. She liked the feel of the extra layers warming her body.
Then Greymore’s reproachful voice made her jump. Ellanor, aren’t you forgetting something important?
At first, her mind drew a blank. Then she gasped; she had forgotten to ask Lily about blue amber!
She bowed her head sheepishly. I’m sorry, Greymore. I was having such a lovely time with Lily that it made me almost forget about my predicament.
Better late than never, Ellanor. Ask her now.
Reluctantly, Elly turned to her friend, who was slipping on her own coat. The temperature had dropped a few degrees. “Lily, I’ve been meaning to ask you… Do you know where I can get blue amber?”
Lily frowned as she zipped up her coat. “Blue amber? I’ve never heard of it. Amber is some sort of yellow rock, isn’t it? But what’s blue amber?”
Crestfallen, Elly shook her head. “I—I don’t really know, actually. I just need to find blue amber. Do you have any idea where I might find some?”
Lily knitted her eyebrows. “I’m sorry, Elly. I have no idea. But maybe I can ask around for you?”
E
lly nodded and tried to smile. “Sure, that sounds good. Thanks, Lily.” She groaned inwardly. She’d have to go on a proper search for this elusive Organoth blue amber. It sounded like finding ordinary blue amber was already difficult enough.
“Oh, I almost forgot!” Lily took something from the back pocket of her jeans and handed it to Elly. “This is a map of London,” she explained, unfolding it. “My dad runs a travel agency in Chinatown, and we have tons of tourist brochures and maps lying around the place. This should come in handy as you explore the city.” She pointed to several places on the map, and marked them with a pen. “You should go to the Westminster Abbey tomorrow if you get the chance. It’s gorgeous!”
Elly had no idea where she was headed next, let alone tomorrow.
Then she spotted a small, thick, red-bound book in the cluttered bookshelf: The Pocket Dictionary. Her eyes lit up.
“Excuse me, Lily, but please may I borrow that little dictionary?” she asked sheepishly. “It would really help me out. I promise I’ll return it when I see you next!”
Lily glanced at the little dictionary and laughed. “Oh, of course! That’s right, you’re from the Aland Islands in Finland. English probably isn’t your first language, so this might help! We have several dictionaries lying around. My dad must like collecting them or something!”
Elly went to say goodbye to Mabel in the bakery, who was busily serving customers with the help of her assistant, a tall red-haired young woman named Paige. Mabel asked Paige to take over and quickly excused herself from the counter. She smiled, glad that her daughter had made a new friend. She knew Lily had been having a hard time adjusting to her new school, and she was lonely. Elly seemed like a lovely little girl; besides, she looked like she could do with a friend herself.
She pushed a brown paper bag into Elly’s gloved hands, pleased to see her nicely bundled up in Lily’s winter clothes. “Are you having supper soon?” she asked, and noticed that Elly had a slightly droopy look, like a wilted flower.
