by K T Durham
Elly smiled wryly and wished she could tell Lily how much she wanted to see her own father again, even if it meant having him walk her to school everyday.
But she didn’t want Lily to ask her more about her family. It made her sad. So she switched topics. “By the way, why did you change schools?” She really was curious.
Lily sighed. “My parents wanted me to go to a school that has a better English literature curriculum. You see, I happen to be good at English literature… you know, writing essays, stories, poetry, that sort of stuff. I’m hopeless with maths and science, which seems a little unusual, since most Asians seem to do well in those areas. I had some really good friends at St Vincent’s, and I really miss them. We don’t hang out much anymore since we run on different schedules. Drifting apart was inevitable, I guess.”
She looked sad. “It’s just not easy for me to make friends at a new school, Elly. I don’t know why. And it’s worse now that I’ve become the target of bullies like Clare Andrews and her Space Cadets.”
Elly nodded sympathetically. “I understand how awful it can be.” She told Lily about Darrius and her friends.
Lily giggled. “The Three Flamingos? They sound even worse than the Space Cadets!”
St Catherine’s was a handsome Georgian red-bricked building surrounded by an iron fence, having once been a military hospital before it was converted into a school almost a hundred years ago. A massive, ancient-looking cedar tree stood beside the iron gate like a wizened guardian. Elly felt a sudden urge to climb up and nestle into the trunk, but quickly reminded herself where she was.
Draped high above the entrance was a large blue banner with St Catherine’s School Fair scrawled in cursive white letters. Blue and white balloons bumped into each other in the breeze. Loud techno music was blasting through several large speakers, making Elly cringe. She thought about the tranquil music of the Serenities and sighed wistfully.
Elly saw many colourful booths selling candy floss, donuts, toffees, popcorn, French fries, kebabs and curry rice, sushi, fried rice, pizzas, casseroles, burgers, sausage rolls, meat pies, and much more.
The game stalls were already packed with excited customers eager to win some prize or other.
Students milled about in costume. Some dressed as clowns, comic book characters, fairy tale characters, and even as real-life celebrities. Elly recognised only Alice from Alice in Wonderland and Sherlock Holmes, whose stories she had pored over back home. Apart from the hair-raising music blaring from the entrance, there was plenty of chatter and laughter buzzing around.
Lily started talking excitedly. “This year’s theme is ‘Fantasia’—so we can come as whatever we fancy,” she explained, as Elly looked around in wonder.
“Then what about you?” she asked, looking pointedly at Lily’s casual clothes.
Lily grinned. “Well, I’m auditioning for the part of Cinderella. That’s enough fantasy to last me through the day!”
Lily bought them some candy floss. Elly made a face when she tasted the strange fluffy pink stuff. She did, however, like the home-made toffees; they tasted a tad too sweet, but they reminded her of Aron, whose Mama made the best toffee-pops in Evergreen. She missed him terribly, and wondered how he was doing. Had he found out about Edellina? Was he thinking of her?
As they were walking, a high-pitched wispy voice called out, making them jump. “Riddle, riddle on the wall! Who is the cleverest of them all?” The two girls turned to see a very tall, gangly man staring at them from a booth nearby.
He looked strange. His skin seemed to be painted all white, his flame-red hair slicked back, the top part of his face concealed by a glittering black mask. He was wearing a peculiar green and black polka-dotted suit with a matching bow tie, and his large hands were sheathed in white gloves. The booth was decorated with numerous cut-outs of question marks in all sizes and colours. In front of him was a large green box with a hole at the top, just large enough for one to put a hand through.
The man smiled, showing glistening, pearly white teeth. “If you are able to solve five riddles in a row, you’ll get two free tickets to a blockbuster movie!” He gestured to the movie poster plastered on the front of the booth.
“I think he’s supposed to be the Riddler from the comics,” Lily said in a low voice. “But I can’t tell who he is behind that mask and all that make-up. He’s too tall to be one of the students. Maybe he’s a teacher.” She turned to Elly with a grin. “Should we give it a try? I really want to see that movie! It’s supposed to be really good!”
Elly laughed. “Of course! Solving riddles is something of a hobby of mine.”
Lily beamed. “Really? Great! Let’s give it a go!”
The Riddler chuckled and clapped his hands. “First things first, ladies. Please pay the fee upfront. I shall do a reading for you. Comes with the package.”
A reading? Elly wondered what that was all about. She quickly took out her purse. “I’ll pay,” she insisted, shoving the notes into his hand. Then to her surprise, he turned to her. “Your right hand please, little Miss.” He bowed and waited, his hand poised in mid-air.
Lily nudged her. “He wants to read your palm!” she whispered, wide-eyed. “Go ahead—it’s all part of the game.”
Reluctantly, Elly put out her hand. The Riddler narrowed his eyes as he bent down, gazing at her palm like a scientist examining a rare specimen.
“Hmm, very interesting… yes, indeed…” he murmured.
Elly raised an eyebrow and glanced at Lily, who was waiting with bated breath.
After several moments, the Riddler straightened up. He had a strangely satisfied look on his face. “Well, little girl, you are quite the enigma. The lines on your palm cross and branch out at the most peculiar places. It appears you have before you many difficult choices to make, and your future is unclear at this point. Hence, I’m afraid I cannot divulge anything specific, except to say this: beware the sly one, for she will try to take what is yours.”
The Riddler had very black eyes, so black and impenetrable that Elly shuddered and quickly pulled her hand back.
Lily was giggling. “Sly one? I have no idea what he’s talking about!” She nudged Elly. “Well, come on! Let’s get those riddles going!”
The Riddler snapped his fingers, then asked Lily to put her hand in her left pocket. She knitted her brow. “Wait, how in the world…” She retrieved a piece of crumpled paper. On it was scribbled five riddles in spidery handwriting.
Lily gaped in wonder. “How did you do that? You haven’t been anywhere close enough to slip this into my pocket!”
The Riddler winked. “I am a jack-of-all-trades, little Miss. Now, let’s read out the riddles.”
Lily obeyed. “What room can no one enter?”
Elly didn’t miss a beat. “Mushroom.”
Lily laughed and clapped. The Riddle did not react. “Wow! All right, next one!” Lily squinted at the spidery script.
“What is the beginning of eternity, the end of time and space, the beginning of every end and the end of every race?”
Once again, Elly didn’t miss a beat. “E”.
The Riddler was now grinning from ear to ear, as though he was enjoying himself.
“What grows bigger as you take more away from it?”
“A hole.”
“What won’t run long without winding?”
“A river.”
At the fifth and final riddle, the Riddler raised a hand, then looked at Elly with a twinkle in his eye. “Let me do the honours for the final riddle.” He leaned forward, so close that his face was only inches from hers. In a whisper that only Elly could hear, he said:
“Voiceless it cries,
wingless flutters,
toothless bites,
mouthless mutters.”
Elly staggered back in shock.
He had uttered the ri
ddle in Yahana.
“What? What is it?” Lily asked excitedly, oblivious of what had just happened.
“The wind,” Elly whispered back in Yahana, rooted to the ground. Her heart was thumping madly as she stared into those deep, black eyes.
Who are you?
Then his voice was in her head.
Hello, Ellanor Celendis. It is a pleasure to meet you.
The Riddler laughed and applauded. “Well, well! I’ve met my match for today.”
He turned to Lily with a bow. “You shall find your reward in your bag, little Miss.”
Lily turned around and peered at the backpack behind her. Distracted, Elly turned to take a look, too. “What do you mean?” Lily demanded, unzipping her bag. Then she gasped. “How did you put them in here?” She held up the movie tickets and turned back to the Riddler with a broad smile.
He had vanished.
“Hey, where did he go?” Lily cried, looking around. “Golly, he must be some sort of magician!”
Elly frowned. Who was that man? Could he possibly be…
He is not a goblin, Ellanor.
She breathed a sigh of relief. Then who is he, Greymore? He could speak the ancient language!
The world is vast and mysterious. There are beings other than goblins who are aware of your presence here, and have an interest in you.
She shuddered as she recalled those probing black eyes.
Do not worry for now. I believe you are not in any danger.
If you say so, Greymore.
Lily was chattering happily. “I love the actors in this movie! I’ve been waiting for it to come out! Why don’t you come watch it with me, Elly?”
Elly blinked, still thinking about the Riddler. “What?” she asked distractedly.
“This movie!” Lily waved the tickets in front of her face. “Let’s go watch it together next week!”
Elly had never been to see a movie. Why not? she thought a little gloomily. She might as well go, if she was still going to be stranded here. Well, she was actually curious to experience a movie for the first time, and it would be fun to go out with Lily again. So she smiled. “Sure, let’s go together!”
After they finished their kebabs (a chicken one for Lily, a vegetarian one for Elly), they came upon a green lawn with several rows of metal chairs lined up in front of a blue and white platform stage. Nearby were several electrical lamp heaters emitting some much-needed warmth. At a long table beside the stage sat three adults with their heads bent together in discussion. Several students in costume were clustered in groups, buzzing with conversation punctuated by occasional peals of laughter.
Lily looked at her watch nervously as she gestured towards the stage. “That’s where I’ll be auditioning!” She looked around, then clutched Elly’s arm. “Oh my gosh, that’s Adam Boon, the boy I told you about! It looks like he just got the part of the Prince!” she whispered, sounding slightly hysterical.
Elly turned to see a tall, handsome boy with curly blonde hair and blue eyes talking and laughing with a couple of other boys in a far corner. Then he looked up and smiled, waving in their direction. Elly saw that Lily’s cheeks had turned rosy as she waved back.
Lily sighed. “Adam is so nice. He’s in my class, and he’s probably the only boy who’s ever talked to me since I started coming to this school. I didn’t realize he was really going to try out for this musical. I wish I could have seen his audition, we just missed it!”
“Hey, Four Eyes!” a girl’s voice called rudely.
Lily’s face darkened. Under her breath she muttered, “Get ready to meet Clare Andrews and the Space Cadets!”
Elly’s eyes widened at the four girls sauntering towards them, showing off their long slim legs in black tights underneath short skirts. They looked older than Lily, who was slender but much shorter. The girl in the middle was very pretty, with long wavy blonde hair and large blue eyes. Elly guessed that was Clare Andrews, the ringleader, who was looking at Lily in a condescending fashion, striking a pose with one foot forward, a hand on one hip, and her pointed chin thrust into the air.
Though none of them wore pink, they reminded Elly of the Three Flamingos.
Then her jaw dropped in surprise as she locked eyes with the strawberry blonde girl on the far right.
Maddy!
Maddy’s light blue eyes widened as she stared back at Elly.
Elly smiled and was about to say hello when Maddy quickly looked away and stared at the ground with a frown, her face flushed a bright pink.
Taken aback, Elly put a hand to her own face. Didn’t Maddy recognize her?
Then realization dawned as Maddy continued to avoid her gaze.
Maddy was pretending she didn’t know Elly.
Hurt and confused, Elly looked down at feet. Why?
The other three girls had not noticed Maddy’s expression. They were all staring at Lily down their noses, occasionally shifting their gaze to Elly, sizing her up.
“At least her little friend is good-looking,” said the dark-skinned one with a sneer. She was the tallest, with wide chocolate-brown eyes that would have looked really beautiful if they didn’t look so nasty. “Maybe she should audition for the role instead of Miss Ugly Four Eyes.”
Lily went red in the face. Elly glanced over at Adam; he was frowning, and looked as though he was ready to walk up and say something.
Then Lily put her hands on her hips and laughed, startling everyone. She looked up at the sky. “Oh, I saw three Space Cadets land just a moment ago! . . . Wait, there you are!” she exclaimed in mock surprise, staring at the girls in front of her.
There was snickering nearby. “Honestly, don’t you have anything better to do than living up to your reputations as space cadets?” With that, she rolled her eyes and stalked off, her head held high. Bewildered, Elly went to follow her.
Some of the boys laughed and clapped. “Go, Lily!” one of them called out. Adam was smiling. Elly turned to see Clare Andrews and the other girls staring after them, utterly astonished. Maddy looked mortified. For a second, she held Elly’s gaze. Then she bit her lip and looked away.
Elly sighed and turned back to Lily. She had no idea why Maddy was behaving this way.
She broke into a jog and caught up with her friend. “Wow, Lily! I’m amazed that you stood up to them like that!” She wished she could do the same thing with the Three Flamingos. If she could only find her way back home, perhaps she would finally seize the opportunity to stand up to them, once and for all.
Lily glanced back. “Phew!” She breathed a sigh of relief. Then she laughed and linked arms with Elly. “That felt great! Believe it or not, it was my grandma who encouraged me to stand up to those bullies! I told her about Clare and her mean friends, and she almost boxed my ears. ‘When I was your age, we were so poor that we had to walk miles to school because we couldn’t even afford the bus fare. At your age, I was fighting off street bullies with my baby brother on my back! Don’t you let those silly girls walk all over you!’”
Lily giggled. “She always tells me that the mean things people say usually reflect who they are, not who I am.” She grinned. “She’s a tough cookie, my granny. No wonder my parents are scared of her!”
Elly giggled, thinking of her grandfather and how he could always win an argument with Papa.
Then her face turned serious. “What about that girl with the strawberry blonde hair, the quiet one? She didn’t seem so bad.”
Lily shrugged. “That’s Maddy O’Brien. She’s a new girl, like me. Actually, she doesn’t seem as awful as the others. She just sort of tags along. But still, she’s a little questionable to be hanging out with those bullies!”
Elly nodded reluctantly. But Maddy had seemed so sweet, so nice.
Then Lily looked at her watch and yelped. “Blimey, it’s almost time! I’ll be back soon, wait here for me!�
� She dashed off to the washroom, backpack slung over her shoulder.
Elly sucked on her last toffee as she waited, her thoughts drifting. She wondered what she might have done to offend Maddy. Why else would she pretend not to know her? Then she thought about Teddy, and that led to thoughts about her brother. She wondered what Luca was doing, and whether he actually missed her.
After a little while, Lily emerged from the washroom. Elly almost choked on her toffee as she gawped at her friend.
Lily looked very different. Without glasses, her almond-shaped eyes looked wide and bright. She was wearing a touch of pink lip gloss, and her long silky black hair was swept up into a high ponytail. She was wearing a little eye liner that gave her an understated, exotic look. In a purple sweater, black leggings and black ballet flats, Lily looked slender and graceful.
Elly clapped her hands. “Wow, Lily, you look beautiful!” she cried. Then she noticed that Lily was squinting. “But can you see all right without the glasses?”
Lily sighed. “Not really, but I’ll be okay for the audition. If I get the part, I’ll persuade my parents to let me wear contacts for one day. Otherwise, I won’t be convincing as Cinderella with glasses,” she grumbled, tossing them into her backpack.
Now that Adam Boon had snagged the role of the prince, the other girls who were auditioning for the coveted role of Cinderella had even more incentive to win. The candidates had to act and sing in two scenes: one where Cinderella gets mistreated by her wicked stepsisters and stepmother; and one where Cinderella dances with the prince at the ball. One of the candidates was Clare Andrews, who did a double take when she saw Lily. Maddy was in the audience, biting her nails nervously. Elly sensed that Maddy was trying very hard to avoid her.
Some of the boys were looking at Lily appreciatively. But Lily only had eyes for one. Adam grinned and gave her a thumbs-up. I hope you get the part, he mouthed. She blushed and smiled shyly.
Finally, after several lukewarm performances and a particularly terrible one, it was Lily’s turn. The space cadets coughed and giggled. “Here comes Four Eyes,” they said in low voices, though Lily wasn’t even wearing her glasses.
