by Judi Curtin
I think I must have created a world record for fast porridge-eating, then I leapt up from the table and raced out to call for Alice.
Chapter Four
I rang Alice’s doorbell for ages. How dare she be out, when I so badly wanted to tell her the good news?
Then I remembered that she’d spent the night at her mum’s apartment around the corner. I raced around there, and when I reached the front door I was so breathless I could hardly talk.
‘Alice,’ I puffed into the intercom. ‘Can I … come in? I have to … talk to you.’
Alice buzzed me in, and I went up to her apartment. She opened the door, and I followed her to her bedroom. It was totally trashed.
‘I know,’ she said, when she saw me looking around. ‘If I don’t have it tidy by lunch-time, Mum’s banning me from TV for a week. Trust me, it’s no fun having two bedrooms to keep clean.’
I sat on the beanbag in the corner, and Alice sat on top of a heap of clothes on her bed. I was so excited, I didn’t know how to start.
‘I have some great news,’ I said finally.
Alice grinned at me.
‘So have I.’
I felt a bit disappointed.
‘Oh,’ I said. ‘Well, you tell first then.’
‘No, you,’ said Alice.
‘No, you,’ I insisted. Surely my good news was going to be the best, so it was better to save that until last.
‘OK,’ said Alice. ‘Grace rang last night, and invited me to go to stay with her family in their villa in Lanzarote.’
I could feel a sudden pain in my tummy.
‘When?’ I asked.
‘Next week,’ replied Alice quickly. ‘Her dad’s got an extra week off work, so they’ve just decided to go.’
The pain in my tummy got worse. How could this happen? France would be so much more fun if Alice was there. Suddenly the idea of being with just Mum and Dad and Rosie seemed kind of boring. And to make things worse, Alice would be over in Lanzarote having fun with Grace.
‘But what about Louise?’ I blurted out. ‘Why didn’t Grace ask Louise to go with her? They’re supposed to be best friends.’
‘Grace did ask her, but Louise couldn’t go. She’s bridesmaid at her cousin’s wedding, remember?’
And what about me? I felt like asking. Why hadn’t Grace asked me to go with her? She didn’t know that I was going to France. And I’d been friends with her before Alice had. I’d been friends with Grace ages ago, when Alice was still living in Dublin.
Then I could feel stupid tears stinging the back of my eyes. I blinked hard and looked at Alice.
‘Could you tell Grace you can’t go with her?’ I said quietly.
Alice shook her head.
‘Why would I want to do that? It’s going to be so great. Grace’s house is on a big estate. They have their own swimming pool. It’s even got a slide. And there’s crazy-golf. And they have these totally cool motor-scooter things they’re allowed to use for going around the grounds.’
Suddenly I felt like a total idiot. What good were stupid old bikes in France, when you could be on a motor-scooter in Lanzarote? And there was no chance of Mum’s friend’s house having a swimming-pool. Knowing the kind of people Mum hangs out with, we’d be lucky to have a bath. And instead of crazy-golf, all I had were two crazy parents.
I blinked again and tried to smile.
‘I suppose you won’t be saying no then,’ I said.
Alice gave me a strange look.
‘No. I won’t be saying no. Anyway, I’ve already told Grace I’ll go with her. And Mum says it’s OK. It’s all arranged.’
So that was that. My holiday was ruined before it had started. Why had Mum ever suggested that Alice come on holidays with us? If she’d never mentioned it, I wouldn’t feel so bad now.
I stood up.
‘I need to go home,’ I said. ‘I have to help Mum with …… Well, I just have to help Mum.’
‘But what about your great news?’ asked Alice. ‘You never told me your great news.’
I shook my head.
‘It doesn’t matter. It wasn’t such great news really. And like I said, I have to go home now.’
Alice came over and stood next to me.
‘Tell me your news before you go. Please.’
I shook my head again. I so didn’t want to talk about France. I so wanted to go home and lie on my bed and scream and cry and punch my pillow.
Alice put her hand on my shoulder.
‘I’m sorry Grace asked me and not you,’ she said. ‘She probably only asked me because she felt sorry for me, because my parents don’t live together any more.’
It was nice of Alice to say that, but it didn’t help very much.
‘I really have to go,’ I said, and I pushed past Alice and ran down the stairs.
‘OK,’ she said. ‘I’ll call for you later.’
Don’t bother, I felt like saying, but I couldn’t because I was already crying too much.
Chapter Five
I didn’t feel like talking, so I let myself in the back door, hoping to sneak past Mum. No chance – she’s like a guard dog, who reacts instantly to every creak of every door in the house.
Suddenly she was in front of me. When she saw that I was crying she came over and gave me a long hug. It was nice – all warm and comforting. But it didn’t change anything. It didn’t change one single thing.
I sobbed until Mum’s dress was all soggy. Then Rosie came in from the garden.
‘Why is Megan crying?’ she asked. ‘Did she fall down and hurt herself?’
‘Don’t worry, love,’ Mum said. ‘Megan’s fine.’
‘So why is she crying?’ repeated Rosie.
‘She just is,’ said Mum. ‘Now why don’t you go in to the other room and do a jig-saw?’
‘Jig-saws are boring,’ said Rosie.
Mum sighed.
‘Well go and watch TV or something.’
I could hear Rosie doing little skips of joy.
‘Yay, TV,’ she sang. Then she skipped off into the other room.
Mum squeezed me tight, and then she gently pushed me away from her and we both sat at the kitchen table.
‘Do you want to tell me what’s wrong?’ she said softly.
‘Alice can’t come to France,’ I said.
‘But her dad said––’
I interrupted her.
‘Her dad was wrong.’
Mum stroked my hair.
‘Oh, I’m sorry, love. I know you must be very disappointed.’
I nodded. How could I begin to explain how disappointed I was?
‘You could ask someone else to come with us,’ said Mum. ‘What about Louise, or Grace? They’re both nice girls.’
‘But they can’t come,’ I protested. ‘Louise has to go to a wedding, and Grace …’ I had to stop to wipe away more tears, before I continued. ‘Last night Grace invited Alice to go to Lanzarote with her, and Alice said yes, and that’s why she can’t come to France with us.’
I stopped talking and put my head in my hands. Mum edged closer and cuddled me.
‘Oh, darling, I’m so sorry,’ she said. ‘That must make you feel worse, knowing that Alice will be with Grace.’
I nodded. Maybe I was being selfish, but that did make the whole thing much worse.
Mum patted my arm.
‘But don’t worry,’ she said. ‘You and I and Dad and Rosie will still enjoy ourselves. France is a beautiful country, and we’ll have a wonderful time there.’
I nodded. What else could I do? I didn’t want to hurt her feelings, and besides, crying wouldn’t change anything. Alice was going on holidays with Grace, and nothing I could do would change that.
I stood up and tried to smile.
‘Thanks Mum,’ I said. ‘I think I’ll go down to my room and see what clothes to bring to France.’
Mum gave me one more hug.
‘OK, love. That’s the spirit.’
Then I went down to my
room, lay on my bed and cried some more.
Chapter Six
A bit later I heard the door-bell ring. I didn’t bother getting up to see who was there. Probably just one of Mum’s boring friends.
Then after another while there was a tap on my bedroom door. I jumped up and rubbed my eyes. Then I opened a drawer and threw a few t-shirts on to my bed.
‘What do you want, Mum?’ I asked. ‘I’m busy sorting out my clothes.’
‘I’m not your mum.’ It was Alice’s voice. For once in my life, I wasn’t very happy to hear her. I needed more time on my own.
‘You’d better come in,’ I said.
Alice came in and sat on my bed. She was grinning like crazy. I figured she was probably thinking about all the cool stuff she and Grace were going to do in Lanzarote.
‘Are you packing for France?’ she said.
‘So you’ve heard?’
She nodded.
‘Yes. I’ve heard. We are going to have so much fun on holidays together.’
I looked at her carefully.
‘You mean you and Grace?’
She punched me on the arm.
‘No, Dork-head. Not me and Grace. Me and you.’
‘But … but … but …’
Alice punched me on the arm again.
‘Do you know any other words besides “but”?’
‘But …’
Alice laughed.
‘Ok, you just be quiet and I’ll explain everything. You see, not long after you left my house, Dad phoned and told me that your mum had invited me to go to France with you.’
‘And …’
‘Oh, I’m glad to see that you do know another word,’ laughed Alice. ‘And, I told Dad about the Lanzarote trip. And then we didn’t know what to do. So Dad phoned Mum and they had a long chat. And then Mum phoned Grace’s mum and explained the situation. And Grace’s mum was really nice, and she said they hadn’t confirmed the tickets yet. So now Grace has invited a friend from her riding school to go with her, and I’m going with you. So everyone is happy.’
‘But …’
Alice laughed.
‘I’m not going on holidays with you unless you learn a few new words.’
I laughed too.
‘But what about the swimming pool, and the crazy-golf, and the motor-scooters? Wouldn’t you prefer to be in Lanzarote?’
Alice shook her head.
‘You’re my best friend. I’d prefer to be with you. And besides, Grace is really nice, but her family is very posh. I know I’ll have more fun with you.’
‘Are you sure?’
Alice nodded.
‘Sure I’m sure.’
All of a sudden everything seemed wonderful again. I was thinking how great the trip was going to be, when Alice interrupted my happy thoughts.
‘Know what?’ she said.
‘What?’
‘If Mum and Dad were still living together, we wouldn’t have had all that confusion about Dad saying one thing and Mum saying another.’
‘And?’
‘Well, I’ve been thinking, and I’ve come up with this really cool plan to get Mum and Dad back together.’
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Alice had spent most of the year plotting and scheming to get her parents back together. She’d got herself (and sometimes me) into loads of trouble, and nothing had changed – her parents were still separated. But after Easter, after yet another plan had failed disastrously, Alice had promised me that she was finished with plotting and scheming. She told me that she knew her parents were never getting back together. And even better, she said that she was cool with that. And I had believed her.
Alice looked thoughtful.
‘This plan will work, I promise, Megan. I’ll just need your help.’
So what else was new?
I turned away from Alice and looked out of the window. I needed to think. What could I say that would make Alice see sense? How could I find the right words?
Suddenly I heard a strange sound behind me. I turned around and saw Alice rolling around on my bed, laughing like she was going to die.
‘Gotcha,’ she said. ‘Had you worried, didn’t I?’
I didn’t reply.
‘Sorry, Meg,’ she said. ‘I couldn’t resist. But I was joking. I told you ages ago I was finished with plotting to get Mum and Dad back together, and I meant it. I was just winding you up.’
For one second, I was really cross, and then I saw the funny side of it. I grabbed a pillow, and whacked Alice with it. She grabbed another, and whacked me back. The pillow burst open, and for one second I thought we could have a really cool fight like they do in movies, with feathers flying everywhere. No chance though – Mum believes in loopy allergy-free pillow-fillings so Alice and I were showered with a cascade of gross orange-coloured lumps of foam.
‘Oops,’ said Alice. ‘Let’s clear all this up, and then I can help you pack … for our trip to France!’
I gave her one more whack with my pillow, and then I hugged her.
This was going to be the best holiday ever.
Chapter Seven
Next day, Alice and I walked down to the shop to buy some broccoli for Mum. We were talking about all the cool things we were going to do in France. Then, as we turned the last corner, Alice grabbed my arm.
‘Stop,’ she hissed.
I did as she told me.
‘What is it?’ I asked in a scared voice. ‘Is it that horrible dog that snapped at Jamie last week?’
‘No,’ said Alice. ‘It’s worse. I just saw Louise and Grace going in to the shop.’
‘And the problem is?’
‘I don’t want to meet Grace. I’m a bit embarrassed about first saying I’d go on holidays with her, and then changing my mind.’
That kind of made sense. And now that I thought about it, I wasn’t sure I wanted to meet Grace either. After all, she had invited Alice to go with her to Lanzarote even though I was friends with her first.
We stood on the footpath trying to make up our minds.
‘We could just go home and tell your mum there was no broccoli in the shop,’ suggested Alice.
I nearly always do what Alice suggests, but this time I wasn’t so sure that she was right. Suddenly I made a decision. I shook my head.
‘No, that’s stupid. They’re our friends. We should go and talk to them.’
Alice looked surprised for a second. Then she said, ‘You’re right. That was a stupid thing to suggest. Let’s go and meet them.’
When we got to the door of the shop, Grace and Louise were on the way out. They looked surprised to see us. We all said ‘hi’ and then we stood looking at each other. Alice looked embarrassed, Grace looked embarrassed, Louise looked puzzled, and I didn’t know what to say.
Eventually Louise spoke.
‘Grace and I are going to my house. I’m going to show her my bridesmaid’s dress. Do you want to come?’
Alice and I looked at each other. Then I made the decision for both of us.
‘We’d love to,’ I said. ‘I just have to buy something for Mum, and drop it home, so she won’t call the search and rescue teams. Then we’ll go over to your place. OK?’
‘OK,’ said Louise, and then she and Grace set off for home.
* * *
Twenty minutes later, Alice and I arrived at Louise’s place. Louise let us in.
‘Alice, will you help me get some drinks?’ she said. ‘Meg, why don’t you go up to my room? Grace is there.’
I didn’t have much choice, so I did what I was told, and went upstairs. Grace was sitting on Louise’s bed. She went kind of red when she saw me. I could feel my face going red too.
‘Hi,’ she said.
‘Hi,’ I said back.
Then no-one said anything for ages. Grace fiddled with an old doll of Louise’s, and I played with the necklace Alice had given me for my birthday. I wished Louise and Alice would hurry up, and bring the drinks.
Suddenly Grace spoke.
‘I’m sorry I didn’t invite you to come to Lanzarote with me.’
‘That’s OK,’ I said, even though it wasn’t.
‘I wanted to ask you,’ said Grace. ‘I wanted to ask both you and Alice, but Dad said there was only room for one extra, because my brother is bringing two friends. And then I couldn’t decide which one of you to ask. So Mum said I should choose Alice, because she’d had such a hard year with her parents splitting up and everything.’
So Alice had been right about that.
‘I’m really sorry,’ repeated Grace.
‘That’s OK,’ I said, and this time I meant it. ‘Alice is a bit embarrassed too,’ I said. ‘Because she’s coming with me, and not you.’
Grace smiled. ‘It doesn’t matter. I’ve invited Saffron, a girl from my riding school. She’s really nice, so I know we’ll have a great time. And next summer, my brother is going to Irish college, so Mum says I can bring three friends to Lanzarote. I hope you and Alice and Louise will all be able to come.’
Just then Louise came in carrying a tray of cold drinks. Alice was following her, holding a huge bowl of crisps. Alice put the crisps down on the table, then she went and hugged Grace.
‘I’m sorry I won’t be going to Lanzarote with you,’ she said. ‘I hope you have a great time.’
Grace smiled at her.
‘That’s OK,’ she said. ‘And I hope you and Megan have a great time in France.’
‘What about me?’ wailed Louise. ‘I’m not going anywhere.’
I grinned.
‘But you’re going to be a bridesmaid. I’ve always wanted to be a bridesmaid.’
‘Oh yes,’ said Louise. ‘I nearly forgot, with all this talk of holidays. Will I get my dress and show you?’
The rest of us nodded happily.
‘It’s in my mum’s bedroom,’ said Louise. ‘Will I put it on?’
We all nodded again, and Louise went out of the room.
‘Louise seems very happy,’ said Grace.
‘Yes,’ agreed Alice. ‘Her dress must be gorgeous.’
A minute later, Louise was back.
