Snowflakes, Silver and Secrets

by Tracey Corderoy

  The ponies were giddy with excitement when they were turned out into the Seaview paddock early on Tuesday morning. The snow had stuck. It was beautiful. ‘And it’s still snowing!’ Bryony cried.

  ‘Told you,’ said Finn.

  ‘Yep,’ nodded Bryony. This was going to be a brilliant day!

  Emma pointed out Red trotting about, his tail high and his ears forward.

  ‘It looks like he’s dancing,’ Bryony laughed. He was lifting his front legs up very high as if doing a Spanish trot!

  Daffy, however, looked much less graceful as she rolled on the snow-covered grass. It was like she had a big itch that needed scratching!

  Even Tornado – not a fan of sudden changes – wasn’t fazed by the snow at all. He was batting the falling snowflakes with his nose, as if trying to work them out.

  ‘So, I was reading him an article, just last week,’ said Finn, ‘entitled “Cracking the Code on Snow Crystals”.’

  ‘Ah,’ grinned Hari. ‘I expect he’s testing out the theory then!’

  Princess Perla then broke into a gallop, ready for a bit of action.

  ‘Wow, Alice – she’s a Princess warrior!’ cried Bryony and Alice gave a gasp.

  ‘I knew she was fast, but look at her go. Eeek!’

  Snow was flying off the elegant palomino’s back hooves as she tore around the paddock.

  ‘Princess P was born to pull a chariot!’ cried Josh.

  ‘And now she has troops,’ Emma laughed.

  All the other ponies were galloping off after her. Except Piggy, of course, who was trying to eat the snowflakes.

  Leaving them to it, the Super Six hurried off to have some snowy fun of their own. Hari led the way to the field near the lighthouse. It was very close to the paddock so they could easily nip back to check the ponies.

  ‘Oh, wow!’ cried Bryony when they arrived. The field was completely covered in snow, which, apart from a smattering of foxy footprints, was smooth. And being so close to the headland meant you could see for miles.

  Bryony looked at the view. It was stunning! The surrounding hills were dazzlingly white, like they’d been iced for Christmas. The beach was snowy too – and so were the caves. They looked like Santa’s grotto!

  ‘Beautiful, right?’ Alice beamed as Bryony’s friends now gathered around.

  Bryony nodded. ‘Christmas has come at last!’

  She hoped the Coopers liked it too. Of all the places they might have gone at this special time, they had chosen to travel here. Brook Dale just had to deliver them a magical Christmas!

  She thought of their little caravan. It probably looked gorgeous dusted in snow. She imagined the family inside it, toasty warm, a thin ribbon of smoke from their chimney curling into the snowflakes.

  Bryony couldn’t wait to see Meredith later. Being a good friend was important to her. It was also something she’d always done well. Plus, by the time the Christmas Market was done, Meredith’s parents would have seen for themselves that Brook Dale cared for everyone – locals and visitors. Their gorgeous woodcarvings would probably sell like hot cakes!

  But first things first. Bryony had promised Josh a snowball fight. So, when no one was looking, she balled up some snow, took aim and sent it flying.

  Smack!

  It exploded all over Josh’s bobble hat.

  ‘Bullseye!’ laughed Bryony as her brother spun around.

  ‘Right then!’ he grinned. ‘This means war.’

  With a shriek, Bryony fled to a big bank of trees, Emma and Alice behind her.

  ‘Oh, but Josh has got Finn – and Hari,’ groaned Alice. Hari was super-competitive.

  ‘Never mind!’ cried Bryony. ‘Up this tree, guys – quick!’

  The girls scrambled up a huge sturdy oak tree with lots of big, low-lying branches. Seconds later the enemy advanced, flinging snowballs left, right and centre.

  ‘Ow!’ A whizzer got Bryony on the nose. But Alice and Emma were scooping snow off the branches and raining down snowy cannonballs too.

  ‘You’ll never win, Josh!’ cried Bryony, forgetting Hari was a gymnast. As Josh and Finn batted the girls’ snowballs away, Hari was up the tree like a shot.

  ‘And guess what?’ grinned Hari, reaching Bryony in seconds. Hari whipped a secret snowball out of the hood of her coat and stuffed it down the neck of Bryony’s jacket.

  ‘It’s freeeeeeezing!’ Bryony was howling with laughter.

  ‘I’ve taken your castle!’ Hari declared. ‘We win!’

  Still in hysterics, the girls climbed out of the tree and Josh’s army swiftly took them prisoners.

  ‘And the losers,’ announced Hari, ‘clean all the ponies’ tack!’

  ‘Ooo, I like cleaning tack!’ smiled Alice and the others all laughed – ‘Trust you!’

  Just then, Emma’s dad appeared with Will. Mr Lawrence was wearing a scarf with little robins on and his usual threadbare olive jacket. And Will was in a duffle coat and a hat that looked like a reindeer!

  ‘We thought you might be peckish,’ said Mr Lawrence.

  ‘So we brought you these,’ said Will. He held out two nets of chocolate coins wrapped in gold foil.

  This was just what they needed after all that running. They sat on a tree stump and tucked in. Emma’s dad and Will sat with them too. Mr Lawrence said he was really pleased for the break as it made a nice change from planting rose bushes!

  ‘Especially as it was unnecessary,’ said Bryony. ‘Georgina chopping the roses’ heads off was ridiculous.’

  ‘What?!’ cried Hari. So Bryony and Josh filled her in.

  Everyone was shocked that even Georgina would spoil such lovely roses.

  ‘But, Mr Lawrence,’ said Finn, ‘isn’t the ground too cold for new roses to be planted right now?’

  Mr Lawrence looked impressed.

  ‘I read a book on it once,’ added Finn.

  ‘Ah, I see,’ said Mr Lawrence. ‘And yes, Finn, you’re quite right.’

  ‘So why plant them,’ said Alice, ‘if there’s a good chance they won’t survive?’

  ‘Because,’ sighed Mr Lawrence, ‘when the Brooks say they want bushes with actual roses on now, there’s really no point arguing.’

  Bryony sat up at the mention of the word ‘arguing’, recalling Georgina’s argument with Amber Stepney last night at Seaview.

  She’d mentioned it to Josh, but the morning’s snow had taken over and she hadn’t yet told the others. Bryony knew, though, that the argument would bang about in her brain until she got some answers.

  ‘Mr Lawrence,’ said Bryony, ‘is Georgina still grumpy? Mum said she was fuming yesterday.’

  ‘Hmm, I’m afraid so,’ Mr Lawrence replied. ‘I really shouldn’t gossip, I suppose, but Mr Brook came home earlier from a few days’ business. Will and I were in the garden planting and we saw him go inside. Anyway, soon after, we could hear Georgina yelling.’

  ‘About what?’ asked Bryony.

  ‘Well, her Great-aunt Agatha is coming, I think, and making her miss out on . . .’

  ‘. . . skiing?’ chipped in Bryony, and Mr Lawrence nodded.

  ‘Quite so.’

  ‘So what did Mr Brook say to that?’ asked Josh.

  ‘Actually, nothing,’ Mr Lawrence replied. ‘Because suddenly he started yelling too about something that had gone missing.’

  ‘What?’ asked Bryony.

  ‘We dunno,’ frowned Will. ‘ ’Cos then Dad moved us saying we shouldn’t be listening!’

  ‘And Dad was quite right,’ Mr Lawrence replied. ‘So yes, Georgina is still very cross. But I suppose it could be worse.’

  ‘How?’ asked Bryony.

  ‘Well,’ said Mr Lawrence, ‘at least the Manor’s toilets are finally back in action as the plumbers finished yesterday afternoon.’

  ‘Huh! I’d love to have seen Georgina without a loo,’ snorted Hari. And she put on her posh Georgina voice: ‘I shall only use a chamber pot if it’s finest bone china!’

  Bryony and her fr
iends burst out laughing and even Mr Lawrence couldn’t hold in a chuckle. Bryony imagined Georgina holding a potty – and her nose – hilarious!

  ‘Right then,’ said Mr Lawrence. ‘I’d best get back.’ And leaving Will with Emma, he headed off.

  ‘And, guys, I have news,’ Bryony said, and she told the others about Georgina’s Seaview visit.

  ‘But what could she want there?’ Alice looked puzzled. ‘Our stables aren’t usually good enough.’

  ‘Exactly!’ cried Bryony in the tone of Ebony Swann. ‘So something’s up for sure! Plus, she was arguing with Amber Stepney so I think that’s important too.’

  ‘Arguing about what?’ Finn quickly asked.

  ‘I’m not sure,’ Bryony replied. ‘Georgina was on about some “he” or other – who should have “come right back”. But Amber knew nothing and said she hadn’t even seen him.’

  ‘Amber Stepney . . .’ repeated Hari. ‘Hang on a sec, isn’t her sister in our form at school?’

  ‘Oh, yes!’ cried Bryony. ‘Her sister’s Jasmine.’

  ‘But they don’t live here,’ Emma said. ‘They come in on the school bus.’

  Bryony shrugged. ‘I don’t know much about them. Or what Georgina would want with Amber. I do sit with Jasmine in History but we’ve only really talked about Henry the Eighth – oh, and coalmining.’

  She thought for a moment. ‘Anyway,’ said Bryony, ‘we definitely have a mystery-in-the-making here so let’s carry on the investigation at Lookout Towers tomorrow at five.’

  ‘The Super Six are on the case again!’ grinned Josh. ‘Tell Lavender mine’s a chocolate milkshake.’

  ‘I think, by now, she probably knows that!’ laughed Alice.

  While the friends had been chatting, Will had made a snow pony. It looked like a funny-shaped potato with a wonky stick tail but he’d really tried his best.

  ‘What do you think?’ he asked the others and Hari wrinkled up her nose.

  ‘Great job!’ cried Bryony.

  ‘It looks like Piggy!’ beamed Will and Emma’s face suddenly fell.

  ‘Yes! So cute!’ Bryony squeaked. ‘And cuddly, and – and – adorable!’

  ‘You’re going a bit over the top,’ whispered Hari.

  ‘Oh, right.’

  They popped back to Seaview to check on the ponies, who were all happily munching hay. Earlier Bryony had helped Abi put out extra hay bales because the grass the ponies usually ate was covered in snow.

  When Piggy had finally finished his snack he was ready to go back to the farm. Emma said Will could ride him back and she’d hold the lead rein. She’d given her brother an early Christmas present – a nearly-new riding hat as Will had been nagging to learn to ride for ages.

  ‘Have a great ride!’ Bryony waved them off. Then she and the others took their ponies in to give them a good brush down. Josh, who’d left his bike against Red’s stable wall, went too.

  Back in the warm, Bryony dried Red while Josh checked his hay net and water bucket.

  ‘Now let’s see those hooves, Red,’ Bryony said. Before she’d turned him out she’d given them a good rub with a mixture of Vaseline and cooking oil.

  ‘Great!’ said Bryony. After careful inspection it appeared to have worked very well. She only had to pick out a tiny bit of snow, then she brushed Red down until he shone.

  ‘You sleepy?’ she asked. He was resting his hind leg, his ears flopped to the side. ‘Just one sec while I quickly check your bed.’ And she fluffed up Red’s straw with a pitchfork.

  ‘There!’ said Bryony. ‘That’ll keep you snug.’ And slipping outside, she and Josh left him to rest.

  The yard was busy with ponies coming and going. Lessons would continue until Christmas Eve, though the normal happy chatter was getting more and more excited as talk turned increasingly to Christmas!

  Hari, Finn and Alice now appeared. Emma was still up with Piggy.

  ‘Fancy coming with us to the post office?’ asked Hari. ‘We’re off to get sweets, and Alice needs bread for her mum.’

  ‘Sure,’ said Bryony, and Josh nodded and went to grab his bike.

  ‘On second thoughts,’ he said, ‘I might leave it here and walk with you lot.’

  It took them ten minutes to walk to town. ‘Oh, look!’ said Bryony when they reached the main street. It was huddled in a thick white blanket of snow.

  ‘It looks just like a Christmas card!’ said Alice.

  The cobbled streets, the doorsteps, the shop windows, the rooftops – everything twinkled like magic! The houses reminded Bryony of her gingerbread house, with icicles hanging from the eaves. Except – she was very relieved to see – no Tyrannosaurus rex was wedged in any of these chimney pots!

  Alice bought her mum’s bread and they all got sweets – strawberry bonbons and sherbet lemons as Miss Pigeon informed them she was out of spiced apple and cherry jellies.

  ‘Sold them all yesterday, so there!’ she nodded, though her breath, Bryony noticed, still smelled distinctly of spiced apples and cherries!

  ‘Now then,’ sniffed Miss Pigeon. ‘Off you go! I’m shutting as I needs to be somewhere.’ And before Bryony could ask where she’d flapped them all out of the shop.

  They ate their sweets on the park bench, after they’d scooped off all the snow. Then they had a quick go on the roundabout, twirling – thought Bryony – like Meredith!

  When they all felt dizzy (and a little bit sick), they headed off to Alice’s house to deliver her mum’s loaf of bread. Alice lived just off the town’s main street, near Chestnut Lane Primary, their old school. Their new secondary school, Brook Dale High, was great but Bryony had very happy memories of Chestnut Lane.

  On their way there they passed the town square where the Christmas Market would be held later on. Grandpa’s pal, Cabbage Patch Charlie, was helping decorate a huge Christmas tree.

  ‘Hello, Charlie!’ Bryony waved across.

  ‘Hello, young Bryony!’ he called back. ‘I hope you’ve been saving your pennies for later?’

  ‘I have!’

  The children veered off up Chestnut Lane. But as they passed the school they heard cross voices from inside . . .

  ‘How very dare you! I’s prettier than you!’

  ‘You is NOT!’

  Bryony’s detective radar was immediately buzzing. ‘Hey, it’s the two Miss Ps,’ she whispered. ‘And it sounds like they’re squabbling!’

  Hari shrugged. ‘So? What’s new?’

  Miss Pigeon and Miss Parsley had fought since they were girls, over eighty years ago! They mostly fought over who made the best jam. So what could they be squabbling about in the Christmas holidays – in the primary school . . .?

  ‘I think we need to investigate,’ said Bryony. And before they could stop her she was at the school door. ‘Come on!’

  They followed her in and along to the hall then slipped inside behind her.

  ‘Oh!’ said Bryony. ‘The town play meeting!’ She and her friends had forgotten all about it what with everything going on at the stables.

  ‘Looks like Mr Pettifour is giving out the parts,’ said Finn.

  Brook Dale High had already done their Christmas play but the town play was quite another thing. Anyone could be in it, young or old. And although it was fun it brought out the worst in some people . . .

  ‘I will not!’ yelled Miss Pigeon, stamping her bony foot. ‘I will not be an Ugly Sister! I ain’t ugly, not like some I could mention!’

  She shot a look at Miss Parsley on stage beside her.

  ‘Don’t look at me, Eliza Pigeon!’ roared Miss Parsley, puffing out her cheeks like a bullfrog. ‘Huh! At least I has all me own teeth! Why, I’m so pretty, I should be Cinderella. Not one of them . . . grr . . . ugly sisters!’

  ‘I has me own teeth too!’ shrieked Miss Pigeon. ‘And if anyone should be Cinderella, it’s me because of me lovely sweet nature!’

  ‘You what?’ boomed Miss Parsley.

  ‘I’M KIND!’ snapped Miss Pigeon. ‘Now kindly
shut up! You is making me . . . less kind!’

  ‘Silly old goat!’ Miss Parsley puffed. ‘I’m the kindest!’

  Bryony and the others tiptoed to some chairs and sat themselves down in the back row.

  ‘So, clearly the play’s Cinderella,’ grinned Josh, and Bryony nodded.

  Up on stage with the two Miss Ps was Jeremy Pettifour, Chestnut Lane’s headteacher. Mr Pettifour was always in charge of the play as he thought himself a bit of an actor. Today he was wearing a black velvet suit, flowery shirt and bright blue beret. He also had a clapperboard, a deckchair with his name on, and a clipboard decorated with tinsel.

  Mr Pettifour, Bryony now deduced, must have just given the two Miss Ps the role of Ugly Sisters. She couldn’t imagine why he would have put them together when everyone knew the feisty old ladies were always much better kept apart.

  ‘Ladies, ladies!’ Mr Pettifour twinkled, flicking back his long floppy fringe. ‘Now I’m sure we can come to some arrangement. In fact . . . oh, yes! I have a marvellous idea. Come, come!’

  He swept them off the stage to be calmed (by someone else), then gazed down at his tinselly clipboard. ‘Now let me see . . .’

  As he stood there deep in thought, Emma and Will tiptoed in and sat down with Bryony and the others.

  ‘Oh, you remembered, Em!’ Bryony whispered.

  ‘Yes!’ Emma nodded. ‘Have I missed much?’

  Bryony glanced across at the two Miss Ps, now ‘coming to some arrangement’ by the climbing frame. Miss Pigeon was waving her bony fist at the poor teacher trying to calm her down, and Miss Parsley was puffing with a face like thunder.

  ‘Nah, you haven’t missed much at all, Em,’ grinned Bryony. ‘It’s all peace and goodwill here!’

  ‘Ahem!’ clucked Mr Pettifour, flicking back his fringe. ‘I shall now give out the remaining parts – and no interruptions, if you please.’

  Bryony and the others weren’t expecting big parts so there’d be no complaints from them.

  A few weeks ago, when they’d signed up for the play, they’d only ticked the ‘Extras’ box as they’d so many other commitments at the stables. Since Extras weren’t needed at all the rehearsals, they’d decided as a group that this would be the best option.

  Mr Pettifour began with Cinderella. ‘And this,’ he announced, ‘shall be . . . Alice.’