by Ann Bryant
“Hello there! Can I help you?” he said.
“I…we…were just looking around.”
Emily was staring at the old man, her eyes narrowed, and I felt even more stupid for not knowing who he was, as I couldn’t introduce Emily to him.
“We just came along to look at the old garden,” she was saying. “Well, it’s not a garden now. I guess it’s had its heyday.”
“Right,” said the man, his crinkly face breaking into a smile. “You must be one of the old girls?”
“Yes, I’m Emily Peters.”
“Emily?” repeated the man, frowning.
They were shaking hands and I could see the look in Emily’s eyes changing. Her eyes weren’t narrow and staring any more, but wide and bright. “Don’t tell me it’s Stanley?”
Stanley nodded. “Stan. Yes. But I’m afraid I don’t remember an Emily Peters.”
Emily smiled. “Peters is my married name. I used to be Emily Harrington.”
Stan took a step backwards as though the shock had made him lose his balance. “Emmy Harrington! Well I never!” he said. And I saw that his eyes were shining with tears.
“You’re still working here, Stan. I can’t believe it!” Emily’s voice was soft and a bit shaky.
I looked from one to the other of them and then noticed that the cameraman was filming away just inside the gate. And I thought how lucky he was, like me, to be here witnessing this very special moment in time.
Chapter Three
It was unbelievable that Emily and Stan used to know each other fifty years ago, and that Stan was still here at Silver Spires. When they’d both recovered from their shock, Emily introduced me to Stan, then asked him why he hadn’t been at the reunion.
“I was invited to come along,” he replied. “But I thought I might feel a bit out of place just being the old gardener, so…”
His voice faded out, and he kicked the earth with his boot. “Nothing growing here any more.” He pointed to the far end of the plot, nearest the kitchen. “Even the old herb garden’s gone to seed.”
“So there…used to be…things growing all over this plot?” I asked, feeling a bit unsure about whether I was interrupting.
It was Emily who answered. “You wouldn’t believe it from seeing it now, Ems, but this was such a fine vegetable garden once upon a time, with all its broad beans, runner beans, broccoli…”
“Brussels,” put in Stan. “And cabbage, carrots…spuds.”
“Leeks,” added Emily. Then she laughed. “You name it, we grew it. Isn’t that right, Stan?”
“Yep…those were the days.”
“Yes…those were the days,” repeated Emily in a whisper that faded into silence as they both stared at the plot.
“I’m going to get those days back again,” I said, almost to myself, feeling a big determination zapping right through my whole body as a picture of how the garden must have looked started to take shape in my imagination.
Stan looked up sharply and I could see I’d caught his interest. “The thing is, young Emily, it was the way of the world in those days,” he explained. “After the war, there wasn’t as much food to go around. It was rationed for years and so we got used to being self-sufficient. That’s why we grew our own vegetables here. There was no other way of doing things. But then the school got bigger and the country grew more prosperous and bit by bit they started modernizing things and bringing in catering packs of this and that. Broke my heart, to be honest.”
“So did the garden just…get left?” I asked, feeling some of Stan’s and Emily’s sadness rubbing off on me.
“It was a gradual thing,” said Stan. “But the final decision to stop using it to grow veggies came two headmistresses before this one.”
“That must have been after Miss Telford. She was the Head when I was here,” said Emily.
“That’s right,” Stan said, nodding. “I was the under gardener then. There were just the three of us, who worked all hours.” He looked around and didn’t speak for a few seconds and I got the feeling he was really sad. “Mind you, the place didn’t look like it does now. I mean, Silver Spires has grown bigger and bigger over the years. So now there are groundsmen, rather than gardeners. They do a fine job tending the shrubberies and mowing the lawns, keeping the sports fields in order, fencing and trellising, looking after the buildings – you name it…” Stan nodded slowly and turned to Emily. “I just keep up Ms. Carmichael’s garden and do a few odd jobs around her house now. It’s not the same as the good old days at all.” He stopped and looked around again.
I felt sorry for Stan. And in my mind an idea had been gradually forming as he’d been talking, which was starting to fill me with big excitement. I was imagining how cool it would be if things really did go back to how they were, with all the vegetables we ate at mealtimes being grown right here in this garden. But the best bit of my idea was that I could actually start a gardening club, just like Emily’s but fifty years later. The moment the thought had hit me, I wished I could find out straight away if I was allowed, as I knew I’d have to get permission first. Maybe I’d just see whether Stan thought it was a good idea, though.
“Do you think I’d be able to start up a gardening club here, Stan? If we worked hard and cleared this whole plot, I mean?”
“Not up to me, I’m afraid.” He laughed a funny dry little laugh that made me sad again. “I’m on my way out. Just about to retire. You’d need to ask Tony that one. He’s in charge – Site Manager, that’s his official title.” He kicked the ground again with his sturdy old boot so the top layers of soil broke, then he heaved a sigh. “Although, thinking about it, Tony’s only taking orders from other folk. I should ask your boarding housemistress. Yes, that’d be the best thing.” His face suddenly brightened. “Tell you what, though, I’ve got an old photo or two somewhere if you’re interested to see how that garden used to be. I’ll rootle them out for you if you like.”
“Yes, I’d love to see the photos… Thank you.”
“Actually I’d be very interested to see them myself,” said Emily. “Maybe you could post me one if I gave you my address? I’d make a copy, of course, and send it straight back,” she added.
“The guided tour is just about to begin!”
The camera that I now realized had still been on us swung round at the sound of Juliet’s loud voice coming from the other side of the gate. And it felt as though a magic spell had been broken at that moment.
“Right you are,” called Emily. “We’ll be straight over.”
Juliet smiled at the camera and ran her fingers through her hair, then turned and walked away. I don’t know why that annoyed me so much. But it did. It was funny though…even with all that irritation going on inside my head, nothing could spoil the excitement I felt. All I wanted to do was run back to Bryony and the others and tell them what a brilliant time I’d been having, and then go straight to Mrs. Pridham to ask her about starting up a gardening club. But then I suddenly remembered the other important thing.
“Er, when could I look at the photos?” I asked Stan.
“Let me see…Tuesday. I’ll bring them to school with me. How’s that suit you?”
I nodded hard. “Thank you.”
Emily had pulled some cards out of her handbag. She handed one to Stan and one to me. “That’s my address. And I’d love to hear how you’re getting on with the garden from time to time. I can’t tell you how happy I am that you want to start a gardening club again.”
“Yes, yes. I’ll let you know. I can’t wait!”
“Good for you, Ems! Good for you!”
And my heart squeezed with pride. But it wasn’t only pride. There was something else too. Ambition, that’s what it was.
Yes, ambition.
It was very early on Sunday morning and the six of us were in our dorm (which is called Emerald dorm, by the way. All the Year Seven dorms are named after precious stones and I was so pleased when I first found out I was in Emerald, because of coming from Ire
land, which is sometimes called the Emerald Isle). I’d dragged everyone out of their beds and we were all crammed onto mine for a truth talk. It was Antonia who first came out with the name “truth talk”, because that was her funny Italian way of describing the kind of conversation you have when you’re confiding in your friends. Any one of us can call a truth talk if we’ve got something specially important we want to discuss, and then the others all pile onto that person’s bed. We’d already had one the day before because I’d had so much to tell everyone about Emily Peters and Stan and the garden and how it used to be with all the students working on it, and everyone eating the vegetables at mealtimes. And I’d explained that the land was in a terrible state now, but that if we got a gardening club started, we could dig up all the weeds, prepare the soil and get it ready for planting.
I can’t say that my friends were exactly over the moon with my idea, but I knew I’d be able to bring them round to it once they realized what good fun gardening is. And actually they must have been looking forward to it quite a lot because they all seemed really pleased when Mrs. Pridham gave me permission to start the club. I love thinking back to what she actually said when I asked her about it that Saturday evening.
“I’m so pleased to hear that someone wants to do something green like this. And the headmistress approves too. Well done, Emily!” Then she’d told me that I’d have to ask Tony about what land I could use, as he was in charge of the grounds. She’d promised to have a word with him first, and I’d persuaded her to leave a message on his voicemail right then and there. I was hoping he’d get it before Monday because he’s got a house on the premises and often works at weekends, so he might have been able to help us straight away.
Going over all that in my mind was what had made me want to call the truth talk now.
“Listen, guys,” I began, as soon as everyone was settled on my bed. “I’ve been thinking about the gardening club… In fact, I’ve been dreaming about it all night long. And I’m going to see if I can find Tony straight after this, before breakfast even, to ask him about that plot of land behind the kitchens. Who wants to come with me?”
I smiled brightly round at my friends and then realized they were all still half asleep, looking at me blearily as though they couldn’t take in what I was saying properly. Never mind, I knew they’d be all right in a few minutes.
“Is that what you dragged us out of bed to tell us?” asked Nicole through a big yawn.
“No,” I quickly said. “Not just that. There’s something else. You know how Ms. Carmichael has got a thing about recycling, with the banks she’s set up for paper and plastic cups and stuff? Well, there’s one big thing she’s forgotten, and that’s food! Think about it – there are three hundred and sixty girls in this school and just about every one of us has at least one piece of fruit a day, as well as all the vegetables in our school meals, and the peelings could be put on a big compost heap to mulch down into compost to put on the new vegetable plants, to grow even more. Ta-da!”
I paused to let my words sink in, because everyone still looked half asleep.
“Yes, that sounds really good,” said Bryony eventually, as the others made kind of grunting noises.
I couldn’t help feeling really disappointed that they weren’t more interested, but it was probably just that they usually have a lie-in on Sundays and I’d kind of ruined that for this morning. I knew I’d been selfish, but I couldn’t help it – I was so excited about my new project. I jumped off my bed and went to the bathroom to have a shower, then I rushed back to get dressed and found that everyone except Bryony had gone back to bed.
“I’ll come with you,” Bryony said.
I hugged her. “Thanks, Bry. You’re a star!”
We walked along in silence because Bryony never speaks unless she’s got something proper to say, and I simply didn’t feel like talking because now that I was hopefully about to speak to Tony, I was getting scared. What if he said I couldn’t have the land I wanted? It was no good having permission for a gardening club if there was nowhere to garden.
“I don’t want anyone to know about the plans for the club, Bry,” I began hesitantly. “Not until…I…definitely know it’s all right to use the plot that Emily showed me.”
“Let’s hope those cameras don’t follow us, then,” said Bryony, which made me gasp.
“What cameras?”
But I didn’t need to ask. I’d suddenly spotted them way up ahead near the swimming pool block. “Oh no! They’re heading in this direction!”
“Doesn’t matter,” said Bryony in her usual unfazed way. “Just keep walking and if they ask us what we’re doing, we’re…taking exercise.”
“Yes, good thinking, Bry.” I was so lucky having Bryony as a best friend, because nothing ever bothers her.
As we drew nearer, though, we saw that we didn’t have to worry. Juliet and two of her friends were walking briskly along towards us, all three of them with sports bags slung over their shoulders. And walking alongside of them, looking as though he was having a bit of trouble keeping up, was the same cameraman who’d followed me and Emily out of the party. I could hear Juliet laughing as she talked and I could tell she was loving the attention. That meant she’d probably be perfectly happy if Bryony and I just scuttled past and left her to the limelight.
“We’ve been swimming,” she was saying. “Actually we often go for a swim before breakfast. It sets you up for the day.”
“Sounds like she’s acting in an advert,” said Bryony under her breath. And I thought it looked it too, because Juliet’s hair was completely dried and styled. When I go swimming, which is as little as possible, I always come out with my hair sticking out even more than it usually does and dripping down my back, making an uncomfortable wet patch just below my shoulders.
“So what time did you have to get up?” the man filming asked her.
She stopped and looked at her watch. “I guess about six thirty. I don’t set my alarm clock, I just use my body clock.”
“We’re on our way to breakfast now,” one of her friends added.
“Yes, swimming makes you starving hungry but the breakfasts at Silver Spires are yummy,” said Juliet, sounding all bubbly and bright.
We were almost right up to her by then and for a moment I thought we might be able to sneak by without anyone even noticing us. But to my horror, when we drew level, the man suddenly swung his camera round so it was facing me and Bryony.
“Here’s another couple of early birds,” he said.
I’ll never forget the thunderous look on Juliet’s face. She stood rooted to the ground, hands on hips, as the cameraman carried on talking directly to me.
“No swimming bag, so I guess you’re just taking a walk before breakfast?”
I nodded. “Yes…we’re just…” I didn’t know what else to say, but I had to say something. I didn’t want to look stupid on the film. “…Taking a walk.”
The moment I’d spoken I realized how pathetic I must have sounded repeating exactly what he’d said, and I wasn’t the only one to think that either. Juliet and her friends were smirking as they watched me go red, and the cameraman swung round to catch their amusement, which made my blood boil and probably made me look redder than ever. But Bryony was walking on and I knew that was the most sensible thing to do, so I followed her, trying to ignore the rage that was flaring up inside me. And neither Juliet nor the cameraman said anything else, thank goodness.
We finally spotted Tony in the distance over near Pets’ Place. None of my friends have got pets at school, so we don’t often have any reason to come all the way over here.
“Tony! Tony!” I called in my big happiness at having found him.
“Ssh!” said Bryony.
It was true I was being far too loud. I’d only ever actually said the word “Hello” to Tony, and now I was acting as though he was my long-lost uncle or something.
We broke into a jog and as we got near to him I noticed he looked really alarm
ed. “You all right, girls?”
“Yes, we’re fine,” said Bryony. “Emily’s just excited because we’ve been looking for you for ages.”
Tony looked relieved to hear that, and turned to me, eyebrows raised. My heart started hammering as the dread that I might not be able to have the plot of land I wanted came flooding back. Since my talk with Emily and Stan, I hadn’t stopped thinking how happy they’d both be to see that land restored to its former glory.
“Er…well, you see, I’m starting a gardening club…”
“Yes, I got the message from Mrs. Pridham.”
“…and I want to grow vegetables and—”
“Vegetables, eh? Well, I don’t see why you shouldn’t grow a few veggies. Look, there’s a little patch right here.”
He was striding off, heading even closer to Pets’ Place. “Nice and handy to feed the pets, eh? A few carrots and that?” He was grinning at us over his shoulder and I hurried to catch him up.
“No, sorry. I really wanted a bigger plot of land…”
It was on the tip of my tongue to tell him my plans about changing Silver Spires back to how it used to be, growing its own vegetables. But then he might think I was just a silly little Year Seven with big ideas, and I’d never be able to explain that I was used to proper gardening and knew what I was talking about.
“What about that land behind the kitchens?” Bryony suddenly asked. “There used to be a vegetable garden there, didn’t there?”
I felt myself tensing up as Tony stopped in his tracks and turned round. I kept my eyes glued to his face, searching for a change of expression, dreading him bursting out laughing and saying it was out of the question because that site was being used for something else entirely. But as it happened, he just tipped his head to one side as though he was considering it, and I dared to allow myself to hope.
“Maybe you could use the old herb garden patch,” he said eventually.
“The herb garden? Is that part of the big garden?”
He nodded. “Yep. The kitchen staff kept it going until quite recently, but there’s not really much point having a few home-grown herbs when the rest of the food is all supplied by outside firms.”
