by James Erith
A slightly confused murmur spread around the room. ‘However, under rule 12.7.1 there is a clause which reads: Any team member who has played ten matches consecutively has the right to appeal for an impartial ruling if a matter of disrepute has been reported.’
Mr Solomon put the letter down on the lectern and removed his half-moon glasses. He peered around the room. ‘What they are saying, therefore, is this: has Daisy played ten matches in a row this season?’
He spied a raised hand from one of the girls at the back. ‘Yes,’ he said. ‘Sue Lowden – do you have the answer?’
‘I believe she’s played in twelve, sir. Thirteen if you take into consideration the friendly against the Dutch school.’
‘Thank you very much, Miss Lowden.’ An audible buzz passed around the room. The headmaster donned his glasses once more and turned back to the letter.
‘It is our opinion,’ he read, ‘that Upsall School has seriously abused the goodwill of this league. However not one opposition team member reported or noticed Miss de Lowe’s disguise until the information was passed to us by way of an anonymous letter.’
Several heads turned towards a group of boys sitting on the left side of the room and a hissing noise started. Mr Solomon continued to read, this time in a slightly louder voice:
‘As this happened prior to the National Northern Under 14 Cup Final, and Miss de Lowe has played in every round, we have decided to impart the following: should Upsall School win, then we will recommend, with the full backing of the Football Association, that Miss de Lowe be allowed to continue playing for Upsall School and the rules be changed with immediate effect—’
A roar of cheers and whooping noises filled the air.
‘However,’ Mr Solomon read as he raised his hand for quiet, ‘should Upsall lose,’ and here, his voice went so quiet that you could almost hear a pin drop, ‘then it will be Miss de Lowe’s last game for the school.’
Silence spread over the pupils as they listened to the headmaster. Mr Solomon picked Daisy out of the assembly, peeled off his glasses and spoke directly to her. ‘So there we have it, Daisy. I have spoken to the authorities to make sure we are absolutely clear about the situation. You will play in tomorrow’s final against Chitbury Town, but with no disguise. Do you understand? It’s bitter-sweet, but it’s not all over by any means!’
Mr Solomon addressed the children and thumped his fist down on the lectern. ‘So let’s make sure as a team and a school that we jolly well win!’
Shouts rang out as Mr Solomon spoke. He waited for the noise to abate. ‘Kick-off tomorrow is at 11am. There will be no assembly, but there will be a chapel service for those of you who wish to get rid of your sins, so I’m expecting a great deal of you. If you are coming to watch the match, please note that Sue Lowden and Isabella de Lowe will be offering half time refreshments from the catering cart. And please remember to bring waterproofs and umbrellas as significant rain is forecast.
‘Now, as you are all fully aware, we are open to parents and public alike. Our school will be a hive of activity, so good luck to those who are involved in our many music, art and drama displays. Let’s make it a day to remember!’ This burst of enthusiasm signalled the end of the assembly and he motioned, with his familiar swirl of his hand, for the children to stand up. ‘One final thing. I’d like to see all three de Lowes afterwards for a moment, and prefects, can you ensure that everyone leaves in the usual orderly manner.’
KEMP MOVED QUICKLY to cut her off. ‘Now then, no more disguises,’ he sneered. He’d managed to trap Daisy between the stage, the wall, and the corner of the room. ‘They’re going to kick lumps out of you, de Lowe, and I cannot wait to see it.’ He smiled, his fat lips parting a fraction as he ran a hand through his thick red hair, which sprang back into its matted, shredded-wheat style – regardless of the dollop of hair wax he’d added.
Daisy tried to back out but found herself trapped by his mates, Mason and Wilcox.
‘I can look after myself, Kemp,’ Daisy said coolly. ‘There’s no point trying to intimidate me. That’s what you boys always try and do, and as you know, I don’t feel pain—’
‘I’m sorry,’ Kemp butted in. ‘What did you say, de Lowe, intimidation, pain?’ He laughed. ‘We wouldn’t do a thing like that, would we boys? Not really my style, de Lowe.’
Daisy leaned in towards him, taking him off guard, and whispered in his ear, her breath soft on his cheek. ‘Only your foul breath could frighten me.’ In a flash she tried to push through a gap but Kemp recovered his wits and with a big hand grabbed her arm and twisted it behind her back. A stabbing pain shot into her shoulder.
‘I haven’t finished,’ Kemp said. ‘Now listen up, Daisy de Lowe. My mates at Chitbury are SO looking forward to it, especially the second half.’ Kemp spoke the words slowly, right in her face. ‘Face it, you haven’t got a chance in hell.’
Daisy tried to jerk her head away; his breath was gross – like fresh steamy dog poo, and Daisy detested that smell more than anything. ‘Tell your mates I’m looking forward to it,’ she spat, staring him coldly in the eyes.
Then, because she knew it would deeply irritate him, she fluttered her eyelashes, pouted her lips and spoke to him in a high-pitched girlie voice, ‘You know what, Kempy-wempy,’ she started, ‘you really are super macho with your sexy red hair and big muscles and your fat lips.’ Wilcox and Mason looked at each other and sniggered. Kemp glared at them.
Daisy whispered very faintly in his ear. ‘I think you fancy me, don’t you, big boy.’
Kemp looked ready to explode. He twisted Daisy’s arm higher up her back.
Daisy squirmed. ‘Let me go, loser.’
Kemp put his mouth to her ear. ‘Don’t even think about it, de Lowe.’
‘What? Me and you?’ she replied.
Kemp loosened his hold. ‘No, you stupid ass. The football. They’re in a different league – at least soon they will be, so wave bye-bye to your football career, and hello to mine—’
‘Back off, Kemp!’ It was the large figure of Gus Williams closing in. ‘The de Lowes are wanted by Solomon. Didn’t you hear? Or are you deaf as well as dumb?’
Kemp released her. ‘You’re asking for it, Williams—’
‘Fine,’ Gus replied, his eyes bulging with excitement, almost madness, Daisy thought. ‘Any time, just you and me, and since you’ve retired from competitive football, this afternoon’s free—’
Daisy had had enough. ‘Boys – belt up and let me through,’ she said, and without hesitating aimed a vicious kick at Kemp’s shin. Kemp howled and hopped up and down rubbing his leg.
Gus flashed his big friendly toothy smile at Daisy and turned to Kemp. ‘Kicked by a girl. Now that shouldn’t be painful for a big, tough boy like you.’
FOUR
KEMP’S STORY
‘What was that about?’ Archie said, as Daisy joined him at the other side of the hall.
Daisy ran her hands through her hair. ‘Oh, nothing, usual stuff,’ she said flatly. ‘Kemp being a creep, telling me how much of a kicking I’m going to get from his Chitbury mates, and Gus, heroic, as usual.’ She smiled cheekily at Archie and sighed. ‘Why does Kemp hate me so much?’
Archie rubbed his freckled nose and laughed. ‘Because he’s a thug and he’s jealous of you – because everyone likes you and hates him.’ Archie frowned. ‘And possibly because you – a mere slip of a girl – booted him off the team.’
Daisy shook her head. ‘But he was useless – always giving away fouls and kicking people off the ball. And anyway that was last year—’
‘He’s like an elephant who never forgets—’
‘Well, it’s ridiculous,’ Daisy complained, ‘elephant or not.’
Archie grabbed his sister playfully by the waist. ‘Strange thing is, I bet you deep down he really fancies you.’
Daisy gasped and a smile lit up her face. ‘That’s what I told him – to wind him up!’ She pushed Archie playfully away. ‘Eeeuk! No chance! I promise you
, Archie, there’s absolutely no way I’d ever go out with that jerk!’
Archie grinned and stole a glance over to the far end of the hall, where Kemp was talking to his friends. They locked eyes for a moment, then Kemp reached into his pocket for his mobile phone.
Archie turned back to Daisy, his face concerned. ‘Probably a mistake to kick him though; other people feel pain in their legs, even if you don’t—’
‘I wonder,’ Daisy said airily, staring into the distance, ‘would Kemp even know me if I didn’t play football? I mean, is there another side to him that’s not horrible or gross or stinks like a skunk. How did he end up being such a dickhead?’
Archie shrugged. ‘Kemp’s alright, he’s got problems—’
Daisy’s eyes nearly popped out. ‘You’re telling me—’
‘No, seriously,’ Archie said. ‘He told me about it in a boring session of detention last term and made me swear not to tell anyone.’
‘Well, go on, then,’ Daisy urged. ‘You can tell me.’
‘Of course I can’t, it’s a secret.’
‘Don’t be silly,’ Daisy implored. ‘He’s just tried to break my arm and his friends are going to kick the life out of me.’
‘No.’
‘Yes,’ Daisy insisted. ‘For curiosity’s sake and because it’s sometimes best to know your enemy.’
Archie wavered for a second and then shook his head, even if Daisy did have a point. ‘Sorry.’
‘Pleeease,’ Daisy begged.
Archie sighed. ‘No.’
‘Pleeease, winkle.’
‘God. OK – as long as you swear you absolutely won’t tell anyone. And you stop calling me winkle.’
Daisy wobbled her head inconclusively.
‘I mean it,’ Archie said, ‘don’t tell anyone.’
‘Alright – I swear.’
Archie eyed her carefully. ‘You do realise, Daisy, that if he finds out he’ll rip my arms off or suck out my eyes. Or both.’
Daisy flashed him a look. ‘Yeah, yeah, I know. Not a soul.’
‘OK, so the thing is, Kemp’s parents died when he was little – very suddenly – and he keeps very quiet about it – never talks about it. Now he lives with his aunt, who he can’t stand.’
‘That’s awful,’ Daisy said, her eyes wide. ‘How?’
‘What do you mean, how?’
‘How did they die?’
‘Oh, I see,’ he said. ‘A car crash. Driving along in an open top car they went into the back of a truck up on the hills in the forest towards Dalton.’ Archie’s voice turned to a whisper. ‘The rest is really grim.’
‘Go on,’ Daisy urged, leaning in. ‘You’ve started so you’ve got to finish.’
Archie sighed, looked over his shoulder, and saw Kemp heading towards the door at the far end of the hall. ‘Apparently, both lost their heads. Their car plummeted into a ravine and blew up. Some charred and disjointed remains were found scattered in the woods weeks later.’
Daisy whistled. ‘My God. I can see why he doesn’t want anyone to know.’
Archie nodded. ‘Shocking, isn’t it. And the worst bit is that they only found parts of one body.’
Daisy hadn’t expected such a terrible story and for a moment stared at the floor. ‘So you like him, don’t you?’ she said.
‘Yeah, I suppose, apart from when he’s a jerk to you two.’
Daisy was intrigued. ‘Come on, tell me more, I mean he’s probably organising my death right now.’
Archie glanced down the hall and hesitated. ‘OK. Beneath all that macho stuff he’s actually quite soft – it’s a barrier he puts up to protect himself, well that’s what his shrink says—’
‘Shrink?’ Daisy blurted. ‘He has a shrink?’
A few heads turned their way. ‘Yes, shrink, psychiatrist, whatever – keep your voice down.’
‘He gets counselling?’ she whispered. ‘They’re not doing a very good job.’
Archie shot his twin a look. ‘Tell me about it. He seems to snap in and out. I mean, when he told me all this in detention he cried buckets and went on and on about wanting a normal life with a normal family. And then at the end thumped me really hard on the shoulder and told me not to tell anyone. Remember that massive bruise I had when I said I’d fallen out of a tree.’
‘Oh yeah, I thought that was a bit odd.’
Archie shook his head. ‘I couldn’t move my arm for a week. Anyway he’s basically sad, bored, and to be honest … lonely. Everyone hates him and he knows it.’
‘Even Mason and Wilcox?’
‘Even those freaks don’t really like him. They pretend they’re best mates but it’s fear that gels them together. Ever seen how they jump to attention when he’s around or their heads get cracked together? One moment he’s charming and funny, the next he’s pure evil. It’s as if there’s a switch that flicks in his head – and he’s really strong for his age – the only person who can match him is Williams—’
‘Yeah, I noticed there were sparks flying between them earlier,’ she said. ‘So why does he like you?’
Archie smiled. ‘Because I don’t annoy him – and I’m probably not worth beating up,’ Archie raised his eyebrows. ‘And because I don’t deliberately piss him off.’
Daisy thumped him playfully on the arm. ‘He’s a loser, Archie. Why doesn’t he try being nice for a change?’
‘Apparently it’s something to do with offloading emotional pain. That’s why Solomon and the teachers leave him alone so he can do what he likes – they’re terrified he’ll go even further off the rails. Apparently it’s pretty common. I mean, think about it, if our parents got killed we’d probably go a bit nuts, although to be fair,’ and he pinched Daisy on the cheek, ‘you’re already halfway there.’
Daisy smiled sarcastically. ‘Our parents are never, ever around, so it’s almost the same thing,’ she said, a frown falling over her face.
Archie was glad that he wasn’t the only one who missed them. ‘Are you sure you’re alright, you know, about the match?’
‘Yeah,’ she said. ‘Thanks, Arch. I’ll miss wearing that stupid wig. It felt kind of lucky – something I could hide behind.’
‘Tell you what,’ he said, changing the subject, ‘why don’t I cut your hair, make you look a bit more like a bloke?’
Daisy laughed as an image of a moustachioed Archie, wearing a white apron, with a pair of scissors in his hand, popped into her head. ‘NO WAY, winkle. You’d probably cut my ears off—’
‘Well they’re big enough, and anyway, STOP calling me winkle,’ Archie said. He wondered if it was the right time to quiz Daisy about the previous night. ‘Do you remember,’ he began cautiously, ‘anything about last night?’
‘Last night? What do you mean?’
Archie felt himself reddening. ‘Well, you were having a bad dream.’
Daisy looked confused. ‘Did I wake you?’
‘Yeah. You were screaming – for starters – you must remember.’
Daisy shook her head. ‘Screaming? Loudly?’
Archie nodded. ‘It’s amazing you didn’t wake the whole of Northallerton.’
Daisy grinned. ‘Now you mention it,’ Daisy began, ‘I had a nightmare about being covered in water, as if I was in a huge storm.’
‘That’s it? Nothing else?’ Archie teased. ‘Nothing about me?’
‘Nah.’
‘You sure?’
‘Sure. Why?’
‘Well…’ Archie hesitated.
‘Well, what?’
‘Oh, it’s nothing really – just that … during the course of it you mentioned me and told me not to do something.’
Daisy turned thoughtfully to the ceiling. ‘Sorry, winkle. Can’t remember jack all.’
Archie could barely hide his disappointment and Daisy saw straight through him. The reality was that she’d had a terrible, terrible night – one she’d rather forget entirely.
‘Actually,’ Daisy began, scrunching up her cheeks, ‘maybe there�
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But she was interrupted by the large figure of Mr Solomon. ‘Daisy, Archie, there you are. Now, where is that sister of yours?’
‘I’m here,’ said the figure of Isabella heading towards them, ‘just been finishing off some science work with Mrs Douglas. You can’t believe how …’ and she turned her eyes up as if searching for the correct term… ‘loose, some of these theories are.’
FIVE
A WORD FROM THE HEADMASTER
The headmaster ushered the three of them into the adjoining corridor.
‘Look, just a quick word, if I may,’ Mr Solomon said as he leaned against the painted stone wall, his voice kind and his manner fatherly, but firm. He looked over them sympathetically. ‘It pains me a very great deal to say this, but this morning I received an email from your parents who are somewhere in the Middle East. They will not be back for the football match or indeed for the whole of half term.’ He scanned their disappointed faces. ‘It appears they have discovered something rather important.’
Archie and Daisy exchanged glances.
‘What does it say – what are they doing?’ Isabella asked and she attempted to read the headmaster’s notepad upside down.
The headmaster folded the pad into his large midriff. ‘Well, it’s light on detail – in fact there’s hardly any information, which, given the circumstances is the very least you deserve. And to be honest I’m not at all happy about this situation—’
‘But we’ve got—’ Isabella started.
‘Yes, I know you’re fortunate enough to have your caretakers at Eden Cottage – but looking at your appearance, Archie, I have to ask myself, are they up to the job?’ The headmaster paused for effect. ‘This is the third time I’ve had to reprimand you in the last two terms. Your parents have an obligation to you and this school beyond the callings of their work and the responsibility of others.’
Solomon sighed. He hated telling children off for something that wasn’t their fault; they’d been deserted by their eccentric parents, and not for the first time.
