A Sixpenny Christmas by Katie Flynn

Author:Katie Flynn [Flynn, Katie]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Random House
Published: 2012-08-23T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

NONNY AND LANA were lying on the grass in Princes Park, looking up at the blue sky above. They were alone, because earlier in the week, at an agreed time, Chris had telephoned to the box in the village to find out how his parents were getting on without him, and Rhys had said that they could do with some help at the dipping, now that they had such a large flock of sheep. Nonny had wanted to go as well, and she knew Lana would have been happy to accompany them, but it would have been rude to abandon Auntie Ellen. She had invited Nonny and Chris to stay for the whole of the summer holidays, and they had only been in Liverpool three days when Chris had been called home.

Fond though she was of her brother, and much as she missed him now that he was away at agricultural college, Nonny had a sneaky feeling that she and Lana would probably enjoy their time together more without him. Fifteen and clothes conscious, they both loved shopping, discussing the latest fashions and visiting cinemas and theatres, things which were not possible in the heart of Snowdonia, whilst Chris was openly scornful of such things. Furthermore, he had not really taken to Lana’s friends, and Nonny thought, secretly, that he had been fretting for the farm even before the fateful telephone call. So now she turned her head and addressed her friend. ‘Lana? Is it lunchtime yet?’

Lana laughed and sat up, dusting fragments of grass from her smart navy blue sweater. ‘It’s much too nice a day to catch a tram back into the city centre, but if you’re desperate for a cuppa we’ll go to the open-air caff on the other side of the lake.’ She then consulted the little wristwatch she wore and announced, ‘It’s twelve o’clock. After that, shall we take a boat out on the lake?’ She got to her feet. ‘Can you row, Nonny? You and Chris seem able to do most things, but your river is a bit too fast for a rowboat, I should imagine.’

Nonny followed her friend’s example, then shook out her neat pleated skirt. She always brought her best clothes when she paid a visit to the O’Maras, and often went along to Paddy’s market to exchange an outgrown garment for a larger one, paying the difference out of her pocket money. At home on the farm she wore slacks and sweaters, or short-sleeved shirts when it was hot, and of course at school there was the uniform, but here in the city she could enjoy wearing pretty clothes, having her hair cut by a professional and using the make-up which she hid from Molly, though she was pretty sure her mother knew all about it.

‘I wish I had a watch like yours,’ she said. ‘Is there such a thing as a cheap wristwatch? If so I’m going to buy myself one and tell Mum and Dad it’s what I want for my birthday; then they’ll pay me back, of course.

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