Summer Camp at Trebizon by Anne Digby

Author:Anne Digby [Digby, Anne]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Tags: Fiction
ISBN: 9781899587186
Publisher: STRAW HAT
Published: 2011-07-12T16:00:00+00:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY REBECCA PLEASE FORGIVE TERRIBLE MUDDLE LONGING TO SEE YOU LOVE MUM AND DAD

The parcel was the second surprise of the day.

'It arrived at Trebizon station last night,' said Miss Morgan. 'They phoned through and Hodson went down to collect it – Red Star delivery by the look of it. It's addressed to you, Rebecca – I was just coming down to camp to find you.'

'Well, here I am!' laughed Rebecca in excitement.

'Many happy returns,' added the junior house mistress, with a smile, before hurrying off to find all the things in the fridge that were needed for the sandwiches.

'Thanks!'

Rebecca and Elf put the big parcel on the floor and knelt down, struggling to get the knots untied. 'It was put on the train at Carlisle!' exclaimed Rebecca. 'Who do I know in Carlisle –'

Then, as she drew out two enormous cake tins covered in a tartan design:

'Of course, it's from Langholm! There's no railway station there so Nanny must have got a bus all the way to Carlisle –!'

The first tin contained the most mouth-watering Dundee cake Rebecca had ever seen, rich and dark and smothered with nuts. The second tin was crammed full of home-made shortbread. And there was a beautiful birthday card with a piece of heather and a note –

If you can't come to me, then I must come to you! Happy birthday, Rebecca, from Nanny XXX

'Oh!' said Rebecca, quite overwhelmed. 'Oh, Elf, aren't I lucky?'

Elf just nodded, staring mesmerized at the contents of the tins.

Rebecca took a piece of shortbread.

'Try a bit, Elf.'

'My – my diet!' the plump girl protested, feebly.

'Never mind your diet!'

They sat on the floor and ate three pieces of shortbread each. It was very delicious and more-ish and melted in the mouth. 'Better put the lid back on,' sighed Rebecca, with an effort of will. 'We'll keep the rest for the party this evening. Mmm –'

She closed the tin of biscuits and hesitated a moment before shutting the other tin as well, taking a last look at the Dundee cake.

'–what a fantastic birthday cake! We'll take it with us to the cove –to have some with our lunch.'

'We'll need it!' agreed Elf. 'After all that digging!' She eyed it very solemnly and contemplatively, like an art connoisseur eyeing an Old Master. 'Rebecca, it's beautiful. It's going to be tragic in a way, cutting it.'

Rebecca laughed as they got to their feet. She was holding the tins in her arms now.

'I can live with a tragedy like that.'

A little shiver of pleasure ran through her. Today was doubly special. Not only was it her birthday. It was the day of the Roman dig.'

Wouldn't it be exciting if by lunch time, by the time they came to cut the cake, they had something else to celebrate? Maybe this morning they'd find some sign of the coins that had eluded Mrs Lazarus for so long!

It was a pleasant morning, but cloudy. In fact all the children were wearing their anoraks when they climbed on board the coach with their sandwiches.

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