The Summer Party by Rebecca Heath

Author:Rebecca Heath [Heath, Rebecca]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Head of Zeus

JANUARY 2000

NINE DAYS BEFORE THE PARTY

Lucy

‘What’s all this?’ Lucy asked. They were in the turret room, escaping the afternoon heat.

Anabelle snatched the large box from Lucy’s grip. ‘Nothing.’

Lucy cradled her hand against her body. A red mark showed on the webbing between thumb and forefinger. Should she apologise?

Before she could decide, Anabelle sighed. ‘Look, sorry about your hand, but you need to remember this is my room. There’s private stuff in here.’

‘Sorry,’ Lucy said in a small voice.

Anabelle lifted the lid of the box and pulled out some high heels and a couple of wigs. ‘It’s mostly mementos from the stage shows I’ve done at school.’

She could tell from Anabelle’s tone that this was safer territory. ‘I didn’t know you were into theatre,’ Lucy said. ‘I helped with lighting for ours last year.’ She eyed the wig quality. As inexperienced as she was, she could tell these were expensive. ‘What have you performed in?’

‘So many,’ Anabelle said, warming even more. ‘I’ve been Matilda, Liesl and this one was from playing Cosette in Les Mis.’ She held up the blonde wig. ‘We decided this would work better than trying to straighten my curls.’

At Anabelle’s nod, Lucy reached out and felt the soft strands of fake hair. ‘It’s so pretty.’

‘You try it.’

‘Really?’ Lucy asked. ‘I’d hate to wreck it.’

‘You won’t because I’ll help.’ Enthusiasm hummed in Anabelle’s voice. ‘Come on, I bet you’ll look like some kind of princess.’

Not wanting to piss her friend off again, Lucy twisted her hair into a rough bun and pinned it in place.

Then Anabelle eased on the wig. She studied the result, a frown on her face. When Lucy turned to see her reflection, Anabelle held her chin in place, tugging at a few mousy strands of Lucy’s hair that had escaped. ‘Mae will have pins,’ she said. ‘Wait here.’

Lucy should have stayed where ordered. Or at worst, strolled over to the window to admire the view of the town. But the box was right there. And what could be in it that had Anabelle so mad?

Listening for Anabelle’s return, she flipped open the lid. Inside, sequinned dresses caught the light and a short black wig had become tangled in some beaded costume jewellery. Why the fuss? But something crackled as she moved a gold tiara. She glanced towards the door then lifted the accessory, ready to drop it at the slightest hint of her friend returning. Beneath the tiara lay… rubbish. Chocolate biscuit packets, crisps packets, sweet wrappers. They filled more than half the box.

What on earth?

‘Thanks.’ Anabelle’s call of gratitude carried from the depths of the house to where Lucy sat, stunned and confused.

She moved quickly, returning the box and herself to how it had been when Anabelle left the room. Just in time, because the door flew open and Anabelle came in. ‘Victory,’ she said, waving the pins.

Lucy sat as instructed while Anabelle fixed her hair into place and put the wig on. She managed to ooh and ah at her reflection, not disagreeing when Anabelle said, ‘We could be sisters, now you’ve got Mother’s hair.

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