A Reunion at Mulberry Lane by Rosie Clarke

Author:Rosie Clarke [Clarke, Rosie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Boldwood Books

18

Maggie was delighted with all the gifts she’d received. So many that she didn’t know what to play with first. Her parents had bought her pretty clothes, shoes and a silver bracelet she could collect charms for, as well as books and some scented talcum powder, and a pretty glass pot for her dressing table at home. Her relatives in London and her granny had all sent gifts: a lovely book with pictures of a ballerina and a pretty nightdress from Grandma Peggy, and Grandad Able had also given her two pounds to spend as she liked. Grandma’s friends in London had sent books, puzzles and sweets, and Aunty Sheila had sent her a pair of fur slippers and a hairband with silk flowers on it.

In the fancy dress competition, the previous afternoon, they’d won third prize for going as a witch, wizard and their cat. Maggie had been the cat and had a wonderful time prancing about in her costume and purring at people. The prize for coming third was five pounds, which her parents thought excellent, but Maggie thought poor. She’d wanted the first prize of the return visit to the hotel, because all the other prizes were money. Ten pounds for second, five for third, two for fourth and so on down to five shillings for the eighth entrant, who had been a little boy dressed as Nessie.

He’d had a silly costume in Maggie’s opinion, because he didn’t look a bit like the beautiful creature she’d seen out in the lake, all shimmering and white in the mist. It had seemed to Maggie that Nessie had a curious light about her, but neither of her parents had seen it, which made her wonder why not. She’d seen the vision so plainly, just as Angus had described it to her.

When she’d seen Angus on Christmas Eve and given him the small box of cigars, she’d chosen for him herself, Maggie told him what she’d seen and he’d nodded and smiled at her.

‘You’re one of the lucky ones, lassie. Not many see her as clear as that – I have, as I told ye, but most don’t believe me. I saw her twice. The first time I wasn’t even looking for her, but she just popped up in the lake and waved her long neck at me…’ His kind eyes had smiled at her. ‘Now don’t ye be telling anyone that, young Maggie. They’ll think we’re both mad because those that don’t believe can’t ever see her. They’ve lost the magic, do ye see?’

‘I believe you, Angus,’ Maggie had told him earnestly. ‘And I know what I saw – she was so beautiful. People say she is a monster, but she’s not… she’s lovely’

‘From the mouth of a child,’ Angus had said and nodded. ‘There’s many a man I could wish had your sense, lassie. Now away back to your parents, because they will worry…’

‘Yes, I know,’ Maggie had said and looked at him with an anxious frown. ‘I don’t know why, but they aren’t very happy.

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