LITMIR.BIZ

Скачать книгу

curious about the contents of the box that held her captivated.

      Lily looked at me blankly before pasting a secret smile on her face.

      ‘Nothing.’

      ‘What’s in the box?’

      Lily looked up and scanned the playground before responding. ‘Nothing.’

      ‘Come on, Lily. Tell me what’s in the box. I won’t tell anyone.’

      Lily frowned and looked at me again. She placed the box on her lap, covering it with her tiny white hands. ‘It’s just a box,’ she declared resolutely, her back straightening.

      This was starting to bother me. I knew she was lying, I was sure I could hear scuffling coming from inside the mysterious container and I wanted to see it.

      ‘If you don’t tell me I will tell Mrs Pompour.’

      She stared at me aghast. She studied the playground again and searched for her sister. Carla was deeply engrossed in her game and unaware of her sister’s dilemma. She patted the box and glared at me before returning her gaze back to the box. She wriggled her toes in anguish.

      ‘You wouldn’t dare! It’s none of your business. Go away!’

      But I was not so easily dispensed of. ‘Show me what’s in the box or I WILL tell Mrs Pompour. I will!’ I made to stand and find the teacher.

      She bit her lip and glowered, considering her options. At that point Mrs Pompour chose to enter the playground and clang the bell for everyone to return to class. She looked at me again and brought the box quickly up towards my face. I held my breath and waited. She carefully lifted the lid a little and I peered eagerly into the darkness. In the corner staring back at me was a little field mouse bristling his whiskers. I gasped and smiled wanting to hold the tiny furry creature but Lily had already slammed the lid shut and placed the box into her satchel. What a surprise. As she trounced towards the classroom I marvelled at her daring. All the other girls in the class would scream and squeal at the sight of such a rodent and here she was cuddling and cooing at her pet as if she were the mother. This made her all the more magical to me and I followed with a more sanguine step close behind her.

      I wanted to be her friend. I wanted to share my sandwiches. I wanted her to play in the field with me and for us to catch frogs and mice together. But I didn’t know how to achieve this fine goal. She remained wary of me every time I approached her at lunch. I knew my presence was unwanted but showing great tenacity I continued to sit next to her and talk.

      ‘What’s his name?’

      ‘Albert.’

      ‘Where did you catch him?’

      ‘Behind my house.’

      ‘Can I hold him?’

      ‘No.’

      I tried again. ‘Can I PLEASE hold him? I’ll be very careful.’

      She pouted. ‘He’s mine, not yours.’

      ‘I’ll give him straight back. I swear.’

      She gently held the mouse in her hands making sure he had a little hole to breathe. Her thumb patted down the mouse’s back and she murmured sweetly to him. She rubbed her cheek against his fur, closing her eyes and smiling beatifically. ‘No.’

      Inwardly I fumed. The fact that I could have easily caught any number of mice on my own did not matter. I had to have hers. If I had her mouse then she would belong to me and do as I say. This was my master plan. I plotted during class, trying to think of ways to snatch the box. She kept the satchel close to her at all times, even hanging it on the hook closest to her desk. She would glance occasionally at her bag throughout the lesson with a slight smile on her lips. Her sister Carla appeared uninterested in the furry pet and I wasn’t even sure she knew it existed. I had to think of a way to distract Lily from Albert so I could make the clean getaway.

      Finally I had my chance. I decided the best way to get closer was to keep my distance. I pretended to be more interested in playing with my friends. I made sure we kept relatively close to where she always sat so I could keep watch without her realising. I would joke and shout and swagger around just like the other boys but always keep a second eye on her. Occasionally she would leave her satchel for a few moments when Carla insisted she come over and play with her. I had to wait for just the right time as sometimes she lost interest quickly and raced back to her beloved mouse. Carla would stamp and fuss but she knew her sister well enough to realise it was a lost cause. How could twins be so unalike?

      Showing a patience I never thought I possessed, I bided my time. I waited and plotted. Finally she stepped away from the satchel and headed over to her sister in a distracted air. Carla had insisted she play a full game of hopscotch with her as her other friends had grown tired. I scuffled up with the stealth of a cat and swooped upon her bag. Quickly rustling through, I grabbed her mouse to hide under my jacket. I raced back to my friends smirking at my temerity. She hadn’t even seen me. So when the bell pealed out the end of play I jostled in with the other boys and snuck the mouse into my bag. Thankfully Lily didn’t check her bag before she hung it up and my first stage was completed.

      After school I raced home and fed my acquisition little pieces of bread. I hid him in my room and bounced down the stairs to talk to my mother about my day, withholding my secret mission. We loved our chats; she was fascinated with everything I did, making her my most favourite person in the world. My heart swelled with love for my mother and I would do anything for her, bringing her special posies of wild daisies and when the gardener wasn’t looking, the odd flower from his plot. I’m sure he knew it was me. I wasn’t very gentle when I snapped the stems, but he knew better than to complain to the mistress. She seemed to cherish each gift, clutching it to her bosom with tears welling in her eyes, before calling Meg to fetch her special crystal vase to place them in. They would stay there, with my father praising the wild array as if it were the finest arrangement from London. Only when the petals had dropped and the stems had darkened was the maid allowed to dispose of it.

      The following day I ran to school, holding the mouse carefully. I tucked him into my jacket pocket, feeding little crumbs to keep him mollified. I had the upper hand at last.

      

      Lily and Carla were already sitting at their desks. Lily looked forlorn and Carla was absorbing her mood by looking glum too. A pair of sad beautiful twins on a crisp spring day. I couldn’t wait to be the big swashbuckling hero for Lily. The time heaved its way ponderously to noon before I could approach my future best friend. She sat dolefully under the tree in her usual spot and barely looked up when I approached.

      ‘Hello.’

      ‘Hello.’

      ‘What’s the matter, Lily?’

      ‘Albert’s missing. Have you seen him?’ she asked me.

      At that moment, Albert wriggled in my pocket causing me to hastily place my hand on him, preventing his escape.

      ‘I may have.’

      ‘What do you mean by that?’ Lily looked at me suspiciously. ‘Where is he?’

      I smirked and pulled Albert out by the tail. He struggled against his abductor but I was very experienced at rodent control. My time at the estate had been well spent. I regarded Lily with a triumphant expression as her mouth dropped and tears welled in her eyes.

      ‘Let him go. You’re hurting him!’ She made to grab the mouse but I pulled away just in time. I bobbed Albert around in front of her, tormenting her just as she had tormented me. The tears trickled down her cheeks as she tried again to get her treasured pet back.

      ‘Give him back!’

      Carla heard her sister call

Скачать книгу