You wouldn’t believe it! My step-sister, Cherry’s, drawing won first prize in the borough competition! I’ve glued a photocopy of it in. It’s the one on the right. Do you like it? It’s a black-capped chickadee. I have one as a pet; she’s called Dee-Dee, Dee for short.
Now, it’s my good news now: Mum and Paddy (my step-dad) have finally given in and let me go to the horse-riding course for the summer break! I’m going with my horse Calypso and I have everything all packed up. Tomorrow’s the day!
We’re here! The manager gives me a bright, glossy booklet and points out to a small house by the stables. There are three separate stables there and the manager says “Your father paid for you and your horse Calypso to have separate rooms and stables. However, I have fitted in three beds altogether so that you can chose 2 roommates if you want.” I nodded eagerly. “Great,” she said “I’ll have someone call you in early so that you can see the girls.” With that, she walked away, clutching her blue folder.
After I had unpacked everything neatly, I popped open a can of Fanta from the nearby vending machine. Calypso had been washed and groomed already and I sipped my Fanta thoughtfully. When is it time?! Suddenly, a friendly-looking teenage girl –clearly a volunteer- came and told me to bring my riding things, they were going to the hall now. I drained my Fanta, pulled on my forget-me-not blue riding jacket, grabbed my purple helmet and pulled on my long suede riding boots. Scraping my coco coloured hair into a ponytail, I followed her.
I did arrive early, and I inspected each girl closely. The first one that caught my attention was a friendly looking girl with frizzy orange hair that was loose; I lent her my spare scrunchie and she took it gratefully. Behind her, was a kind looking girl whose long, red hair had been brushed into a beautiful ponytail already. She smiled at me when she caught me looking. After all the girls had gone, the volunteer ushered me into a space that had been left for me. Coincidence! It was between frizzy and long hair girls! After the boring assembly was over, I invited the two to share a room with me. They said yes! Squeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
After a trail ride in ‘Memory Wood’, the two girls introduced themselves as Lori (the red-haired girl) and Freya (the frizzy-haired girl). They re-unpacked their stuff into my little hut. We hurried out to the mini-party after a delicious dinner in our spare changes of clothes. Freya wore a red, checked shirt matched with blue jeans and black converse trainers. Lori wore a skin-coloured, thin pair of tights under a crimson skirt completed with a snug, little black top, carefully matched with dolly black patent pumps. I felt out of place, wearing a plain white top under a denim jacket with leather boots and plain jeans. Oh well.
At the party, I realised you had to vote for someone who looked gorgeous. Lori’s amazing long red ringlets cascaded down loose to match her outfit. Clearly, Lori was the obvious option. My pen poised to write, a girl wearing a too small purple dress with too much purple eye make up on and black killer heels came into view. She was arguing with a stunning girl…it was Lori!
Immediately, I dumped down the pen and paper and rushed over to see what was going on. Freya was nowhere to be seen. “What’s going on?” I demanded, shocked to see Lori’s face streaked with tears. Using logic, I worked out that the girl (she was called Margaret) had deliberately begged the manager to kick Lori out. By now, a crowd had surrounded and everyone knew what had happened. Someone ripped open the vote box and tore up all votes for Margaret (I’ll write Maggie now, Margaret is just way too long!). Suddenly, Freya appeared, her horse behind her. Maggie screamed and fainted. I know a secret! (wink) Maggie is scared of horses and she only came so she could be voted Party Princess! (wink again LOL)
Yeah, um, not so good news. Because of the, um, ‘incident’, the camp is sending everyone home now. I quickly got Freya and Lori’s number etc. and then packed my things and hurried away, Calypso at my heels. My three sisters are slightly shocked that I was back 1 week early, mum and Paddy already knew from the last-minute email. I missed our huge house (not really ours, it’s actually Grandma Kate’s) so much! Here’s what everyone looked like-including the house…
Cherry was in her off-shoulder, white top that was splattered with colourful paint and a blue denim skirt matched with red converse trainers. Skye was wearing a cute, vintage cornflower blue dress with small yellow flowers printed on it. Her feet wore strappy blue wedges and her toes were painted silver. Summer had clearly just come back from a ballet session as she wore fuchsia, velvet leggings with a loose black top on and pink ballet pumps. The kitchen was a mess since Paddy was figuring out a new type of tasty snack. The back-garden was tidy, with an easel planted bang in the middle, and brushes and paints left by Cherry in the trimmed grass. Summer’s room was covered in posters of famous ballerinas and her outgrown pointe shoes pinned delicately on her baby pink walls. Her bed blanketed in leotards and cardigans. Skye’s room was vintage. She had a gold bird-cage standing decoratively in a corner of her forget-me-not blue room. On the notice-board, she had pinned lots of vintage clothing designs and rolls of gorgeous material with beautiful patterns leaned on the walls and her bed. 3 mannequins stood to a side with fabric pinned together on them. Clearly, an idea was coming to Skye’s mind despite her still finishing off two dresses that were laid carefully onto her lilac bed. Her loopy, elegant writing decorated creamy pages from a vintage, red leather-bound book.
Bleep! My phone notified me of a text. I flopped onto my own, lavender pink bed and checked my messages on SpiderWeb:
Lori01: Anyone there?
CocoPops: Hi.
Lori01: Coco! How r u?
CocoPops: Gr8. U ok? U know, about Moody Margaret?
Lori01: Yeah, sorry that because of me you guys had to go home a whole week early!
CocoPops: It wasn’t you, it was Margaret. Plus, pretty much the whole club was on your side…
Frizz: Yeah Lori, it’s not your fault.
Lori01: Freya! Cool name!
CocoPops: Your name totally makes sense if you’ve seen you hair. LOL
Lori01: Sorry guys, I gotta go. Chat again soon! Or else!
CocoPops: Bye…😢😭☹
Frizz: Bye! (Boohoo) Chat again soon!
End of chat
I connected my phone to the charger and wondered what to do now that no one was free on SpiderWeb, Skype or iMessages. Suddenly, there was a knock on my door. Skye’s pretty, heart-shaped head peeped round, her hair swept up into a bun. “I’m making a dress for everyone in our family, I just need to measure you.” She said, clipping back a strand of brown hair. “Everyone?” I teased “A dress for Paddy? I don’t know what he’s going to say about that!” Skye sighed good-humouredly, but then she looked worried. “Oh Coco pops, what SHOULD I do about Paddy? A tuxedo? A shirt? Argh!” Skye burst out, her face anxious and her hand un-clipping her hair, then clipping it again (she does that when she’s stressed). Idea! “I’ll help! I’m dead bored anyway.” I exclaimed, almost knocking over the orange rubbish bin filled with draft leaflets about donating money to horse sanctuaries. Skye nodded enthusiastically and I followed her into her room.
We spent the afternoon Googling men’s wear but still we’ve got so far: jeans, shirts, tuxedos, three pieces, jackets, polo shirts etc. etc. All the common stuff, we may as well have not Googled it up. We decided to sleep on it. Skye did let me see her designs for the others but she insisted on keeping mine a secret from myself. This one she says is her dream dress but she would never be able to make it herself. I’m going to get Daphne Delacroix (this fashion designer in our neighbourhood, also a good friend of mum’s) to make it for her. She definitely will because she is so kind!
This one is Summer’s dress. I can just imagine. It suits her so much! It has a puffy skirt, a bit like a ballerina’s.
(Pic)
This is mum’s dress, simple, but pretty. Skye’s planning on using a crimson colour for it. Mum has red heels already. Great!
(Pic)
This is Cherry’s dress, an artistic style. Cherry has boots and red woollen socks identical to the sketch. Just perfect!
(Pic)
She’s made the dresses! Paddy said he’d be happy if she just got him a simple three piece. So she did! Guess what! This is my dress! Isn’t it beautiful? I just love it to pieces! Oh yeah, I forgot to say, Daphne Delacroix has finished Skye’s dress! Skye was thrilled! Party at the beach tonight. You can guess what we’ll be wearing! There will be three parties: one for adults, one for under 18s, one outside at the beach with no age limit.
It is time! Luckily it is hot outside so we get to wear our sleeve-less dresses. Me and Cherry head out to the beach party and settle down in front of a small fire crackling on a pile of logs and sticks. It is an abandoned fire and no one is sitting there. Summer and Skye walk into the under 18s party, swishing their beautiful dresses proudly. Mum totters off in her killer red heels and elegant red dress with Paddy in his smart three piece towards the adult party.
Cherry and I take turns to feed our small fire with useless driftwood that the tide brought in earlier in the evening. It was so calm and peaceful that I actually sighed in pleasure aloud! Cherry giggled and she started me off too. In the end, we lay on the soft sand, occasionally chucking wood into the fire. The stars twinkle in the sea of dark blue and the moon like a boat in the sky. I drain my cocoa and let darkness overcome me…
When I wake up, I am curled up in my lavender pink bed. Summer, Skye and Cherry are curled up on the floor with my favourite blanket that has a picture of the giant panda. I hear shouting from downstairs and it turns out my oldest sister that has come to visit from Australia was furious with everyone and decided to come back and wreck the place. Apparently, dad has a girlfriend called Emma and Honey (the oldest sister) is angry that mum has Paddy-a stepdad- and dad has Emma-a future stepmum. I knew dad had a girlfriend from before Honey got expelled from school and went to Australia for a fresh start. I heard her voice if we ever Skype-d dad. Tear start to roll down my cheeks and I start to cry silently. Before I know it, I fall asleep again.
This time, when I wake up, Honey is sobbing silently in my room, tracing the lines on my palm. “I've messed up Coco pops. Dad has someone else now.” She whispers, then breaks off into sobs, her tears streaming down and dampening my duvet. I make her a mug of hot chocolate and tell her to go and take a hot bath. That helps me, but I have never been in such serious troubles before. It turns out Summer, Skye and Cherry have gone out to have a sleepover with Tia, Millie and Sakura to get out of the tense atmosphere. I was asleep so they left me and let Honey accompany me. I was always her favourite sister anyway.
Honey goes and takes a hot bath, then showers, borrowing my honey-scented shampoo and conditioner as well as my strawberry-scented shower cream. She comes out wearing a cute, lilac top with some designer jeans that she’s never worn before. She has put on some gentle purple eye make-up and pink lipstick but her eyes still look tired and puffy from the crying while her lips are still cracked from her not drinking. She finishes the mug, then asks me to help her choose some clothes that are the opposite of her mood so she looks happy at least.
Together, we look through her wardrobe and make her toss on a pair of electric purple jeans, a snug, royal blue top with a pair of peacock feather earrings, a gold metal-like necklace and shiny, metal-like gold high heels. Suddenly, I got a SpiderWeb from Freya:
Frizz: Hey Coco! Wanna come to the new baby animals farm expedition?
CocoPops: Sure! Can my big sister come?
Frizz: Yeah, Lori can’t come so it’ll be just you, me and your big sis and some others (plus my cousin Lindsay).
CocoPops: That’s fine, as long as Lori’s not going because she has to go somewhere else, NOT coz she’s ill.
Frizz: Gr8! All sorted! See ya @ the farm!
CocoPops: See ya there!
End of chat
Honey says it’s ok with her. I pull on a pink top matched with a soft-yellow-coloured skirt. “Alright, let’s go!” I say, and we walk out of the house and into the sunshine.
About 30mins later, we arrive at the farm. I push open the gate tentatively. A girl with chocolate brown hair, clearly silky, tied up in a neat ponytail catches my eye. She’s wearing a soft, lilac cardigan over a pale blue blouse. To match it, she’s wearing a baby blue skirt and lilac flats. She is wearing a touch of baby blue eye shadow and cherry pink lip gloss. It looks completely natural. In her cupped hands is a baby chick and a lamb is leaping around the farm.
Freya has her frizzy orange hair plaited as best they could. We welcome each other with a warm hug. She has 2 adorable little piglets trotting by her side. Then, she takes in Honey, my beautiful sister who looked as strong as a warrior, but her rebellious look masked the weak Honey. “Wow, she looks fierce, scary, even.” Whispers Freya as she takes us to the sitting room. Honey fingers her dangly peacock earrings and, smoothing her silk, blue top, she glances around for something to do while Freya and I overwhelm ourselves with snapping pics of the cute new-born animals. I learn that the girl by the fence was Freya’s cousin: Lindsay. Honestly, they couldn’t look more different. I can’t help thinking that perhaps Freya could look nicer if Lindsay gave her a makeover. I know, it isn’t very nice to ‘judge a book by its cover’ but, I’m just saying!
The next day, I get a SpiderWeb from Lori, inviting Lindsay to a sleepover. Lori said she wanted to know Lindsay better since she missed out on the farm meeting. However, I think there’s something wrong. When I SpiderWeb Freya to tell her about the sleepover and to ask her to pass the message on to Lindsay, Freya’s response clearly shows she isn’t happy:
CocoPops: Freya?
Frizz: Hi!
CocoPops: Well, Lori wants to invite Lindsay to a sleepover. She wants you to pass on the message since she doesn’t have Lindsay’s SpiderWeb.
Frizz: Sure I can come! I’ll ask Lindsay too. Can you come?
CocoPops: Actually, she meant just her and Lindsay. So, SpiderWeb Lori when you can to let her know.
Frizz: Is Lori still my friend? She didn’t show up for the farm thing and she usually does! Do you think she even likes me?
CocoPops: Of course she does! She probably WAS just busy so she couldn’t go to the farm celebration. Anyway, she said to me she was inviting Lindsay cos she wanted to know her properly, since I’ve already met Lindsay and all.
Frizz: And you believe her? I’ve got a plan and you have to go along, OK? It’s what friends do, help each other past obstacles. Agree now and I’ll email you the details.
CocoPops: I don’t know, is it bad?
Frizz: Agree, or I will definitely NOT be your friend!
CocoPops: Sheesh! Ok!
Frizz: Good, bye, I’ll email you it all.
End of chat
To:
[email protected] From:
[email protected] Subject: The Plan
Hey Coco. BTW you are not allowed to back out of the plan. Here’s what I want us both to do…SPY/FOLLOW THEM. I know what you are thinking: that I am crazy. Oh well, all’s well that ends well. Don’t be a worry bug, I know that’s what you are doing right now. Don’t worry! I have it all planned out. That way, I can find out if Lori’s planning to go off with Lindsay and leave me in the pits. She still likes you though, she SpiderWeb-ed you to pass on the message when she could have SpiderWeb-ed me herself. Clearly, she doesn’t like me anymore. Anyway, meet me at the park next to rich Lori’s house at 6pm precisely. I have told her Lindsay will come (Lindsay OBVIOUSLY will!) and Lori has told me that my parents should drive Lindsay to their house and pick her up tomorrow 10am. Got it? Oh yeah, the date is tonight and I’ve told my mum that I’m going camping with you, that’s good with your parents, right? Email me back about this ASAP!
See you tomorrow,
Freya
I read the email in shock. Of course I wasn’t going to spy on Lori and Lindsay! But, ok, I’ll go on this camping trip but I was so not in on the spying. I called out to my mum that I was going camping with Freya tonight and we meet at Canberry Park, 6pm. She said yes and said I need to call if I need assistance. I started packing: a pair of pyjamas, a toothbrush and toothpaste, a towel, shampoo and shower cream, a tent, a comfy sleeping bag, 2 bottles of Evian water, one cup and some fresh fruits with a tin of tuna fish and lamb stew with dried plums, a torch and my phone. I was all set and set off at 5:45 on the dot, calling out goodbye to my mum.
I am wearing a pair of warm, white socks, my black combat trousers, violet polo tee and a crimson red hoodie with black trainers and my hair was tied back into a ponytail with my matching violet scrunchie that came with the top. I remember lending Freya the scrunchie at the horse-riding sessions and sigh, how did things become like this? Silently, I trudge forward, wrapping my deep red scarf around me tighter, not believing how the days can be so hot, the nights so cold.
I arrive at the park bang on 6 but I can’t see Freya. Then, I notice a person wearing a grey hoodie with a black tracksuit and black trainers. The person seems to be wrapping the jacket around herself/himself and jogging lightly on the spot. He/she appears to be waiting for someone, and beckons to me, almost in a relieved manner when he/she sees me. Oh! It’s Freya! She’s made herself so unrecognisable!
We set up camp in Canberry Park. Freya had been too busy feeling annoyed about Lori that she had forgotten to pack food and drink. I had everything planned. I set up my tent next to hers and laid out my sleeping bag. “You can go spy, I’m staying right here.” I told her, crunching into my royal gala apple. Freya paced about saying “Sure, whatever. You guard the camp. I’m going. Save some food for me.” And with that, she picked up her phone and walked off silently. I finished my apple and threw the core in the bin. Then, I opened up my first bottle of Evian water and glugged down some of it. Next on my schedule was shower time. I trekked all the way to the swimming pool and had a shower there. The jet of hot water calmed me down, making me wonder how the spying was going. I dried myself with the small towel and I ran home. Phew! The camp was still there, untouched.
My watch says it is now 7:34pm. I am starving as I didn’t have any dinner. Popping open my can of lamb stew and dried plums, I use the lid as a spoon and wolf it down hungrily. Content, I sit back and wait for Freya to come back. I drain my first bottle of water and snuggle in my sleeping bag, waiting.
Roused from my napping at 8:00pm, I see Freya staring at some photos on her mobile. There’s one with Lindsay wearing an emerald green dress, silver heels and her hair in a simple bun. Standing next to her was Lori, in a little red number with her long red hair in a complicated upsweep. She was talking excitedly to Lindsay while her family ate at a long, wooden dining table with a huge amount of food. Compared to that, my small can seemed like I should still be hungry! Another pic was of Lindsay whispering happily to Lori while they were getting out of the Rolls-Royce. Finally, there was a clip/video. We listened to it together. Lori was chatting to Lindsay, saying “Yeah, she’s so not my BFF anymore.”
“I know! I can’t believe how terrible my cousin is!” Lindsay replied. Then, the clip ended. Freya’s cheeks were wet with tears and her stomach was growling as she shivered, lying on the tent, bare, with no blanket or sleeping bag around her. I felt sorry for her, and gave her my jacket for her to wear. Sharing her some oranges, I tuck myself into the sleeping bag and stare up. Somehow, I don’t believe that Lori and Lindsay really said that about Freya. I mean, Lori’s always been loyal to Freya. Also, Lindsay, just the sight of her, says she is calm and kind, not at all a person who betrays her ‘best’ cousin! Finally, I decide to sleep on it and I don’t notice when Freya slips back to her own tent.
A jet of sunlight streams through my green tent, where Freya forgot to zip up the entrance. I push the sleeping bag away and have a pear, washing my mouth quickly with a cup of water. After I finish breakfast, I crawl into Freya’s sunset orange tent. She’s already up and awake, huddled in the corner, her face blank. I shake her gently and offer her my last bit of food, a banana. She eats it silently, staring warily at her phone, as if she expected the photos and clip to attack her from the phone. I tuck her HTC into her small bag for her, stopping her from worrying any longer and we silently pack up our tent. I retrieve my jacket, but I don’t wear it as the warm air hugs me. Freya looks dishevelled, her hair messy and clothes scruffy. She keeps the hoodie up so no one sees her hair and, after I insist, she uses up the rest of my water to drink/wash her mouth and splash her face clean. Then, we trudge home our separate ways.
The whole time I am home, I worry about Freya, her expressionless face and slightly scared blue eyes popping into my mind every so often. Then, I get a full on SpiderWeb argument:
Frizz: I can’t stand it any longer! Lori, am I still your friend?!
Lori01: Yes, why?
Frizz: I heard what you and Lindsay said last night about me, I’m not you BFF anymore, am I? Lindsay, join the chat!
Lindsay.01: What’s the matter?
Frizz: According to u and Lori’s conversation, you can’t believe how bad I am?
Lindsay: What?! Anyway, how would u know what Lori and I talked about last night?
Frizz: That’s not important. Just tell me, how bad am I for u both to despise me?
CocoPops: Guys, calm down. Maybe we ought to discuss this with cold Frappes.
Frizz: Don’t tell me to calm down! You were involved with the spying too!
Lori01: Spying? What?!
Lindsay.01: Freya! What were u thinking?
CocoPops: I was not spying. I was camping in the park cos I didn’t believe Lori and Lindsay were going to go off without u. U were the 1 who insisted on spying while I stayed back in the tent.
Lori01: Hold it, spying? Going off? Camping? Info overload!
Lindsay.01: I vote Coco’s idea. We all go round to, say, Coco’s place and talk this over with cold Frappes.
Frizz: I vote no.
Lori01: I vote yes.
Lindsay.01: Sorry Frizz Frazz, it’s 3 against 1.
CocoPops: Ok, gr8. Who’s house r we meeting?
Lindsay.01: Let’s do me and Freya’s.
Lori01: Fine with me, send the address.
CocoPops: Ditto.
Lindsay.01: 16 Belberne Road, 9 Clander House, near the big M&S.
CocoPops: Got it.
Lori01: Ditto.
CocoPops: Alright guys, see u 16 Belberne Road ASAP.
Lori01: Ditto, make sure Frizzy is ok, ok?
Lindsay.01: Yeah, bye.
End of chat
Honey lends me a pair of red jeans and a loose, silk yellow top matched with my own luminous yellow trainers. I feel like I need to look fierce, to feel fierce. That’s why I chose to wear those clothes, because they represent what I feel. Not fierce, but not completely peaceful either. They look what I feel, which is a bit of a mix but it actually looks alright! Anyway, mum drives me there without a moment’s hesitation and I tell her what is going on while we’re on the car. Summer and Skye are a bit confused but they let mum go without a hassle. Cherry knows something important is about to happen and so she gives me a quick hug and whispers “Good luck.” Honey, of course, knows what is going on and, completely at ease, wanders into the kitchen, helping herself to a biscuit while dad is distracted, talking to someone on the mobile.
We’re there. 16 Belberne Road is a road full of flats. The flats, however, look happy and fun. They are normal, brick buildings but the windows vary in shape. I wander down the road until I come to Clander House. My mum heads back in her car when she sees me talk to Lindsay, who’s waiting outside Clander House for everyone to arrive.
Not long after I finish briefly explaining what I know of what was going on that night to Lindsay, Lori arrives. We walk up together to find a small, indoor garden in the centre. Surrounding that, are the separate houses. We walk on until we find number 9, and Lindsay knocks in a complicated series so Freya’s mum knows it’s her. Freya’s mum is in her early forties, a jolly woman who’s wearing a mauve, scoop-neck short sleeve top and blue jeans. Clearly, Freya has inherited her mum’s hair, orange and frizzy/fuzzy, but her dad’s sparkling blue eyes (her dad was in the kitchen reading ‘The Sun’ and his eyes were the same sparkly blue as Freya’s). Quickly, Lindsay told us that she was staying at Freya’s for the holiday. We took the Frappuccinos into Freya’s room and we sat on the floor while Freya sat on her bed.
At first, there was an awkward silence as everyone sipped their icy drinks and stared about. Freya had a triangle-shaped window, just saying. Calmly, we talked about what happened that night, with only a few explosions from Freya that were quickly put out with a few sips of her icy cold beverage. Finally! It was all sorted! Everyone went home happily. Apparently, in the clip, Lori and Lindsay were talking about a girl in Year 5 called Araminta, who was Freya and Lindsay’s cousin. She used to be Lori’s BFF but then, Lindsay didn’t catch on to the news about them later so Lori told Lindsay about it that night.
Mystery solved! I knew Lori and Lindsay wouldn’t go off without Freya, or me, or anyone without telling us/a good reason! The reason for Araminta was that Araminta wrote ‘GEEK’ on Lindsay’s bag and ‘U R SO POPULAR AND PRETTY, NOT!’ on Lori’s. That is unforgivable!
Anyway, before, I would’ve been complaining that my life was so boring, but now, it is quite good, actually! Now that the problem is solved, everyone is peaceful and I can go back to my ordinary life. I said my normal life is the best to my mum but guess what she said. She said “(Humph) Let’s see how long that feeling lasts!” As if I was so complain-y! That’s it of my adventure! Bye!
Coco Tanberry
