Alice-Miranda At School (15 page)

‘I can't believe that Grimm
still
hasn't told you your test results,' said Millie, as she lay on her bed with her legs pointed at right angles to the ceiling.

‘Well, I suppose Miss Grimm has her reasons. I was going to head over and see her about it, but then I thought that perhaps she wants to tell me after I have been on the camp and competed in the regatta.' Alice-Miranda hugged Brummel Bear to her chest.

It was late on Sunday afternoon. Alice-Miranda
was packed, ready to head off on her hike the next day. She'd had lots of lessons in map-reading and using the compass. But she wouldn't receive the final route until later that evening, when Miss Higgins was to deliver her map from Miss Grimm.

‘Mrs Smith should be back soon,' said Alice-Miranda.

‘Who?' Millie asked.

‘Mrs Smith. You know, Cook.' Alice-Miranda rolled onto her stomach to face Millie.

‘Oh no. I hope this trip has put her in a better mood … and that she's had some cooking lessons while she's been away. Her food is gross.' Millie screwed up her face and poked a finger down her throat.

‘Mrs Oliver has agreed to stay on for another week or so, until Mrs Smith settles back in. I'm sure she'll appreciate the company and someone else to help with the meals.' Alice-Miranda glanced out the window and noticed a beam of light, which seemed to be heading towards the field.

‘There's Birdy now!' She jumped up and ran to the window. ‘Come on, Millie, let's go and see how she is. I want to say hello to Cyril too.' Alice-Miranda slipped her feet into her shoes and threw a
jumper over her head. The familiar
chop-chop-chop
of Birdy's whirring blades filled the twilight air. By the time the helicopter had landed on the lower oval Alice-Miranda and Millie were ready to pounce. The helicopter's engine shuddered to a halt. Cyril placed his headset on the dashboard, hopped out and retrieved a suitcase from the rear.

At first Alice-Miranda didn't recognise the tall woman with the fashionable brown hair who emerged from the chopper.

‘Who's that?' Millie frowned. ‘It's not Cook.'

As she approached, Alice-Miranda realised that it was indeed Mrs Smith. Her bent frame was upright and she had a very nice new hairdo. Even her skin seemed to be glowing. Alice-Miranda ran forward to greet her.

‘Hello, Mrs Smith.' She wrapped her arms around the stylish woman.

‘Oh, my dear girl, hello to you too,' Mrs Smith replied. A wide smile beamed from her face and Millie realised for the first time that Mrs Smith was actually quite attractive for an older woman.

‘Hello Millicent,' Mrs Smith said warmly.

‘Welcome back, Cook.' Millie smiled too.

The pilot was securing the helicopter. ‘Hello Cyril,' said Alice-Miranda.

‘Hello Alice-Miranda,' he called back.

‘When you've finished doing your checks on Birdy you must come up for a cup of tea. Mrs Oliver is looking forward to seeing you.'

‘I'll be there shortly,' he replied.

Alice-Miranda turned back to Mrs Smith. ‘So, how was your trip? You must tell us all about it.' She grabbed Mrs Smith's hand and they began to walk towards the kitchen.

‘I simply don't know where to begin!' she replied.

‘Mrs Oliver has baked something special as a welcome home treat. How about a snack, and
then
you can tell us everything?'

They reached the door and Alice-Miranda called, ‘Hello Mrs Oliver, Mrs Smith's back.' She opened the screen and let herself and the others inside. The most delicious smell hovered in front of the oven. Mrs Oliver emerged from the pantry. Although she and Mrs Smith had met each other briefly, this was their first proper meeting and Mrs Oliver was a little nervous. Mrs Smith had a formidable reputation among the staff and girls and it was not for her cooking.

‘Good evening, Mrs Smith.' Mrs Oliver held out her hand.

Mrs Smith took it and then steamed forward, enveloping Mrs Oliver heartily. ‘You have made me the happiest woman in the world, Mrs Oliver.' A tear sprouted from her eye. ‘And you, Miss Highton-Smith-Kennington-Jones, to whom I may just be related somewhere a long time ago –' she scooped Alice-Miranda into her arms – ‘you, my dear girl, have made me the happiest grandmother on earth.'

Over tea and pound cake Mrs Smith told her eager audience all about her grandchildren in America. She had taken them to Disneyland and gone to Grandparents' Day at their school. They visited the Grand Canyon and went to see the Empire State Building too. But most of all and best of all, her grandchildren now knew her. The real her, not just the granny on the telephone who sends cards and presents for Christmas and birthdays.

‘Now, you must tell me everything that's been happening here too,' she said over her second piece of cake. ‘I suppose I should really ask if I still have a job.'

‘Of course you do, Mrs Smith. I told Miss Grimm as soon as I could. She's eaten all her meals
and there haven't been any complaints at all. She knows that you're coming back and Mrs Oliver was only here for two weeks.' Alice-Miranda looked down and shook some imaginary crumbs from her lap. ‘Except, Mrs Oliver is going to stay another week – if that's all right with you, of course. Miss Higgins thought that it was about time you had someone else to bounce your ideas off and Mummy and Daddy don't need Mrs Oliver just yet.' Alice-Miranda smiled hesitantly.

‘I would be honoured to have you by my side, Mrs Oliver,' Mrs Smith announced.

‘Well, in that case, Mrs Smith, you must call me Dolly,' Mrs Oliver replied.

‘And you must call me Doreen.'

So it was settled. The two ladies nattered on like schoolgirls. Cyril soon appeared for a cup of tea and gave Alice-Miranda a full update on what was going on back home.

‘Your parents are well but that pony of yours has been in a bit of strife,' Cyril told them. It seemed that Bonaparte had escaped from his stable and somehow managed to get into the vegetable garden. He demolished half the cabbages before Mr Greening caught up with him.

‘Well, you know how that boy only has to look at rich food and he gets the colic, so Mr Greening called the vet just in case,' Cyril continued.

‘Oh dear,' Alice-Miranda sighed. ‘He's a very naughty boy. Is he all right?'

‘Yes, he's fine but young Max – he's the stable-hand,' Cyril explained to Mrs Smith, ‘reported that Bonaparte had a very windy night.'

Millie roared laughing at the thought of Bony the farting pony. Alice-Miranda asked Cyril to send her love to everyone and tell them that she was having the most wonderful time. She would see them all at mid-term.

Mrs Oliver and Mrs Smith finished their chat and began bustling about the kitchen.

‘May I suggest, girls, that if you and the rest of this school would like to be fed this evening, you'd best be off. We have a lot to get done and there's not much time before dinner,' said Mrs Smith with a dry smile.

Millie and Alice-Miranda headed out the door.

‘Gosh, that was amazing. She's so different,' Millie gasped.

‘Everyone needs a holiday sometime. I suppose Mrs Smith just proved that,' Alice-Miranda replied.

After dinner Miss Higgins delivered the map from Miss Grimm and Alice-Miranda spent an hour going over it with Charlie. He thought it was a reasonable route, although he was a little concerned by the mountain trek, where the trails weren't especially well marked. Alice-Miranda assured him she would be fine. If she got really lost she would just wait it out in the one spot until the end of the week. Her backpack contained enough of Mrs Oliver's freeze-dried baked dinners and desserts to last at least a month.

Before bed she telephoned her parents, who were in particularly good form.

‘Hello darling,' her mother cooed. ‘Are you having a dreadful time? We can be there to pick you up straight away.'

‘No, Mummy, as I have told you every day since I arrived, I'm having a marvellous time and I love it here. Please stop asking me if I'm having a dreadful time,' Alice-Miranda replied.

‘All right, darling, I promise to stop. You know Daddy and I are only teasing. We're so proud of you.' Alice-Miranda could tell her mother was smiling.

‘Now, Mummy, I won't be able to call you until Friday night as I am off on my Wilderness Walk. Remember, I told you that Miss Grimm wants me to complete a 20-kilometre hike and camp out for the week? Mr Charles has been so helpful, showing me how to pack my tent and roll my sleeping bag and all those other things I need to know. I'm so glad Daddy took me to Africa, too. Five days out on the grounds is a wonderful adventure. So please don't worry about me and if I don't come back at the end of the week, I know they will send a search party.'

‘I do think Miss Grimm's being a bit tough on you, darling, but she is the headmistress and I
suppose she has her reasons. Anyway, your father tells me you will be absolutely fine and you know I trust his judgement,' her mother went on. In fact, Cecelia Highton-Smith had been aghast at the thought of her daughter having to complete such an enormous challenge. But after speaking to her sister Charlotte, who reminded her of their own camping adventures at a similar age, she allowed herself to get used to the idea. Besides, Mrs Oliver had reported that Alice-Miranda's preparations with Mr Charles had been very thorough.

‘Daddy wants to say hello, so I'll go now. Have a wonderful week, darling, and I'll look forward to hearing all about it on Friday night. Love you.'

‘Thank you, Mummy. I love you too.' Alice-Miranda waited for her father's voice.

‘Hello sweetheart, how are things at school?' he purred.

‘Wonderful, Daddy. Mrs Oliver has had a tremendous time, and thank you for letting us keep her another week. You should have seen Mrs Smith when she returned this afternoon. She was like a new person – all refreshed and looking rather fabulous too. She and Mrs Oliver had tea together. I think Mrs Oliver was a little nervous, having taken over
her kitchen in such a rush, but they got on famously and Mrs Smith is ever so glad to have Mrs Oliver stay on.' Alice-Miranda's voice fizzed with excitement as she reported her news. ‘They even insisted on calling each other Dolly and Doreen – and you know Mrs Oliver doesn't invite just
anyone
to call her Dolly.'

‘That's such good news. I'm glad it worked out so well for everyone.' His voice took a more serious tone. ‘Now, how are you feeling about that hike tomorrow?'

‘Really good, Daddy. Mr Charles has been helping me prepare and I think I will be absolutely fine. Mrs Oliver has packed me a load of her freeze-dried meals, so as long as I can get the fire going I'll be eating like a princess,' Alice-Miranda replied.

But Alice-Miranda sounded more confident than she felt. She knew she was well prepared. But just in the past few days she had acquired an uneasy feeling. Not the same one she had when she first arrived; this was different – like there was someone about, watching. First there was the crumpled blanket in the potting shed and then Mrs Oliver had complained a couple of times about cakes going missing from the kitchen. She shook the idea from her head. She
wasn't about to tell anyone – she had an adventure ahead.

‘Well, you just take care,' said her father. ‘It will be a splendid opportunity to write in your diary, and make sure that you take your camera too. We'll look forward to hearing all about your adventure on Friday night. And if you get into any real trouble you know you can always activate the emergency button on your phone and we'll be there straight away.'

Alice-Miranda hesitated for a moment. ‘Actually, Daddy, I was planning to leave my phone here at school. I don't think I'll need it and I don't even want to be tempted if things get a little tricky or I get a bit lonely. I need to do this on my own – to prove to Miss Grimm that I really do belong here.' She held her breath and waited for her father's reply.

He was silent for a moment. ‘Hmm. I've seen how good you are at camping and hiking, but it is still a big adventure to have on your own. If you're sure about it, I believe you can do it. But perhaps we just won't tell Mummy. You know she can be such a worrier.'

His confidence buoyed Alice-Miranda's spirits. ‘Thank you, Daddy. I knew you'd understand – you of all people, who's climbed every major peak in the
world and backpacked across South America. And back in those days mobile phones hadn't even been invented!' She couldn't help but laugh.

‘Thank you for reminding me how terribly old I am, sweetheart,' her father replied, laughing too. ‘Now you'd better get some sleep. We will talk to you on Friday evening when you are back safe and sound. Love you, darling.'

‘Love you too, Daddy.' And with that Alice-Miranda rang off.

The next morning she awoke just a little earlier than usual. The plan was to have breakfast with the girls in the dining room and then head out. She hopped out of bed and went to have a shower and get dressed. On her way back to the dorm she bumped into Howie, who was about to start the wake-up rounds.

‘Hello Alice-Miranda, all ready for your big adventure?' asked the house mistress with a smile.

‘Yes, I think I am,' Alice-Miranda replied.

‘It's going to be awfully quiet around this place without you,' Howie frowned.

‘It will be over in a blink, Howie. I'm really rather
excited.' Alice-Miranda grinned broadly. But there
was
a little flutter in her tummy.

‘Take care, my poppet. I will hear all about it on Friday evening.' Howie leaned forward and hugged Alice-Miranda. Unbeknown to either of them, Alethea saw the whole thing from her bedroom doorway.

‘Brat,' she muttered under her breath.

Howie continued down the corridor and Alice-Miranda headed for her bedroom.

‘Hello little girl.' Alethea appeared from her hiding place. She folded her arms and blocked Alice-Miranda's path. Then in a ridiculous baby voice, she said, ‘Going on a big adventure, sweetie pie? Hope you don't get lost out there.'

‘Oh, hello Alethea.' Alice-Miranda smiled back. ‘Yes, big adventure, but I am so looking forward to it. I've read the map, my backpack is packed and I think everything will be fine.'

‘What's wrong with you?' Alethea demanded. ‘Camping on your own in the forest for five days! I'd rather cut my toenails with an axe. Are you mad or just completely delirious?'

‘But, it's an adventure,' Alice-Miranda said hesitantly.

‘
An adventure
,' Alethea mimicked. ‘Well, good luck, little girl. Last year on the junior camp that idiot Jacinta saw a headless highwayman, a band of gypsies and an escaped convict. I wonder how many loonies will be out there after you,' she whispered. ‘Probably just the one who's been stealing cakes and sleeping in the rowing shed. Or so I've heard.' Alethea's eyes widened.

‘I don't believe in ghosts and I've always found gypsies to be the nicest people and, well, if I do come across any escaped criminals I'll be sure to take extra care,' Alice-Miranda replied.

Alethea snorted. ‘By the way, I'm so glad that you decided to pick sailing for your sporting challenge. Daddy's sending up a new skiff for me tomorrow. It's a special one built for the Olympics and he says that the most ordinary sailor in the whole world would win in it.'

Millie appeared behind Alethea, on her way to the bathroom.

‘That's just as well then, seeing as you're particularly ordinary at sailing,' Millie interrupted. ‘Excuse me, Alethea, would you mind moving?'

Alethea turned around and glared. Her eyes were like winter frost on bare toes. ‘Why? Are
you busting? I was just warning your little friend about all the bogeymen out there in the woods. Hope she doesn't get too scared and run back here to school.'

‘Oh, that's rich coming from you, Alethea!' The words were out of Millie's mouth before she had time to stop them.

‘Why did you say that?' Alethea hissed.

‘No reason. Now, will you let me through before I piddle on your doorstep?'

Alethea rolled her eyes and gave Millie a hefty shove before retreating into her bedroom.

‘Why
did
you say that?' Alice-Miranda asked.

‘The truth is Alethea's not exactly the school's best adventurer. Apparently the first year she was here she faked appendicitis when camp was on. Then the next year she told everyone her granny had died and she had to go home for the funeral, which was amazing because the very next week her granny was in the social pages. Then last year she couldn't come up with another excuse so she actually headed out and then phoned her father to send his helicopter to come and get her once the groups had split up. They dropped her back in on the last day and she emerged from the woods looking like she had spent all week
out there. It's amazing what a bit of dirt and a few twigs can do,' Millie sighed.

‘But how do you know that?' Alice-Miranda was wide-eyed.

‘Everyone heard the chopper, but nobody knew for sure until Ivory overheard Danika moaning to Shelby that it was so unfair she'd had to carry her own pack and Alethea's and Alethea had spent the whole week at the Downsfordvale Manor Spa having all sorts of posh body treatments, eating caviar and swanning about like Lady Muck,' Millie replied.

‘Did anyone tell the teachers?' asked Alice-Miranda.

‘No, there was no point really,' Millie said with a sigh. ‘The Manor has a watertight confidentiality clause because of all the celebrities who go there, so there was no way to prove it.'

Alice-Miranda shook her head. ‘Well, I promise that I won't be phoning Cyril. In fact, I've told Daddy that my phone is staying right here, safe in my drawer. No matter what happens I won't give up.'

‘That's the spirit. We know you can do it.' Millie hugged her little friend and bounded off to the bathroom.