Chapter 31
THIRTY-ONE
‘It’s dark, isn’t it,’ said Beth as they left the house, peering into the blackness.
‘Ta-da!’ Nancy switched on the torch she’d put in her pocket and the driveway lit up.
‘Get you. You’re becoming quite the countryside expert.’
It was a surprise to Nancy just how dark it got up here.
She had never even considered the need for a torch in London – or any other city for that matter – but here in the deepest countryside, especially where she lived, there were great stretches of road with very little lighting.
Now the nights were drawing in, it was something new she was having to adjust to.
It became properly dark, pitch black so you couldn’t see your hand in front of your face.
‘It goes with my other recent purchases of warm wellies, a decent waterproof coat and plenty of bread in the freezer,’ she said. There was no late-night corner shop to nip to here, like there had been in London.
They walked up the lane, Lara holding the torch.
They began to catch snippets of children’s voices in the distance, the babble of excited chatter, screeching, then getting closer still, glimpses of figures moving in huddles, some running along the pavements.
Nancy’s mouth dropped as they came to the high street.
‘It’s like an attack of the zombies,’ she said, looking at the crowds of children streaming up and down the front paths, whooping whenever they got sweets from the inhabitants inside.
‘Good God,’ said Beth. ‘It’s terrifying.’
Even Lara seemed to have been nudged out of her dolefulness. She looked around, trying to take it all in.
‘OK,’ said Nancy. ‘You want to try the first house?’ She pointed at a brick semi with a giant cauldron full of dry ice in the front garden.
Beth placed her hands on Lara’s shoulders and pointed her in the direction of the house. ‘A strawberry lolly for me, please.’
Lara set off with more enthusiasm than she’d shown all night, much to Nancy’s relief. She watched as the front door was opened, Lara chatted to the woman inside who was dressed as the Grim Reaper and then came away with a lolly and a big smile on her face.
‘Don’t mind if I do,’ said Beth, plucking the lolly from Lara’s hand.
‘Hey!’
‘You’d better get on with it then,’ said Beth, pointing at the next house. ‘If you want anything for yourself.’
Lara knew she was beaten. She grinned, then set off determinedly for the next house along.
‘Thanks, Beth,’ said Nancy.
‘What are surrogate aunties for, if not to steal their niece’s sweets?’
They both waved back to Lara, who was up ahead delightedly brandishing a mini Mars bar, before swiftly moving to the next house.
‘Any sign of the bunch that ostracized her?’ asked Beth.
Nancy raised her hands, palms upwards. ‘Who knows?’ she said. And as they looked around, it was impossible to tell the identity of anyone.
‘There’s so many kids, we probably won’t even bump into them,’ said Beth.
‘Look, Mum, a whole chocolate bar!’ said Lara in amazement as she came running up to them.
‘Give it to me!’ yelled Beth, but Lara squealed and ran away again.