Chapter 108
ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHT
Rebecca had decided to come down to the festival.
She thought it was important that teachers were seen by the children to be a part of the community – especially something that brought out the crowds like the solstice celebrations did in Ripton.
And the Spring Queen was selected from her class after all.
She wasn’t going to stay for long, she would say hello to a few faces and see Lara in her costume and then she had plans to meet friends for a drink.
She’d got a coffee from the cafe and was walking around, trying to find the best spot to get a view of the procession.
It was busier than she’d thought and the place was packed.
She decided to slip behind the crowd, over to where there was a cluster of trees at the bottom of a small bank.
As she made her way, she thought she saw somebody – two children – hiding in the shadows of one of the trees.
She narrowed her eyes; Rebecca knew mischief when she saw it. And then she clocked who it was.
‘Girls?’ she said, swooping down, making Rosie and Tilly jump out of their skin. ‘Want to tell me what’s going on?’
They couldn’t have looked more guilty, but Rosie recovered quickly, lifted her chin.
‘Nothing,’ said Rosie.
‘Something tells me that’s not the case,’ said Rebecca. She looked up at where the girls had been staring, over by the yew tree and the crowds. ‘What’s so interesting over there?’
‘Nothing’s interesting, miss,’ said Rosie. ‘We’re just watching the festival.’
Rebecca raised an eyebrow. ‘From back here?’ She looked over again. Then she got it. In amongst the crowd was Lara on the pony.
‘Have you two done something?’
‘No,’ said Rosie, incredulous at the slur.
Rebecca tried Tilly, who looked terrified. ‘Is Lara going to be OK?’
‘Why wouldn’t she be?’ said Rosie, answering for her friend. ‘And it’s not school, so we don’t have to tell you anything.’
Rebecca had a sense of great unease. Part of her wanted to take Rosie to task for her attitude, but she had a feeling she should go over to the yew tree and quickly. See what was going on. With a last glance at Rosie, she headed back up to the crowd.
Rebecca pushed her way through until she could see Lara. Everything seemed as it should be. She stalled for a moment. Was she upsetting the whole evening by stepping in?
She saw a woman who was holding the pony help Lara dismount, then the woman tethered the pony to the yew tree. She took Lara’s riding hat and handed her a crown made of flowers, which Lara placed on her head.
What is it? thought Rebecca. What am I missing?
She couldn’t see anything. A space cleared for Lara to walk towards the throne under the tree and Rebecca suddenly stepped up.
‘Just a minute,’ she said, taking Lara’s arm and smiling brightly. She had to speak loudly over the sound of the band. ‘If I could have a very quick word with Lara.’
Lara looked up at her, surprised, but Rebecca guided her away.
‘What’s wrong?’ said Lara.
Rebecca bit her lip. She didn’t know.