Page 56 of Hope and Happiness in Bluebell Wood
‘What little I know,’ Callum says. ‘Actually, I think Robin is teaching me!’
Robin looks pleased by this. ‘I need a hat, Callum,’ he suddenly announces.
‘What sort of a hat?’ Callum asks.
‘A Roman hat.’
‘It’s actually an Easter bonnet,’ Linnet explains. ‘The school always has an Easter bonnet parade at the end of the spring term. We haven’t got around to making one yet. Robin has decided he doesn’t want a bonnet; he wants one of those helmets the Roman soldiers used to wear.’
‘Like a legionary?’ Callum asks. ‘Very smart.’
Robin nods. ‘But Mum won’t help me make one.’
‘Robin, that’s not fair,’ Linnet says quietly. ‘I just haven’t had time yet. I work,’ she explains to me, ‘at the big superstore up the road. Sometimes it’s getting late by the time I get home – I have to get a bus, you see. Robin stays at the after-school club a few nights a week. We’ll do it, though,’ she tells Robin. ‘I promised you, didn’t I? And I never break a promise. How I’m going to make a Roman soldier’s helmet, though, I have no idea,’ she adds quietly to me.
‘I used to do things like that with papier mâché,’ I tell her. ‘When my two were small, we used to make all sorts of things using that technique. You just start with a balloon and mould bits of paper and glue on to it. It’s quite easy, and Robin could help you.’
‘Yes, I could try that,’ Linnet says, still looking a bit worried. ‘It doesn’t sound too bad.’
‘You’ll need a big red plume on top of it,’ Callum suggests to Robin. ‘That’s what they had, didn’t they – the Roman soldiers.’
‘Can I have one of them, Mum?’ Robin asks.
Linnet looks even more anxious now. ‘I’m not sure, Robin; it might be a bit late to get one of those now.’
‘Wait right there!’ I say, as an idea springs to mind. I rush to the kitchen and grab the birds’ latest offering from the glass on the window sill. Then I return triumphantly to the sitting room. ‘How about this?’ I say, holding it up. ‘Will this do?’
Robin’s eyes light up at the sight of the long scarlet feather in my hand.
‘It’s perfect,’ he whispers. ‘Can I use it on my hat?’
‘Of course you can,’ I say, going over to him and kneeling down.
‘Where did you get it from?’ Robin asks as he takes the feather from my hand and holds it carefully in his own.
‘Remember the magical fifty pence?’ I ask.
Robin nods.
‘The same place as that came from.’
Robin looks out of the French window. ‘Your birds left it for you?’ he asks in awe.
‘Yes,’ I say quietly, aware that both Linnet and Callum are listening to this as well.
‘Wow, you really do have magical birds.’
‘Our secret, though, remember?’ I whisper.
Robin nods. ‘Our secret.’
I look over at the other two and smile knowingly, hoping they understand that I don’t actually believe this, it’s just for Robin’s benefit.
‘It’s very kind of you to lend Robin your feather,’ Linnet says. ‘Have you said thank you, Robin?’
‘Thank you, Ava,’ Robin says, and then, quite unexpectedly, he gives me a huge hug, which by the look on her face takes Linnet by as much surprise as it does me.
‘That’s quite all right,’ I say, patting him gently on the back. I feel moved by his simple gesture. My own emotional door has been very firmly shut for far too long now. But this little boy could just be the one to prise it back open.
