Page 51 of The Stranger in Room Six
‘It makes it more fun for people when they find them,’ her aunt said quickly. ‘You mustn’t tell anyone what we’re doing or it will ruin the surprise!’
‘That’s right,’ said the Colonel. ‘You’re one of us now.’
Mabel felt a flash of pride pass through her. She liked the red-and-black pattern at the top of the letters so much that, later that night, she found herself drawing one on the lower part of the wall, which was hidden by her bed, to show she was part of the ‘fight for a better future’. It was so nice when her aunt was kind like this, thought Mabel, though she couldn’t help but wonder why all this secrecy was needed.
On Christmas Eve, Aunt Clarissa gave MabelA Child’s Guide to Algebra.
‘Shouldn’t we wait until Christmas Day for presents?’ Mabel had asked.
‘Some countries do it earlier,’ said her aunt crisply. ‘I thought you’d be pleased.’
‘I am! Thank you.’
The Colonel, who had joined them for dinner, presented her with a beautiful bound gold-and-green book with the titleShakespeare’s Sonnetson the cover.
‘Thank you,’ she said, eagerly. ‘My father would love this. He used to read poetry to my mother …’
She trailed off as her eyes filled with tears.
‘Don’t start blubbing,’ said Clarissa, her old, sharp voice back again. ‘We can’t change the past. We have to put it behind us and get on with the present.’
‘But what about Papa?’ asked Mabel. ‘Don’t you ever think of him?’
‘Why should I do that?’ she asked sharply.
‘Because he’s your sister’s husband and he might be dead or in a prisoner-of-war camp!’ Mabel replied, hardly daring to believe that she was speaking to her aunt like this.
‘Well, of course I wish him well,’ retorted her aunt coolly. ‘But like I said, we have to put our best foot forward in the meantime.’
The Colonel came closer to her and patted her shoulder. ‘I do understand it’s not easy for you, dear.’
He’d never called her ‘dear’ before or patted her shoulder. In fact, he seemed so kind that she felt certain now that he hadn’t had anything to do with Frannie’s father’s death.
He was generous too! Look how he was presenting her aunt with a pair of silk stockings.
‘They’re divine, Jonty,’ said her aunt, flushing.
The Colonel looked pleased. ‘I thought you’d like them.’
‘I didn’t think we could get stockings any more,’ said Mabel, impressed. ‘Where did you buy them?’
‘Mabel,’ snapped her aunt. ‘I can barely believe that a niece of mine could ask such rude questions. Clearly, your parents failed to teach you manners.’
‘That’s not true! They did. I just meant that –’
‘Don’t you dare answer me back,’ Clarissa snapped, before grabbing Polly from Mabel’s side. ‘Give this to me. You’re far too old for dolls, you foolish girl.’
‘No,’ cried Mabel. ‘Please, no. She’s all I have left of my sister.’
‘You can have her back in the morning if you’re good. Now go to your room.’
‘I say, Clarissa,’ she heard the Colonel say. ‘Wasn’t that a bit harsh?’
That night, she woke up with a start. It was past midnight, which meant that it was now Christmas Day. But this time there was no stocking on the end of her bed. No loving kiss from her parents when she went running into their room to give them the present she’d saved up to buy them. No warm, snuggly cuddles with Annabel. Not even the comfort of Polly next to her.
Instead, she could hear a car pulling up outside. Maybe that’s what had woken her. Peering through the curtains, she saw a figure run inside wearing a long beige trench coat. She went to her door and opened it a crack. There were whisperings and the sound of another door closing somewhere. Not long after that, it opened again. Looking out of the window, she could see someone running out to the car and driving off without switching on the headlights.
‘Did someone come to visit last night?’ asked Mabel at breakfast that morning.
