Page 27 of Clara's Secret Garden
‘So what are you going to do this afternoon?’ Rory asks her.‘How about I run you along to the school holiday club?’
Elsie shakes her head, her smile instantly vanishing.
‘But why not? Mum was telling me there’s a whole lot ofdifferent activities to choose from. She gave me the timetable.’ He digs afolded-up sheet of paper from his pocket.
‘I just want to readRobinson Crusoe.’
‘But you can read it when you get home. I’m sure Clara willlet you borrow it.’
I smile. ‘Of course. In fact, it’s yours. A gift from me.’
‘What about painting? Or drama? Or something more energetic?Rounders?’ Rory reads from the timetable.
Elsie stares down at her shoes.
‘Dancing?’ Rory isn’t giving up. ‘You loveStrictly,don’t you? So why not learn some dance moves. That sounds like fun. And youmight make some new friends.’
She looks up at him in a panic. ‘But I don’t want to, Rory.Please don’t make me.’
‘Okay.’ He sighs. ‘But I worry about you, Elsie. And so doesyour mum.’
‘I’m all right.’ She sounds defiant but I notice her chinwobble and my heart goes out to her. All Elsie wants is to be left alone toread, and her brother – for all his good intentions, encouraging her tosocialise – isn’t helping at all...
*****
Later, I wander into the cottage on the pretext of being thirsty.
‘Drink, Elsie?’ I call from the kitchen.
‘Yes, please.’
She comes through as I’m diluting cordial, and I hand her somewith a smile. ‘How’s the book?’
‘Good.’
‘So... your brother says you’re a fan ofStrictlyCome Dancing?’
‘I watch it with Mum. She always rushes in to see Giovannidance and Dad thinks it’s funny.’
I laugh. ‘I quite like Giovanni myself, I must say. And Ilove to dance.’
She looks at me in surprise. ‘What kind of dancing?’
‘All sorts. Ballroom. Jive. Latin American. I used to go todance classes when I was your age.’
‘My friend Amy goes to dance classes.’
‘Oh? Don’t you fancy joining her, then?’
She shakes her head.
‘You’d like it, I bet.’
Elsie shrugs. ‘I can’t, anyway.’
‘Why not?’
‘She moved away. To Germany.’ She twists her lips sadly.‘Amy was my best friend.’
