Blethingwood Hall Written and performed by Stephanie Poppins CHAPTER TWELVE Doing their best not to break into a run until the Grand Hall was far out of sight,
Adam William and Penny were full to bursting with the wealth only true inner peace brings.
It was a new day and they were going to see their mother.
Now every colour,
Sound and smell was as delicious as the first time,
And as the warm shafts of autumn sunshine filtered through the wet ververnum leaves to greet them,
They were back to where the only thing that really mattered was whether or not it would rain,
And their dandelion clocks would hold out long enough to tell the time.
Every sun-drenched summer's day was now theirs once more,
The long walks through the canal to meet their father,
The wonders of nature their mother would open their eyes to,
And the promise of something new just around the corner.
It was Adam who spotted her first.
She was waiting by the old pavilion,
Her once highly complimented hair now scraped back into a tight bun,
Her soft skin stretched to submission.
His heart sank.
For just one moment he'd forgotten they were still at Blethingwood Hall.
All right,
Mum,
He called as Penny and William joined him.
This time it'll be different,
He mused.
I'm sure of it.
I like your hair,
Penelope,
Said Mrs Darlington before gazing back at the labyrinth.
Situated in the shade,
It was the only known entrance to the admin block.
Penny turned away.
The sun was serenading the red autumn leaves and placing its golden kiss on the rich nut browns.
How lovely.
For all the time she'd played this and replayed this moment in her head,
This wasn't the way it was supposed to go.
Her hair had been butchered and her mother hadn't even registered the significance of that.
Her stomach sank.
This was just the same as the last time.
Only this time,
Daddy wasn't coming back to bring them home.
Now they really were here to stay.
You okay,
Mum?
William tried next,
Desperate to hear the one voice he needed to hear again.
I'm fine,
Thank you,
Dear,
Mrs Darlington replied,
Staring straight through him.
You look tired.
Have they given you to?
She is tired.
Just stop.
Adam stepped in,
But it was too late.
Mrs Darlington had already sat down.
I hear you made a friend,
Adam.
That's good.
They all watched helplessly as the large puddle on the step seeped slowly through their mother's skirt.
Well,
Kind of,
Said Adam,
If you could call him a friend.
And it's such a grand building,
Isn't it?
She continued.
We're so lucky to be part of such a success story,
Aren't we?
This comment threw Adam completely.
What could he possibly say to that?
Now,
Usually,
When we think of mothers,
There is an unspoken expectation they can solve everything.
And if they can't,
They surely know someone who can.
But this was now no longer the case for the Darlingtons.
That luxury afforded to what seemed like every other son and daughter in the world was theirs no more.
And the hollowness they felt in their stomachs was to remain there for a long time to come.
They stood in silence,
Watching a new shower wash away what might have been.
Then,
Throwing caution to the wind,
Adam said,
Mum,
Have you spoken to Dad?
His words fell on deaf ears,
But he wasn't going to give up that easily.
Mum,
He persisted.
Yes,
Dear?
We saw something in the paper.
It's about Dad.
Oh,
Just a storm in a teacup,
That's all.
A storm in a teacup,
She said coldly.
But Adam wasn't about to stop there.
I've got something to tell you,
Mum.
It's important.
But before he could say anything more,
The clock tower chimed and Mrs Darlington was gone.
The wet gravel cracking under her steps as she made her way back through the labyrinth.
There was nothing Adam could say to that,
So he hung his head and said nothing.
Until,
With a newfound bravery,
William said,
You wanted to tell us something,
Adam?
Well,
You might as well say it to us.
Adam looked at his brother and sister and a new reality dawned.
These were his only two allies in the world.
He had no one but them now,
And they had no one but him.
And that was the way it was going to be for the foreseeable future.
OK,
Well,
We're going to have to be brave,
He began,
And that means you're going to have to listen without saying anything till I've finished.
Have you got it?
William and Penny nodded,
Secretly happy someone was taking charge,
But completely unaware Adam was just winging it as best as he could.
And that's when he told them.
All about the Usamagoose in his underground house,
All about the great battle and the forgotten master,
And all about the part they three must play in helping the New World survive.
Now,
As those of you lucky enough to have brothers or sisters will know,
When you go through something like this together,
You develop a new understanding,
A new solidarity.
And even though things can get tough,
And you will all be put to the test many times in many different ways,
And even though you may disagree and hate each other's decisions,
Or let each other down,
You remain as one.
And nothing can break that.
Nothing.
I'm going to have to collect my prep from science,
Said Penny,
Solemnly,
Her news seemingly insignificant after such a statement.
Don't worry,
Penn,
I'll get it for you,
Said Adam,
Unexpectedly.
If he had shouted at her and blamed her for everything,
Penny would not be as close to tears as she was at that very moment.
But she swallowed down hard and resolved to fight,
Just as they all did.
After all,
Tears were not going to solve anything.
There's a lot more to this place than meets the eye,
Said William,
As they stepped into the downpour.
If we're going to get to the new world in December,
We're going to need help.
Let's go back to Matron,
Said Adam.
I've got a feeling she'll know what to do.
As long as the dragon doesn't catch us,
Said Penny.
Who cares,
Miserable old bag,
I'm surprised she ever had a boyfriend,
Even if it was years ago,
Spat William.
Well,
He's not around now,
Is he?
That's probably why she is the way she is.
But William wasn't convinced.
Someone like her doesn't need a reason to be miserable.
They reached the Grand Hall and agreed to meet up after tea.
Then they parted,
William and Penny to history and Adam to the science lab.
They might not have their mother on their side,
But they had allies in the Oosemagoose and the new world,
And defend them they would,
Whatever it took.
