Even Lara seemed to have been nudged out of her dolefulness. She looked around, trying to take it all in.
‘OK,’ said Nancy. ‘You want to try the first house?’ She pointed at a brick semi with a giant cauldron full of dry ice in the front garden.
Beth placed her hands on Lara’s shoulders and pointed her in the direction of the house. ‘A strawberry lolly for me, please.’
Lara set off with more enthusiasm than she’d shown all night, much to Nancy’s relief. She watched as the front door was opened, Lara chatted to the woman inside who was dressed as the Grim Reaper and then came away with a lolly and a big smile on her face.
‘Don’t mind if I do,’ said Beth, plucking the lolly from Lara’s hand.
‘Hey!’
‘You’d better get on with it then,’ said Beth, pointing at the next house. ‘If you want anything for yourself.’
Lara knew she was beaten. She grinned, then set off determinedly for the next house along.
‘Thanks, Beth,’ said Nancy.
‘What are surrogate aunties for, if not to steal their niece’s sweets?’
They both waved back to Lara, who was up ahead delightedly brandishing a mini Mars bar, before swiftly moving to the next house.
‘Any sign of the bunch that ostracized her?’ asked Beth.
Nancy raised her hands, palms upwards. ‘Who knows?’ she said. And as they looked around, it was impossible to tell the identity of anyone.
‘There’s so many kids, we probably won’t even bump into them,’ said Beth.
‘Look, Mum, a whole chocolate bar!’ said Lara in amazement as she came running up to them.
‘Give it to me!’ yelled Beth, but Lara squealed and ran away again.
THIRTY-TWO
Saturday 31 October
Imogen stuffed her hands in her pockets. It was cold. She heard the church clock strike half past six, two mournful bongs, and her heart lifted. She only had to endure another fifteen minutes out here, then another fifteen to gather everyone to go home, and parents were picking up at seven. Thank God. It had been fun but she was ready to go back now and have a glass of wine on the sofa.
Seeing the girls come out of another driveway, she called over to them: ‘Just to the end of the street, girls, then come back and meet me here and we’ll head home.’ They chorused a protest but she knew to smile and ignore it and they’d do as she asked.
She perched herself on the edge of a wall as she checked her phone. There was a message from James, asking if she was free the next day for a run. She messaged back saying she’d meet him as usual. She idly wondered if he was watching the football at home but knew he wasn’t. He was probably at a concert with Carol or out to dinner somewhere. As much as she loved Dylan – and she did – sometimes she wishedhe was a little more into the finer things in life. She’d loved his earthy simplicity when they’d first met, his quiet intelligence and his strong sense of right and wrong. She’d even respected the way he liked to fight for the underdog, but it had got wearing recently. Still, her husband could be working in a new school soon, a whole new environment. She must remember to tell James that Dylan had an interview and see if there was anything she should know about that she could subtly pass on to improve his chances.
The clock bell rang again; three bongs, indicating it was a quarter to seven. Imogen stood up quickly, grateful to be able to go home. She looked around for Rosie and the other kids; they must be further down the road, she thought. But she couldn’t see them as she walked along – not on the other side of the street either. There were still a few other kids about, but in twos or threes, not her big group. Imogen frowned, annoyed by the fact they hadn’t followed her instructions. Of all the nights...She was cold and wanted to go home. There was nothing for it but to go and look for them.
THIRTY-THREE
Saturday 31 October
‘Look who it is,’ Tilly whispered in Rosie’s ear.
Rosie turned to follow where her friend’s finger was pointing. She saw a kid dressed in a black cape with a high collar, heading down a darkened front pathway.
‘Girls,’ she called urgently, holding out her arms so that they nestled in together, forming a circular pack, each with their arms on one another’s shoulders. ‘Group meeting,’ she declared importantly. ‘Lara’s here, dressed as a vampire –lame– and I say we steal her sweets.’
She was met with nervous giggles. ‘Are you all in?’ she demanded. She could see their eyes buried in their masks and got a thrill from their apprehension as they looked at her Scream face.
They all responded in the affirmative, except for Mia.
‘If you want to be in our group, you have to follow our rules,’ said Rosie.
