‘Mum, I want to see Father Christmas!’ repeated Pepper.
‘Not yet,’ said Lorna. She turned back to Imogen. ‘Give me what you don’t need,’ said Lorna, ‘and I’ll go and put it in the safe.’
Imogen handed her a thick wodge of money and Lorna stuffed it into her bag. She would go and count it in a minute but could tell there was already a couple of hundred pounds there – and that was just one stall and only forty-five minutes since the fair had opened. She closed the bag safely then took the envelope she’d tucked under her arm and held it up. ‘Erin, did you want to contribute to Miss Young’s Christmas present? Last day to put in.’
‘MUM!’ yelled Pepper.
‘Oh. Sure,’ said Erin. She got out her purse. ‘What’s the going rate?’
‘I put in a tenner,’ said Imogen.
‘A tenner? That seems a lot.’ Erin cast around, saw Nicole and Helen. ‘Hey, guys,’ she said, ‘how much did you put in for Miss Young’s Christmas collection?’
‘Ten pounds,’ said Nicole.
‘Yeah, me too,’ said Helen.
‘Right, well, I suppose I need to do the same then. That’s forty quid just with us here,’ said Erin, indicating their little group.
‘Only put in what you would like,’ said Lorna quickly. She didn’t like Erin’s calculations.
‘MUUUUUMMMMMM,’ said Pepper.
‘It’s fine,’ said Erin. She put a ten-pound note into the envelope and handed it back. ‘You will let us know how much you raise in the end, won’t you?’
Lorna smiled. ‘Course!’
‘Only then we can see if some of us have been Christmas scrooges,’ said Erin, laughing.
Lorna laughed with her but inside, her stomach was curdling. It was all getting a bit too specific for her liking. People focusing on exactly who was donating what. Adding it all up. Coming to a final figure. What if they started exchanging notes and compared how much had been raised to the amount actually given to Miss Young? Lorna felt a bead of sweat form on her upper lip. She’d already spent some of the money. The LED snowman in her front garden. She wanted to get away. Pepper was driving her mad, tapping her on her leg.
Lorna saw Nancy approaching and felt the animosity come off Imogen and Erin in waves. An idea sprang into her mind. Before she had really thought it through, she turned and smiled at Nancy. ‘You’ve done such an amazing job,’ she said, ‘the fair is running like clockwork.’
‘Thanks,’ said Nancy, and glanced at Imogen and Erin. ‘You have everything you need?’
‘Yes. Been doing this several years now,’ said Erin.
Even Lorna flinched – Erin could be so cutting! Imogen said nothing. Still, Lorna needed to grab Nancy before she moved on. ‘Could you possibly hang on to this for a minute?’ she said, thrusting the envelope for Miss Young into Nancy’s hand. ‘I want to take Pepper to see Father Christmas before the queue gets too long.’
‘Oh yes. Course,’ said Nancy.
‘It’s the collection for Miss Young,’ said Lorna, reverently patting the envelope, then she walked away.
That was better, thought Lorna as she held hands with askipping Pepper beside her. They had both seen – Imogen and Erin. And now she wasn’t the only person who’d had sole charge of the Christmas present money. It probably wouldn’t be needed but it was good to have a bit of insurance.
12 December
RIPTON PRIMARY, YEAR 6
Lorna Fielding, Phoenix’s mum
I wanted to say a big thank you to everyone today for your hard work at the Christmas fair. No total yet but we’ll have one by next week. I thought it was our best fair yet! 19:14
Sarah Ramsay, Noah’s mum
The kids LOVED the Baby Jesus biscuits. So glad we got to do them. It really gave the day some extra meaning, I thought. 19:14
Nicole Wilson, Bella’s mum
