A Spoonful Of Sugar: A Novella. Kerry Barrett

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СКАЧАТЬ gave me a sympathetic hug.

      ‘Just do your best,’ she said. ‘That’s all anyone’s asking of you.’

      ‘I’d feel better if my best included a bit of magic,’ I said, making a face.

      Mum chuckled.

      ‘That’s not like you,’ she said. ‘It’s normally Harry who’s desperate to cast a spell.’

      ‘No magic, Esme,’ I said, in my best impression of Harry’s voice. ‘It just doesn’t work with baking.’

      Mum laughed again.

      ‘She’s right, though,’ she pointed out. ‘Plus it’s a bit too risky, what with all these people and cameras everywhere.’

      I opened my mouth to argue that I was perfectly capable of being discreet when one of the clipboard-wielding women appeared at my shoulder so I shut up. Mum gave me a smug look and I rolled my eyes.

      ‘Esme and Harmony?’ the woman said in a frighteningly over-friendly fashion.

      ‘I’m Harmony,’ Harry said. ‘Call me Harry.’

      The woman made a note on her clipboard.

      ‘And you’re Esme?’ she said to me. ‘Oh! You’re pregnant, how fab. When are you due? Not this weekend I hope.’ She giggled madly and I stared at her, speechless in the face of such perkiness.

      ‘I’m Portia,’ she carried on, flicking the end of her blonde ponytail over her shoulder. ‘I’m one of the crew and I’m the person you need to speak to if you need anything. Anything at all.’

      She giggled again, showing very straight, very white teeth.

      ‘The other competitors are all here already – they’re just in Make-up. So if you’re ready, I’ll take you up and introduce you. Ready?’

      She looked at us in expectation. Harry and I looked back in silence.

      ‘Ready?’ she said again.

      ‘Oh, yes, sorry,’ Harry said. ‘Ready.’

      Portia spun round and raced round the side of the cafe with Harry and I scuttling along in her wake. I shot Harry a filthy look but she stared resolutely ahead. I wondered if she was as nervous as I was.

      We followed Portia up the stairs to what was normally the gallery. It was a brilliant room, used for exhibitions, art classes, writing groups, concerts – all sorts. Jamie and I had got married there so it had a special place in my heart. It was a long, rectangular room with two huge windows – with stunning views over the loch – at each of the short ends, and two long white walls perfect for hanging pictures.

      Today it had been transformed into a beauty parlour. Its long walls were now hung with long mirrors. In front of two of the mirrors were narrow tables, covered in hairbrushes, tubes of foundation and eyeliner pencils, and a chair. Two make-up artists were busy powdering the noses of the person in each chair. Some other people stood around chatting, clutching paper cups of coffee emblazoned with the Claddach Cafe logo. That was good.

      Portia cleared her throat as though she was about to make an announcement.

      ‘Everyone,’ she said. ‘These are our final two competitors, Esme and Harmony.’

      ‘Harry,’ said Harry, flashing her most dazzling smile at everyone in the room. ‘Hello.’

      I was overwhelmed with fear once more, so I simply raised my hand and croaked, ‘Hi.’

      ‘So,’ said Portia. ‘That’s Wilf, having his nose done.’ In the chair furthest away from where we stood, was a young man in his mid twenties. He had dark-rimmed glasses and a sort of messy afro that the make-up artist wasn’t even attempting to control. He grinned at us showing slightly crooked teeth and Harry smiled back. My smile was more like a grimace – but I tried.

      ‘Next to him,’ Portia continued. ‘Is June.’

      ‘Hi,’ Harry and I chorused. June was around sixty with greying curly hair and a sizeable bosom. I found myself wishing I could rest my head on her chest and have her tell me it was all going to be okay. But I changed my mind sharpish when she gave me a frosty glare. Ooh, what had rattled her cage?

      ‘I’m Amelia,’ a frighteningly young girl stuck her hand out for me to shake.

      ‘Are you in the competition?’ I asked in surprise. ‘Is there a children’s event?’

      Amelia giggled. She was quite sweet, with mousy hair pulled back into a ponytail and a crop of spots on her chin.

      ‘I’m seventeen,’ she said. ‘I’m one of the bakers.’

      ‘Amelia’s our youngest competitor ever,’ said Portia proudly. ‘She’s just done her A levels.’

      ‘And I’m afraid I’m one of the oldest,’ said the man Amelia had been chatting to. ‘I’m Ronald.’

      I took in Ronald’s straight back, shiny shoes and close-cropped hair and grinned.

      ‘Navy?’ I said.

      Ronald roared with laughter.

      ‘That obvious, eh?’ he said.

      ‘My dad was in the RAF,’ I admitted. ‘I grew up surrounded by military types.’

      Ronald beamed at me.

      ‘We shall have to compare stories later,’ he said.

      I smiled back, relieved to have met at least one person who seemed nice and normal.

      ‘Okay, people,’ said Portia, sending me back into spasms of terror again. ‘We’re almost ready to get going. Harry and Esme just need to have their faces done, then we can head out to the marquee to meet the judges. They’ll introduce themselves. Don’t worry, they’re really nice – not nearly as frightening as they seem on TV.’

      That was a relief. I’d watched a few clips of the show on YouTube and, frankly, the judges seemed marginally more brutal than the prison officers in Orange is the New Black. Hopefully they just put that on for the cameras.

      ‘They’ll explain how the competition is going to work,’ Portia carried on. ‘And then we’ll get cracking on the first round. Exciting!’

      She squealed and flicked her ponytail over her shoulder again.

      Next to me, Amelia bounced on the balls of her feet, eager to get on with it. I rubbed my bump and wondered if I could fake going into labour just to escape.

      ‘Don’t even think about it,’ said Harry, giving me a poke in the side.

      ‘Ow,’ I hissed. ‘Stay out of my head.’ I hated it when she used her witchcraft to listen in to my thoughts.

      Harry shrugged, unconcerned by my crossness.

      ‘Any questions before we start?’ СКАЧАТЬ