Chapter 4 – A Great Idea
“So is this the school?” asked one of them.
“Yes,” replied Alice. “But for goodness’ sake introduce yourselves and the way we tell you two apart.”
“Of course,” said the man, in a low deep voice. “Considering the weather, isn’t it better to get in first?” What he said was true. Rain was pouring down in torrents. So they went in, and found Nancy and Mandy.
“Hey, kids!” said Mandy, smiling. “Hi, Daddy! I like this place, it is superb! Alexis and Evelyn will love it!”
“So I hope they will!” said the man. “Well, I’ll leave you girls alone. I need to get back to the Rolls Royce.”
“I’m Alexis,” said Alexis, who didn’t seem in the least shy. “That’s Evelyn, Evelyn, my little baby twin, who’s 5 minutes younger than me! The only way to tell us apart is our eyes. I’ve got blue ones, and Evelyn’s got green.”
The girls took a liking to the twins at once. Evelyn had not spoken yet, but they assumed she would be very much like her twin.
“Don’t listen to her,” said Evelyn. “She’s always making herself sound big. Well, let’s go to the common room now. It’s wonderful to see you, Nancy, Mandy, but I need to get going.”
“Oh, that’s OK,” said Nancy.
“Well, twins, come with me to see Miss Caty. Alice, do you want to come along?”
“Hi, Miss Caty,” said Alice. “These are my sisters.”
“Alexis,” introduced Alexis.
“Evelyn.”
“Well, girls, I just need you to report to me. I don’t have much to say about you. Alice will take care of you, and Celine and Elsie and Alicia and Esther.”
So off the girls went.
Alice said to Carlotta the next day, “You know, it’s been kind of a boring term. I wish we could have a midnight feast or some tricks. I’ve read about them in school stories, but I don’t think they really do happen.”
“Oh, they do happen, you’ll see,” said Carlotta, a mischievous twinkle in her eye. “See you later – I’ve got to go for sewing class. You don’t!”
Esther didn’t need to go to sewing class either, so Alice went off to find her.
“Hey, Alice!” greeted Esther warmly.
“Hi, Esther! You know what? I see you as my best friend. Hope you don’t mind. I do want a best friend.”
“Awesome!” cried Esther. “I have no real best friend either. Celine doesn’t, but she has her sister. So I’ll be the best friend to you in the world, old girl!”
So the two girls went everywhere together. The other girls all liked the two, and admired them to forget the grudge they had once held against each other.
One day, they held a meeting in the common room.
“Carlotta,” moaned somebody. “Can’t we have some fun?”
“A midnight feast perhaps,” suggested Alice.
Alexis smiled. “I’m a light sleeper, you know. Last night, I woke up in the middle of the night, but how amazingly bright it was! The moon was shining high in the night.”
“I say!” exclaimed Evelyn suddenly. “I say! Let’s go out for a moonlight swim, and then have a moonlight picnic, then to the skating grounds to play, and then go back to the dormitory to have some cocoa to finish it off!”
“Good idea,” said the girls, nodding their heads.
“Esther, you’ll come, won’t you?”
“Of course,” said Esther. “I’ll go and ask for permission from Miss Caty now. We’ll have to have to go buy things from the town fairly soon, and then have it on full moon night – which is four nights from now.”
The girl headed towards Miss Caty’s office.
“What now?” asked Miss Caty.
“Oh, I came to ask permission for a moonlight swim, then a picnic, then a skate in the skating grounds, and then cocoa in our dormitory. We haven’t had a feast for ages, so please grant us permission.”
“Of course I’ll let you girls have your feast,” said Miss Caty, surprised that they were mature enough to ask for her permission.
Esther happily flew up the stairs. When she told the girls what had happened Elsie said in surprise, “What a good sport Miss Caty is!”
“Well,” said Esther. “Alice and I will go to the local department store and order some things, and ask them to bring them in for us. I just hope Miss Caty won’t mind some cars pulling up. But I don’t think she will.”
The girls ordered lots of stuff. Here is their list:
Sardines in tomato sauce
Chocolate cake
Vanilla Frozen Yogurt
Apple Crumble
Spaghetti in tomato sauce
Chocolate bars
Smoked Norwegian salmon sandwiches
Cherry Soda
Lemonade
Pancakes with rainbow sprinkle
Blueberry ice-cream
Chocolate chip cookies
Chocolate cookies with ice cream inside
Pack of sausages
“Esther! You’re crazy!” said Andrea, pretending to be shocked. “You mean we’re going to fry sausages?”
“Well,” replied Esther coolly. “Miss Caty granted us permission to do anything we like, so I don’t see any problem.”
“Oh, Esther, you are a scream! I like you,” said Alexis, warming to Esther.
“Tomorrow will be the party. Is it anyone’s birthday?”
* * * * *