 |  |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
Listeners' Fantasies |
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
Miss Archer's day out
Vicky S
 This inside story of Pip's friendship with Izzy was posted to the Fantasy Archers topic of The Archers message board.
Pip woke up with a start. For one moment she was still in the playground, biting her lip hard and trying not to show that she cared. Then as the familiar sounds and smells of home entered her consciousness she pulled the duvet up to her chin and savoured the expectation that the day promised.
A tap on the door.
"Pip. Pip, are you oop pet. I've got you a nice breakfast on the goe, coom down now hen, while its hot."
"Coming Grandma."
Pip slouched downstairs in her dressing gown. Josh and Ben were already dressed.
"Ooh, you're not dressed yet." Her Grandmother had her mother's way of stating the obvious. "Well, I don't suppose it matters too much, it's not a school day after all."
Josh was staring at her.
"What's your problem?" Pip hissed.
"What's my problem? What's your problem more like? What've you done to your hair?"
Pip's hand flew to her head. Oh god. How had she forgotten. Last night it had taken her nearly an hour to tease her hair into the masses of little plaits that Izzy had assured her would transform her hair from rat's tails to flowing locks when moussed up the next day.
"If you don't have hair straighteners," Izzy had informed her, "you might as well go really curly."
"You look like a sheep," said Josh, "look Ben, Pip sheep baaa, baaa, baaa."
Pip's eyes narrowed and she moved towards him. Her Grandmother shot Josh a look and his sniggers subsided.
***
Pip hung the teatowel over the Aga rail.
"Thanks pet. Here, before you go up to get dressed ..." Her Grandmother reached into her pocket and passed Pip a folded piece of paper. A fiver. "Just make sure you and your friend have a good day today mind."
***
Pip turned the chicken feed pail upside down and checked the feed bin lid was secure.
"Hello Pipsqueak, wondering where you'd got to, your mum's just sent a message to tell you to hurry up and get changed if you're going to go into Borchester to pick up Izzy."
"I'm wearing what I've got on," said Pip. "I don't need to change."
"Oh, I thought your mum said you were going to wear the jumper Grandma Jill knitted, the one with the rabbits, and your new sandals."
Pip heard Izzy's voice "... just wear my Donna Karan jeans and my leather jacket and maybe my cowboy boots ..."
She looked at her father, without speaking.
"Ah. OK." David turned to the door and then swung back. "While I remember Pippsy, this is for you, just a little extra Easter something. Make sure you and Izzy have fun, it's only a fiver but for goodness sake don't mention it to your mother. Or your brothers."
***
"I've not got anything against make up, you know," Ruth negotiated the Landrover over another speed hump, "it's just I think it's something you need to save for when you're older. Anyway, at your age, you've no need for it, you're way pretty enough as it is."]
Pip retained the stony silence that had lasted from the time she had got into the front seat, her face feeling tight and shiny from a soap and water scrub.
"Is this it?" Ruth pulled up. "You'd better go and knock. But just a minute Pip, before you do, here, this is a bit of extra pocket money for you and Izzy to spend at Lower Loxley. Don't let your dad know mind. And you look fine, honest pet. The hair's great."
***
As she walked up the path to Izzy's, Pip stuffed her hand deep into her jeans' pocket where the other £10 was safely secreted. She pushed her mother's £5 in firmly.
There wasn't much room inside the pocket, what with the blusher, eyeliner and lip gloss already there. Just as well Izzy had said she would bring the ciggies and a lighter. Still with £15 spending money, plus whatever Izzy had got from her mum, the day was already fulfilling its early promise.
More
Archers fantasies
Visit
the message board
<<Back
|
|
 | |  |
|
|
|
 |
|
