Seven for a Secret Never to be Told

The day dragged. Even lunch time which Mia would normally spend talking or playing with Safi was spent showing a new girl called Ellen around the school. Outside the sun was shining but Mia’s classroom was hot and stuffy even with all the windows open. The last hour was guided reading and Mia’s group sat on the carpet becoming increasingly tired and irritable while they read. When the bell went an overwhelming sense of expectation swept over her. She grabbed her back pack and pushed through the throng of children to Safi’s classroom. He met her halfway.

‘Nan’s going to meet us in the back carpark. She’s driving.’ Safi nodded and they both made their way out of school. Mia’s Nan was already parked and waiting. It was incredibly hot and she’d wound down the windows and was stood by the open door. As they approached she reached into a cool bag on the passenger seat and produced a couple of ice lollies.

‘I’ve got some crisps and biscuits too,’ she said as they got in the back of the car. ‘Just to tide you over for an hour while we’re at the home.’

‘Thanks Nan,’ said Mia, buckling her seat belt. ‘We’ll be fine won’t we Saf?’ Safi was taking the wrapper from his lolly, he locked eyes with Mia and nodded towards her Nan, urging her to ask about Bobby Bassett.

‘Um, did you say someone wasn’t well this morning Nan?’ Mia’s Nan started the car.

‘Mrs Jefferies. She ate a whole box of chocolates in about 5 minutes flat.’ She sighed. ‘It messed with her diabetes and made her sick.’ Mia and Safi exchanged uneasy glances.

‘So Bobby Bassett…the guy who’s the boy in that old photo in the field behind our house. It wasn’t him them?’

‘Oh no, he’s fighting fit. Loopy as a nine bob note but ok I think. Why?’ Mia didn’t say anything for a minute, then asked –

‘Miss Jaggers’ brother. Bernard. Is he…is he?’

‘Is he coming to England to visit his sister this year?’ jumped in Safi. Mia’s Nan was just pulling into the old people’s home.

‘Not as far as I know…’ She stopped the car and undid her seat belt. Turning round to talk to the children she said. ‘I’m only here for an hour to cover for Mrs Morgan. You can sit in the dining room and read or chat or whatever but no shouting and running around. OK?’

They piled out of the car and Mia’s Nan led them through a reception area. She keyed a pin code into a pin pad on the wall and the next door opened when she pushed it. She showed them the dining area and they sat down next to each other while Mia’s Nan went off to put on her tunic and start work.

Mia and Safi sat at the long dining table listening to Mia’s Nan’s footsteps receding into the distance. Safi was silently staring at the floor. Waiting. He looked up and met Mia’s gaze.

‘Ready?’ he said.

‘As much as I’ll ever be.’ Mia took a small purse from her back pack and slipped it into her pocket. ‘Come on then.’

They went down the corridor in the opposite direction to the one Mia’s Nan had taken. The tiled floor was squeaky clean and pictures of bright blossoming flowers hung from the pale blue walls.

There were doors on either side. They were all open and as they walked by Mia and Safi glanced into each room. The elderly occupants were either sleeping, looking out of their windows across the closely cut lawn or sat in high backed armchairs watching TV at an excessively high volume. The children didn’t see anyone they thought might be Bobby Bassett.

Ahead of them the corridor came to an end and they could either go right or left.

‘Try down here,’ Safi indicated to the left. Again there were doors on either side. The first one was slightly ajar and the sound of loud snoring spilled into the corridor. Safi peeped in and stepped back shaking his head. They moved on. The next door was shut. Mia turned the handle and gently pushed the door open.