Chapter Two

Sally Plaits Her Hair 

 

   ‘I felt like it today. Is that fine, or did I need Darrell Rivers’ permission to plait my hair?’ 
    Darrell said nothing else about her hair. 
    ‘Are you almost done?’
    Darrell was packing the last of her things. She always left packing to the last minute. It was one of the things she hated most. She stuffed her yellow dress into her suitcase and turned to Sally. She gave a determined nod to Sally, who stood in the doorway, and said, ‘Done.’ 

    Sally smiled. 

    They went downstairs to find Aunt Mary already in the hallway putting on her driving gloves and duffel coat. 

    ‘You girls look smart,’ she said, as she ushered them out of the house. 

    Sally and her aunt got into the car, but Darrell lingered for a moment, and took one last look at the house. It had been her retreat for the past two weeks, and although her thoughts had not always been pleasant, and she had more than once thought about John, it had been a good place to stay. She was sad to say goodbye to Aunt Mary’s house. Finally, after Sally had told her to hurry things up, Darrell got into Aunt Mary’s car and before she knew it the house was out of sight. 

    Sally sat with Darrell in the back of the car. 

    ‘I may try to sleep on the train,’ Sally said. ‘It is a long journey.’ 

    Aunt Mary’s driving impressed Darrell. She wondered if she drove her husband when he was alive. She was very modern for her age. Her driving gloves were stylish, and when they drove into London, she put on the most spectacular sunglasses. 

    ‘Rotten luck,’ Darrell thought, as she peered at Aunt Mary, ‘to survive the war only to be killed a few years later.’ 

    ‘And we’re here, girls,’ Aunt Mary said, stopping the car by the train station. ‘Let’s walk up together, then I’ll say my good-byes.'

    ‘It’s been so good of you to have us,’ said Sally. ‘You’ve been so kind.’ 

    ‘Don’t be silly,’ she said, as they left the car. ‘I’ve been glad for the company. It’s made a change from being on my own the whole time.’ 

    She said this with a smile, but Darrell thought what she said was sad. Although she had enjoyed her time at Aunt Mary’s house, she had barely spent any time with the woman. She felt a sudden pang of regret and wished she had made more effort during her stay in Cornwall. Sally hugged her aunt. Darrell thanked her and they parted with Aunt Mary. 

    They sat on a bench by the platform and waited for their northbound train. Darrell smelled the curious London air. 

    They boarded the train and bought their tickets from the conductor. Darrell found seats for them both. They sat opposite one another. For a while, they talked about trivial things, like how the weather had changed over the week, and how hungry they were getting, but soon Darrell started to feel more contemplative. She asked a question to Sally which had been on her mind for a while. The train rumbled along.  

    ‘Do you think your aunt will be fine without us?’ Darrell watched as Sally’s brow furrowed. ‘It’s such a big house for one person,’ Darrell finished. ‘I imagine I’d go stir crazy if I were left alone like that.’ 

    ‘She’ll be fine,’ Sally said. She looked out of the window to her right. They were speeding through the countryside now. The sun would set soon. When they eventually arrived in Fife, it would be dark. 

    ‘You know,’ Sally said, after a moment, ‘she’s been without my uncle for almost a year now.’ 

    ‘Do you think she misses him terribly?’ 

    Darrell had a rather nasty habit of saying things without thinking, but sometimes she wanted to prompt a reaction. She knew the question would upset Sally. 

    Sally looked into her lap. She tugged her brown skirt. 

    ‘I’m not sure I want to talk about it, Darrell.’ 

    ‘Would you like to talk about Malory Towers? It was on your mind the night before last. You were rather upset by it. Maybe it would be good to talk about it before getting into the swing of another academic year.’ 

    ‘What’s there to say?’ Sally brushed her skirt with her hands and finally folded her arms. ‘I was only upset because of my diaries. I wasn’t expecting to find them. I only happened upon them by accident. I don’t think about Malory Towers much at all.’ 

    ‘But you plaited your hair today.’ 

    ‘I plaited my hair. Correct, Darrell. Shall we talk about what upsets Darrell? Will you be seeing John this term or is he finally out of your life?’ 

    ‘I wish you wouldn’t say my name like that,’ Darrell said. 

    ‘You do say the oddest things sometimes.’ 

    Despite themselves, they laughed. 

    Darrell was glad that they could forgive one another for the things they said in the heat of the moment. 

    ‘I didn’t mean to upset you, Sally.’ Darrell paused. She turned rather serious. ‘Rotten luck,’ she said, almost to herself, ‘to survive the war only to be killed a few years later.’ 

    Sally nodded in agreement. 

    ‘I might try to sleep now,’ Sally said. ‘Try not to put spiders in my mouth or do anything horrid, would you?’ 

    Sally looked pretty with her eyes closed. She breathed through her mouth as she slept and snored peacefully. Darrell smiled as their train hurtled along its tracks and arrived in Scotland. 

    Several hours later, she shook Sally by the shoulders and laughed when she let out a yelp of fright. ‘We’re here. Let’s go!’