A New Place
'HOLIDAYS' SAID Lily cheerfully as the first term of school got over. 'Hurrah' exclaimed Ethan, who was always enthusiastic about the holidays, especially the summer ones. 'Relax, its only for a month.' told Leo while he patiently waited for their parents to arrive and pick them up. The three of them were about the same age. Lily was ten, Ethan was eleven and Leo was twelve.
' Mother and Father are here!' shouted Ethan who curiously watched their parents car approach in the parking lot. 'Hallo boys, Hallo Lily' said Mother, calling them over to the car. The children ran to the car as the sun poured its scorching heat in the middle May.
Once in the car, Leo hurriedly asked, 'Mother! Are we going to Brighton same as always?' 'I'm afraid not,' said Mother. 'They're quite sold out this year'.
The three children sighed heavily at each other in great disappointment. They did so love the beach at Brighton. Their small little cabana, too, and all the fun they used to have under the pink sky.
Soon they reached home and sat at the table for lunch. The children sat with a sulky mood for they would miss all the fun!
'Buoy up' said Father. ''I say, we'll find somewhere as good. Anyway, you kiddos are going to be all by yourself this summer. Hasn't Mother told you?'
'No!' said Lily surprised. 'Oh Mother - are we really? Will we be all alone? I can't imagine a holiday without you.'
'Well, yes. Me and Father have decided to go to Norway. Just the two of us.' said Mother. 'But where we spend the summers then?' asked Leo.
'What about Arthur's?' suddenly exclaimed Father. Arthur was their Mother's brother, the children's uncle. The children had only met him once when they were at a family wedding, but they were quite small back then.
Arthur was a quite tall, frightening man, a dedicated, short-tempered writer who spent every minute of his life studying and writing books. The last he met the children, he had rather scared them. He lived somewhere near the sea but the children knew nothing more of him!
'Arthur?' said Mother, dubiously. 'He was rather frightening to the children last time. And anyway, he wouldn't like the children messing about in his little home while he is writing his book.'
'Well,' said Father, 'I did get a call from his wife the other day, and May said that she needed to talk about something - a business matter, I believe. And I don't think things are going too well for them. She also said it would be lovely to have someone for the summers.' 'And doesn't she have a child of her own?' chimed in Mother. 'Some strange name I think. Let me check - what's the name - yes, Theodora. And she should be about eleven, at least that's what I remember.'
'Ooo! Fancy having a cousin with the same age who we've never met!' said Ethan, who became quite interested in going there now. 'She must so sad all alone by herself.'
'Oh Mother! Please do let us go there' cried Lily. 'You won't imagine how fun we would have there. Oh Mother!'
'Let your Father talk to your aunt and then we'll see if they're okay with having you three for the summers.' said Mother.
Without further delay, Father quickly telephoned Aunt May and asked her all about what they had just discussed.
After a long talk with Aunt May, Father returned to the table with a bright smile on his face. The children immediately understood that everything was fixed and they would soon be with a cousin they've never seen.
'Okay, so when do we start packing for the trip?' asked Lily impatiently. 'As you like darling' responded Mother cheerfully.
So as planned, all the children started packing and soon enough, all of them were ready for tomorrow.
