The Daring Game (22 page)
Authors: Kit Pearson
Eliza studied her friend for a few seconds and decided that probably nobody ever would.
A
FTER LUNCH
she balanced on the railing and listened to Madeline practise “Land of Hope and Glory” on the piano that had been moved onto the balcony of the Blue Sitting Room. Eliza was all ready for the ceremony, dressed in her clammy white dress. She rubbed her shiny legs against each other, making them scratch; the grade sevens were being allowed to wear nylons for the first time. Below them the chairs were finally settled in long empty rows that would be filled in an hour with students and parents. Jean was racing a reluctant Bill, on his leash, around and around the lawn. The others were still upstairs changing.
The last swelling notes of the march ended. It was so solemn, it made Eliza shiver. Madeline would play it for the opening procession. “You're going to get your dress dirty, sitting there,” she told Eliza.
Madeline was not coming back next year either. Mrs. Fraser said she could take her no further in piano, and so Madeline was going to live with relatives in Toronto and attend the Royal Conservatory of Music. Eliza felt better about leaving herself when she knew Madeline was going too.
“It's funny,” mused Madeline. “On graduation days I always used to imagine how it would feel, to march up the middle to this music. Now I never will.”
“What about Brian?” asked Eliza. It was the first time she had mentioned him since the beginning of the term. “When Beth told me you had plans for next year, I thought maybe you were going to go to school in Kelowna so you could be near him.”
“I wouldn't do that! What about my piano lessons? No, I've known Toronto was in the works for a long timeâit just took a while to get it organized. I'll miss Brian a lot, but we have plenty of time. My music is the most important thing to me now.”
Eliza grinned. “Maybe you'll be famous one day and I can say I knew you.” She paused. “Madeline ⦠can I write to you sometimes?” It had taken days to work up the courage to suggest this; it was the reason she'd changed early and come out to listen.
“Of course you can write, silly.” Madeline looked amused, as usual. “And I'll write back. We won't lose touch, I promise. And if you come back to Ashdown later, and I'm living close enough, I'll come to
your
graduation.”
Madeline was the only person to whom Eliza had mentioned this possibility. She didn't want Helen and Carrie to count on it.
Those returning
Those returning
Make more faithful than before
Eliza sang in the middle of the long hot ceremony. The rain had held off, and the lush June foliage glittered in the dazzling light. Eliza squinted and Miss Tavistock, all dressed up in a flowered hat and a new suit, turned into a pink blur on the platform. The headmistress stood and gave a short address in memory of Miss Peck.
“My aunt's death is the end of a chapter. I have faith that all of the principles she stood for will be carried on by future Ashdown students. But the world is changing, and the school will have to meet the challenge of those changes.”
“The end of a chapter,” Eliza repeated to herself. Nothing would ever be the same.
She turned around and glimpsed Helen, half-dozing in the sun. It was the end of a chapter for the two of them as well. The strands of their fragile web of friendship seemed sturdy enough now, but they could break without constant replenishing. Eliza knew she would have to be the one to work at it.
Now the graduates were going up one at a time to get their certificates. Miss Tavistock looked proud of them.
Eliza couldn't see her face, but the pink figure sat regally as she watched.
There was one more hymn, then three hundred and sixty voices chorused a loud “Amen.” Eliza wiped her face. The sun was making her eyes water.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The hymns and carols that Eliza sings are from
The Book of Common Praise,
Toronto, Oxford University Press, 1962.
The poem Eliza hears Miss Tavistock reading is “Invictus,” written by William Ernest Henley in 1875.
“Norman” by John D. Loudermilk © 1961 by Acuff-Rose Publications, Inc. Used by permission of the publisher. All rights reserved.
“Ashdown Academy” is modelled after a school I once knew very well. I was older than Eliza when I attended it, however, and none of the students or staff of that school are portrayed in this novel. It is a work of fiction.
THE LONG AWAITED NEW NOVEL BY
KIT PEARSON IS NOW AVAILABLE
!
A Perfect Gentle Knight
tells the story of the six Bell children, each of them coping in different ways in the aftermath of their mother's death. Seen through the eyes of eleven-year-old Corrie, the story illustrates how a rich fantasy life can sometimes get in the way of reality. While elder sister Roz is growing up and out of the desire for fantasy games, eldest brother Sebastian, who fancies himself Sir Lancelot in their Round Table Game, continues to need them as much as ever, creating tension in the family. Corrie becomes concerned and worries that Sebastian may have lost his grip on what's real.
“Pearson's books are a window to another age. ⦠Pearson has shown her ability ⦠with grace, sensitivity and a good grasp of what moves and motivates children in any era.”
âToronto Star
ALSO IN THE GUESTS OF WAR TRILOGY!
WINNER OF THE MR. CHRISTIE BOOK AWARD, THE GEOFFREY BILSON AWARD FOR HISTORICAL FICTION FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, AND THE CANADIAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION'S BOOK OF THE YEAR FOR CHILDREN
It is the summer of 1940, and all of England fears an invasion by Hitler's army. Still, ten-year-old Norah Stoakes is shocked when her parents decide to send her and her younger brother, Gavin, to Canada as war guests. Travelling across the ocean is an adventure, but Norah's new life in Canada is a bigger challenge that she ever expected. Until, that is, Norah discovers a surprising responsibility that helps her accept her new country and her new home.
WINNER OF THE IODE VIOLET DOWNEY AWARD AND THE GEOFFREY BILSON AWARD FOR HISTORICAL FICTION FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
It has been five years since Norah and Gavin arrived in Canada, and how that the war is ending, they will soon be going back to England. Norah is eager to see her parents again, but ten-year-old Gavin barely remembers them. He doesn't want to leave his Canadian family, his two best friends, and his dog. Then something happens that forces Gavin to make the most difficult decision of his life.
“A first rate trilogy⦔
â
The Globe and Mail