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THE CARAVAN—TATE’S HOLIDAY PARK

AUGUST 18, 2010

Cora wasn’t at The Manor today.

Just Frankie and me. Like old times. Except not. I think I really messed up.

Something else happened in the woods. I didn’t write it down yesterday. Couldn’t get my thoughts straight. I’ve been feeling weird about it. Don’t know if I did the right thing.

I’ve never run so fast as when I heard that creepy melody playing. It felt like it was following me.

I just wanted to get out of there. When I saw lights through the trees, I was so relieved. Grandfa’s study. Yeah he’s old and posh and scary, but he’d know the path back to The Manor. I was pretty near when I heard voices. Thought he was still on the phone but as I got closer I saw two figures. A man and a woman, the door halfway open, light behind them so they were cast in shadow.

Grandfa. And... Cora. All I could think was: what the hell was she doing in Grandfa’s cabin? His hand was on her upper arm. He was bending down to her... To say something? To kiss her???? But just at that moment a twig cracked under my foot and Cora turned to look out into the wood. I backed away, I couldn’t tell if she’d seen me. I’d gone quite a way when a figure loomed in front of me on the path, grabbed me tight round my upper arms. I screamed and screamed and tried to get away but their grip only got stronger.

Then I heard a voice saying, Sparrow, it’s me you twat. Frankie.

Where did you go? I shouted, still totally freaking out.

Did you hear the music? she asked. I could just see her eyes gleaming in the moonlight. I lost you guys and... oh my God, Sparrow... did you hear the music too?

Yeah, I said. I heard it.

She dropped her voice to a whisper. I think I saw them, Sparrow.

Your grandad and Cora? I said, kind of relieved she already knew.

And she was like, no. These tall figures, dressed all in black...

Then she stopped. Wait. What do you mean, my grandad and Cora?

I had to tell her, right?

I saw them together in your grandad’s cabin. That’s all I said. But maybe if I had said more, it wouldn’t have sounded so bad. You know? Then she wouldn’t have been able to imagine other stuff into the silence. I think maybe I knew that.

Frankie was more angry than I’d ever seen her:

What the actual fuck? I invited her here. If Granmama finds out... Everyone from my fucking mother on has let me down. Then she glared at me. You better not, Sparrow.