The Amazing Mind of Alice Makin by Alan Shea Read Free Book Online

long, but by the time I get there I’m soaked. The lamp in her window throws a blur of cream light through the curtains. I knock. It seems to take her an age to answer. The door opens. Light spills out on to the pavement, pulls her out with it.
    â€˜Hello dear, nice to see you.’
    â€˜Sorry I’ve not been round for a while, but things got a bit complicated.’
    â€˜Don’t they always. Everything all right now?’
    â€˜Yeah. I’ve come to get you for the bonfire.’
    â€˜Not going to put me on it, I hope?’
    I laugh. ‘Not straight away.’
    â€˜Cheeky.’
    â€˜We’ve not got any fireworks, though. Reggie . . . well, they sort of got lost.’
    â€˜Never mind, love. A bonfire is fine. Can’t beat a good bonfire.’
    â€˜Granddad’s gettin’ ready to start.’
    â€˜Right, we’d better go then.’ She looks up. ‘You might have a bit of a problem getting it to light in this rain, Alice. Blessed nuisance. I’ll just get a headscarf.’
    I step in and wait for her. She goes to a drawer and takes out a pretty red and gold headscarf.
    â€˜There. I feel quite excited. Ready?’
    She offers me her arm and I slip mine through hers. She feels warm, and smells of lavender soap and cake. She’s safe and strong. You know she won’t let you down.
    We step out into the night. She pulls her coat around her. It’s a nice coat – fawn colour, with a big wide collar she turns up around her face. We huddle against the drizzle.
    I really wish the rain would stop. Why can’t it be a bright starry night? I can just see it, a clear blue-black sky fuzzy with stars. Just the night you want for a bonfire. The thoughts in my head turn. Wrap around each other. I imagine the best firework display in the world in a clear night sky: rockets and bangers and Roman candles and spinning Catherine wheels.
    Mrs Gilbey looks up and holds out her hand to catch raindrops. Looks puzzled.
    â€˜Goodness me, it is stopping. They said on the wireless it’d rain all night. Oh well, maybe they’ll get it right one of these days.’
    I look up into the darkness. The sky suddenly clears. Stars prick, wink a million winks. How great is that.
    â€˜Must be your lucky night, dear.’
    When we get to the debris, Reggie and Granddad have already got the bonfire lit. Mad sparks tear off like fireflies, scattering into the sky.
    Granddad piles on more wood. I wave to him. His face flickers shades of red, caught up in the glow of the fire. He has his penknife out and is sharpening the end of a stick.
    â€˜Reggie’s just gone to get some potatoes to roast. We forgot to bring them.’
    He stops. I can see him looking at Mrs Gilbey, wondering who she is.
    â€˜Granddad, this is Mrs Gilbey.’
    The flames light up his face. ‘Good evening to you, ma’am.’
    â€˜Mrs Gilbey is . . .’ I don’t know what to say.
    She helps me out. ‘A friend.’
    Granddad smiles. Makes a kind of bow and holds out his hand. ‘Pleasure to meet you. Angus Macdonald.’
    I nearly laugh. That must be his name. Mrs Gilbey shakes his hand.
    I hear Flash barking. He sees me. Comes running up, wagging his tail, nosing around. His tongue is a flannel; gives my face a wash. Then Reggie appears out of the darkness, carrying an old shopping bag. He sees us, waves and smiles.
    Granddad takes the bag and shakes out five huge potatoes. ‘Now for the feast, eh?’
    He turns to Mrs Gilbey with a big smile. ‘Would youlike to join us? You’d be most welcome.’
    She smiles. ‘That sounds very nice, Mr Macdonald. I’d be delighted.’
    Granddad takes one of the potatoes, puts it on the end of the stick and slides it into the embers. He does it again until there are four potatoes roasting. I can almost taste them already.
    As it gets darker the fire gets brighter. The flames take hold.