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ortlanger

Alle,
VA!
VcD!RV!D
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t was a source ol constant uisaointment to Catlerine
Vorlanu tlat ler lile uiu not more closel, resemlle ler
lools. Or ratler. tlat tle lools in wlicl sle lounu its
lileness were so unexciting. !lent, ol noels were set in small
countr, illages anu towns lile tle Dorset lamlet wlere sle
lieu. Aumitteul,. tle, uiunt all lae sucl riuiculous names
as tle ones in tle !iuule Valle, wlere ler latlers grou ol
arisles was centreu. !t woulu lae leen laru to male creuille
a romantic ction set in !arleigl !iuule. Viuule !iuule. etler
!iuule anu !iuule Dummer. But in eer, otler resect. lools
alout countr, lile were just lile lome. onl, uuller. il tlat were
ossille. Te lools tlat maue ler leart leat laster were neer
set an,wlere sle lau eer leen.
Cat. as sle relerreu to le lnown on tle lasis tlat nolou,
sloulu emerge lrom tleir teens witl tle name tleir arents
lau closen lau leen uisaointeu l, ler lile lor as long as
sle coulu rememler. !er lamil, were. in ler e,es. ueel,
aerage anu ueseratel, uull. !er latler ministereu to e
Clurcl ol !nglanu arisles witl goounatureu clarm anu a
gilt lor sermons tlat were not quite entertaining lut not quite
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loring eitler. !er motler lau gien u rimar, sclool teacling
lor tle unaiu jol ol icars wile. wlicl sle accomlisleu witl
lew comlaints anu enougl imagination to leaen its otential
lor ureariness. !l sleu lau an annual erlormance reiew. it
woulu lae reau. Annie Vorlanu is a cleerlul anu laru
worling team memler wlo treats rollems as clallenges. !er
lens are. lor tle tliru ,ear in a row. tle lest la,ers in tle
!iuule Valle,. !er arents seluom argueu. neer louglt.
Between tle two ol tlem. tlere wasnt a single uarl secret.
!en tleir lome was a uisaointment to Cat. Ten ,ears
lelore ler lirtl. tle Clurcl ol !nglanu lau solu tle urauglt,
Victorian Gotlic icarage to an auertising executie lrom
!onuon anu luilt a mouern executie lome witl all tle aestletic
aeal ol a cornales aclet lor tle icar anu lis lamil,. !n
site ol its relatiel, recent construction it lau ueeloeu just
as man, urauglts as its reuecessor witl none ol tle clarm. !t
was not a lacluro tlat luelleu ler imagination one wlit.
Cats tomlo, cliluloou lau leen a rouuct ol ler uesire
to le tle leroine ol ler own auenture. Te stories sle lau
rst learu anu later reau lor lersell lau reu ler imagination
anu gien ler a lantas, worlu to la, witl. !er ueliglt at laing
sillings oluer lrotler ]ames anu ,ounger sisters Saral anu
!mil, was largel, uue to tle roles sle was alle to assign
tlem in ler elalorate scenarios ol lattling monsters. rescuing
tle leleaguereu anu conquering uistant lanets.
!or most cliluren llesseu or curseu witl so iiu an
imagination. tle natural outlet is sclool. But Annie Vorlanu
lau exerienceu wlat sle calleu tle euucation lactories at
rst lanu anu it lau lelt ler witl a rm coniction tlat ler
cliluren woulu lest tlrie unuer ler own instruction. Anu so
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Cat anu ler sillings were uenieu exosure to a classroom anu
la,grounu societ, tlat miglt lae suljecteu tlem to liles
larsler realities. o one eer stole tleir uinner mone, or
lumiliateu tlem in lront ol a roomlul ol tleir eers. !nsteau.
tle, came unuer tle constant scrutin, ol a motler anu latler
wlo wanteu onl, tle lest lor tlem.
]ames. llesseu witl natural wit anu intelligence. woulu lae
succeeueu wlateer euucational s,stem lau leen imoseu on
lim. Anu Cat. wlo careu more lor narratie tlan lnowleuge.
woulu rolall, lae uone no letter wlereer sleu leen
tauglt. Te, woulu certainl, lae lecome wiser in tle wa,s ol
tle worlu il tle,u escaeu tleir motlers aron strings. lut
lau tlat leen tle case. tleir stor, woulu le too commonlace
to lolu mucl interest lor an aruent reauer.
Teir onl, signicant contact witl tleir eers laeneu in
tle small arl tlat lau leen createu lrom a water meauow
uonateu to tle illage on tle occasion ol tle Queens Siler
]ulilee. Te gilt lau leen maue l, an international agrilusi
ness leen to catcl tle e,e ol tle !rince ol Vales: anu lesiues.
tle elu lau no signicant agricultural otential since it la,
witlin an oxlow ol tle !iuule anu so coulu not le aggregateu
into one ol tle rairies so leloeu l, commercial larming. Te
arl containeu a lootlall itcl. a tennis court. an auenture
la,grounu anu. tlanls to an American coule wlo lau moeu
into tle Olu Scloollouse. a ruuimentar, laselall uiamonu.
Vleneer sclool was out. tle elu acteu as a clilu magnet.
!ittle was lormall, organiseu. lut tlere were alwa,s iclu
games ol one sort or anotler into wlicl tle junior Vorlanus
were reauil, alsorleu. Cat articularl, enjo,eu an, sort ol lall
game tlat incluueu rolling or sliuing in tle uirt.
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Cat rogresseu lrom tomlo, to teenager witlout slowing
an, acauemic or sorting uistinction wlatsoeer. !er entlu
siasm seluom lasteu long enougl to rouuce an, soliu results.
Olten ler motler uesaireu ol eer managing to sloelorn a
!rencl irregular erl or a simle algelraic equation into ler
uauglters lrain. Alter a nature wall. Cat woulu ratler sit
rounu tle re telling glost stories tlan uiscussing tle ora
anu launa tle,u seen in tle woous anu elus. Sle maue notes
wlen ler motler insisteu. tlen romtl, mislaiu tlem.
Vleneer sle coulu urag tleir lesson o tracl. sle uiu. !n a
listor, lesson. Annie woulu suuuenl, realise tlat insteau ol
learning alout Tuuor loreign olic,. ler uauglter was maling
tle case lor !enr, V!!!s muclmarrieu state.
!aceu witl constant lailure. Annie trieu to nu an exlan
ation. !erlas Cat was one ol tlose inuiiuuals wlose riglt
lrain uominateu. maling tlem creatie. musical anu imagin
atie. Does tlat also incluue leing utterl, incaalle ol
locusing on an,tling lor more tlan two minutes at a time
ler luslanu asleu witl milu exaseration wlen sle outlineu
tlis tleor, to lim one niglt as tle, retireu to leu. Vlo
lnows il sles musical or creatie Sle sa,s sle loes music
lut sle neer ractises tle iano. Sle sa,s sle loes stories
lut sle neer nisles an, ol tle ones sle starts writing. Sle
cant le lotlereu earning oclet mone, lecause tleres
notling sle wants to senu it on. All sle wants are noels.
anu sle can get as man, ol tlose as sle wants lrom our
loolsleles anu tle lilrar, lus. !onestl,. Annie. as lar as !
can tell. sle inlalits an entirel, searate unierse lrom tle
rest ol us. Sles a comletel, uoz, article.
Anu wlat linu ol luture is sle going to lae Annie trieu
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not to aumit essimism into an, area ol ler lile. lut wlere ler
eluest uauglter was concerneu. it was laru not to let it sneal
in tlrougl tle sligltest cracl in ler uelences.
One tlat requires no qualications otler tlan a goou leart.
Riclaru Vorlanu saiu. rolling oer anu uncling lis illow
into sulmission. !ool low goou sle is witl tle little ones.
Catlerine will le ne. le auueu witl more conuence tlan
lis wile tlouglt le lau an, riglt to. Tat. sle suoseu. was
wlere ,our laitl came in.
Cat meanwlile was sleeing tle slee ol tle unconcerneu.
lost in la, ureams ol auenture anu romance. Te uetails ol
ler luture neer uisturleu ler interior lile. Sle was serenel,
coninceu tlat sle woulu le a leroine. !n ler minu. all ler
lile lau leen a rearation lor tlat role. Tat wasnt to sa,
tlere woulunt le olstacles. An,lou, wlo lnew an,tling alout
auentures lnew tlere woulu le stumlling llocls alent, along
tle wa, to true loe anu lainess. Teir lamilies woulu le at
war or ler leloeu woulu turn out to le a amire or tle,
woulu le searateu l, an ocean or an aarentl, terminal
illness. But sle woulu triuml anu conquer eer, larrier to a
satislactor, enuing.
Te onl, rollem was low tlese exloits were going to get
starteu. Years ol ranging tlrougl tle lacl garuens anu liing
rooms ol !iuule Vallo unuer coer ol cliluisl games anu
astimes lau coninceu ler sle lnew all tlere was to lnow ol
ler neigllours. Ol course. sle was entirel, mistalen in tlis
assumtion. lut ler llisslul coniction was unlilel, to le oer
turneu wlile sle aiu more attention to tle insiue ol ler leau
tlan tle secrets ol tlose wlo surrounueu ler. As lar as Cat
was concerneu. sle lnew nolou, wlo was lilel, to roole
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an, sort ol auenture. !l sle was going to emlarl on an esca
aue. sle woulu rst lae to escae tle narrow connes ol tle
!iuule Valle,. Anu sle coulunt see low sle was eer going to
manage tlat.
Sle was on tle lrinl ol uesair wlen tle imossille
laeneu. !n one lriel moment. ler rosects were trans
lormeu. !ile Cinuerella. it aeareu tlat Cat was going to lae
ler clance alter all. !l not at !rince Clarming. tlen at least at
tle twent,rst centur, equialent ol tle lall.
Teir neigllours. Susie anu Anurew Allen. were tle culture
ultures ol tle !iuule Valle,. Anurew was tle slrewuest ol
angels. !is e,e lor tleatrical golu lau leu lim to a tiu, lortune
tlrougl inestment in tle Vest !nu commercial stage. !e lau
no articular loe ol tle erlorming arts lut le ossesseu tle
lnacl ol lnowing wlat woulu lease tle oular taste.
!or ,ears. le lau sent tle summer in !uinlurgl lor tle
!estial. cramming eer, ua, to caacit, witl !ringe erlor
mances anu Bool !estial eents tlat miglt conceiall, insire
a musical. But a minor leart attacl lau lelleu lim in tle sring
anu Susie lau insisteu tlat tlis ,ear must le uierent. Tis
,ear. sle woulu accoman, lim anu le woulu le ermitteu to
attenu a maximum ol two slows a ua,. Because tlere are lent,
ol wa,s to lae a goou time in !uinlurgl witlout laing to
sit tlrougl a onewoman slow ol King Lear. or a comeuian
uoing ]ane Austens Ven. sleu saiu to Annie Vorlanu. !or
altlougl Susie Allen lau lersell leen an actress. sle lau a
surrisingl, low tlreslolu ol attention wlen it came to
attenuing tle tleatre.
But in oruer lor Susie to enjo, tlose goou times. sle neeueu
a comanion lor tle awlwaru occasions wlen Anurew insisteu
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on seeing a slow wlose uescrition alone maue ler sluuuer.
Sle lau a er, clear iuea ol tle st,le ol comanionsli sle
wanteu. Someone wlose ,outl woulu reect ositiel, on ler:
someone wlose unlormeu oinions woulu lae insucient
grounuing to contrauict lers: anu someone wlo woulu attract
interesting coman, witlout eer uominating it.
Tis was not low Susie exresseu tle matter eitler to lersell
or to tle Vorlanus. Anu tlus Cat was to le lounu one morning
at tle leginning ol August acling ler lag lor a montl in tle
Atlens ol tle ortl. exciteu anu ueliglteu in equal measure.
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o goluen coacl witl wlite lorses was laiu on to trans


ort Cat to !uinlurgl. !nsteau. sle laceu tle rosect
ol senuing eiglt lours conneu in tle lacl seat ol
Susie anu Anurew Allens Volo estate. But Cat was coninceu
sleu le ne. een tlougl sleu neer leen lurtler tlan Bristol
in tle Vorlanus ancient eole carrier. !n tle car. sleu le
alle to slee anu to reau. tlose two essential comonents ol
ler lile.
Tere was no elalorate leaetaling ol ler arents. !t was
as il tle, lau exlausteu tleir otential lor maling a luss ol
uearting cliluren wlen ]ames lau lelt lour ,ears lelore lor
Oxloru. Cat lau to aumit to a twinge ol uisaointment at tle
aarent inuierence ol ler lamil, to ler imminent alsence.
True. ler motler gae ler a smotlering lug lut it was lolloweu
l, a lrusque reminuer to tale ler itamins eer, morning.
Anu uont lorget ,oure on a luuget. Dont llow tle lot in tle
rst lew ua,s. Vlat ,oue got las to last ,ou a montl. You
cant turn to tle lanl ol mum anu uau il ,ou run out ol casl.
sleu auueu sternl,. Annie uisla,eu not a sign ol concern
alout wlat uangers miglt lurl on tle streets ol !uinlurgl. in
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site ol laing reau tle crime noels ol lotl !an Ranlin anu
Kate Atlinson.
!oing lor sometling a little more aectionate or are
lensie. Cat turneu to ler sisters. !ll text ,ou wlen ! get
tlere. sle saiu. Anu !ll le on !acelool anu Twitter lig time.
Saral slruggeu. eitler lrom en, or inuierence. Vlateer.
sle mumlleu.
!ll ost lotos too.
!mil, looleu awa,. aarentl, lascinateu l, tle contrail lelt
l, a glter jet. !l ,ou lile.
Cat gae ler latler a lool ol aeal. loing le at least woulu
uisla, some sign ol ureauing ler uearture. !e slung a
comanionalle arm rounu ler slouluers anu urew ler awa,
lrom tle uriewa, towarus tle ramslaclle garage wlere le
inuulgeu lis woouworling loll,. !e got a little sometling
lor ,ou. le saiu.
!earing anotler ol lis woouen trinlet loxes. Cat let lersell
le leu out ol tle siglt ol ler motler anu sisters. !nsteau. ler
latler uug into tle oclet ol lis jeans anu rouuceu a air
ol crumleu twent,ounu notes. !eres a little extra senus
lor ,ou. !e ut tle mone, in ler alm anu lolueu ler ngers
oer it.
!ae ,ou leen rolling tle collection late sle teaseu
lim.
Tats riglt. le saiu. Tere woulu lae leen more lut tle
congregations leen uown tlis montl. !isten. Cat. Tis is a
great oortunit, lor ,ou to see a lit ol tle worlu outsiue ,our
winuow. Vale tle most ol it.
Sle tlrew ler arms rounu lis necl anu lisseu lim. Tanls.
Dau. You alwa,s get it. Tis is tle start ol an amazing auenture.
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All tlese ,ears. !e leen reauing alout exciting exloits anu
wilu escaaues. anu now !m actuall, going to lae one ol m,
own.
Riclarus smile lelu a toucl ol sauness. ! rememler reauing
Swallows and Amazons anu tle !amous !ie lools anu
tlinling tlat was low m, lile was going to le. But it uiunt
turn out lile tlat. Cat. Dont le uisaointeu il ,our tri to
!uinlurgl uoesnt la, out lile a !arr, !otter stor,.
Cat snorteu. !arr, !otter !en little lius uont leliee
!arr, !otters lor real. You cant long lor sometling ,ou lnow
is totall, lantas,. !ts got to leel real lelore ,ou can leliee it
coulu laen to ,ou.
!er latler rumleu ler long curl, lair. Youre talling to
tle wrong erson. ! leliee in tle Bille. rememler
Yeal. lut ,oure not one ol tlose crazies wlo tlinl tle Olu
Testament is listor,. Vlat ! mean is. all tlat magic anu sorcer,
nolou, coulu leliee tlat. But wlen ! reau alout amires.
it coulu le true. !t coulu le tle wa, tlings are leneatl tle
surlace. !er,tling ts. !t males sense in a wa, tlat Quiuuitcl
anu sill, sells uont.
Riclaru laugleu. Vell. ! loe ,ou can lae an auenture
in !uinlurgl witlout leing litten l, a amire.
Cat rolleu ler e,es. Sucl a clicle. Dau. Tats so not wlat
tle unueau are all alout.
Belore le coulu resonu. tle, were interruteu l, a car
lorn. Your carriage awaits. Riclaru saiu. gentl, usling ler
out ol tle garage aleau ol lim.
Te journe, nortl was uneentlul. !n uelerence to Cats taste in
literature. Susie lau uownloaueu an alriugeu auuio lool ol
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Bram Stolers Dracula. !or Cat. sclooleu onl, in contemorar,
amire romance. it was a curious anu unsettling exerience. !t
reminueu ler ol tle rst time sleu tasteu an olie. !t was unlile
eer,tling tlat lau crosseu ler alate lelore: strange anu not
quite leasant. ,et gilueu witl tle romise ol solistication. Tis
was wlat sle woulu lile wlen sle lnew enougl ol tle worlu.
it seemeu to sa,. !t was a guarantee tlat was more tlan enougl
to lee ler locuseu on tle conict letween tle Trans,lanian
count anu !rolessor Van !elsing.
Te lool enueu anu Cat urilteu into consciousness ol tle
outsiue worlu just as tle, reacleu tle outslirts ol tle cit,
centre. Sle squirmeu out ol ler sloucl on tle lacl seat anu
eagerl, scanneu tle neigllourloou. taling in tle imosing
s,mmetr, ol tle gre, stone luiluings tlat lineu tle streets.
interserseu witl oruerl, treelineu garuens encloseu l, sileu
railings. Altlougl tle liglt was larel, lauing into uusl. in ler
imagination it was a uarl anu logg, eening. wlen tlis woulu
lecome a tlrillingl, ominous lanuscae. Sle lau come to
!uinlurgl to le exciteu. anu een at rst siglt. tle cit, was
liing u to ler exectations.
Vr Allen lileu to lie well. anu le alwa,s tool comlortalle
lougings lor lis August ilgrimage. Tis ,ear. leu renteu a
tlreeleuroomeu at towarus tle Vest !nu ol Queen Street
wlicl came witl tlat contemorar, !uinlurgl equialent ol
tle !ol, Grail a arling ermit. B, tle time tle,u lounu a
arling sace tlat matcleu it. tlen luggeu tleir lags u seeral
iglts ol stairs. none ol tlem lau aetite or energ, lor
an,tling more tlan a goou niglts slee.
Cats room was tle smallest ol tle tlree leurooms. lut sle
uiunt care. !t was ainteu in slaues ol ,ellow anu lemon anu
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tlere was lent, ol room lor a single leu. a uressing talle. a
warurole anu a generous armclair tlat was erlect lor curling
u anu reauing. Best ol all. it looleu out oer Queen Street
Garuens. Cat lau no uicult, in ignoring tle constant trac
lelow anu enjo,ing tle lroau cano, ol trees. ow twiliglt
lau talen lolu anu to ler astonislment. it was alreau, almost
eleen oclocl. wlen it woulu le roerl, uarl in Dorset sle
coulu see lats itting among tle leaes. Sle gae a little slier
ol leasure lelore sle closeu tle curtains anu slieu into
slee.
Breallast witl tle Allens was an een more casual aair tlan
at tle Vorlanus. Vlen Cat emergeu lrom tle slower. sle lounu
Vr Allen in lis uressing gown reauing tle Independent l, tle
winuow. a cu ol coee at lis ellow. !e glanceu u anu saiu.
Te suermarlet uelier, came. Teres lruit anu juice anu
lacon anu eggs in tle lriuge. Croissants in tle lreau lin anu
cereals in tle culoaru. !el ,oursell to wlateer ,ou lanc,.
Soileu lor cloice. Cat oureu a glass ol mango juice wlile
sle consiuereu ler otions. !s Susie still sleeing sle asleu.
Vr Allen grunteu. !rolall,. !e maue a erlormance ol
closing lis newsaer anu uraining lis cu. !e got a ticlet lor
a slow at lall ast ten at tle !leasance. A sletcl comeu, grou
lrom Birminglam uoing a musical ersion ol Middlemarch.
Tat uoesnt sounu er, lilel,.
!e stoou u anu stretcleu. Anu tlat. m, uear Cat. is
recisel, wl, it miglt just worl.
Cat realiseu sle still lau a lot to learn alout contemorar,
tleatre. Vitl lucl. sleu lnow mucl more l, tle enu ol ler
lour weels in !uinlurgl. Are we coming witl ,ou
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!e cluclleu. Gou. no. Susie wont enture an,wlere near
a cultural eent until sles litteu lersell out in tlis seasons
warurole. You two are uestineu lor tle slos tlis morning. !
loe ,oure leeling strong.
At tle time. sleu tlouglt le was exaggerating. as sle lnew
men are inclineu to uo on tle sulject ol women anu sloing.
But l, tle ltl slo. tle ltl ile ol clotles. tle ltl clanging
room. Cat was leginning to leel amazement at Vr Allens leel
ol tolerance. Aumitteul,. sleu lau little oortunit, to olsere
marrieu lile at close quarters. aart lrom tlat ol ler arents.
But altlougl sle uiunt lile lersell lor tle tlouglt. Cat recl
oneu sle lau somelow reiousl, misseu tle realisation tlat
Susie Allen was tle most emt,leaueu woman sleu eer sent
time witl. Vlat was lewiluering alout tlis uiscoer, was tlat
Vr Allen was uenitel, neitler emt,leaueu nor olsesseu
witl low le looleu. !t was uzzling. All tle, seemeu to slare
was curiosit,. But wlile Vr Allens curiosit, was aimeu at nuing
new wonuers to lring to tle ullics attention. Susie Allen
seemeu interesteu onl, in sotting lamous laces among tle
crowus tlat tlrongeu tle slos anu tle streets ol !uinlurgl.
!snt tlat tle little Scottisl woman wlos alwa,s on tle
News Quiz Ol. anu surel, tlats Vargaret Atwoou oer tlere.
tr,ing on lats Ol lool. its tlat rugl, la,er witl tle lig
tligls. Sucl was tle leel ol Susies uiscourse.
!er one saing grace. at least to a teenager. was ler gener
osit,. Vlile sle laisleu a new warurole on lersell. Susie
was not slow to treat Cat to similar ueliglts. Cat was not l,
nature greeu,. lut tlere was neer mucl to sare in tle
Vorlanu lamil, luuget lor tle anit, ol laslion oer rac
ticalit,. Altlougl Cat lnew it was generosit, enougl to lring
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ler on tlis tri anu tlat ler arents woulu uisaroe ol ler
acceting wlat tle,u regaru as unnecessar, clarit,. sle
coulunt lel lut le seuuceu l, tle st,lisl tries Susie
tlouglt ler uue. !en so. l, miualternoon. Cat was wear,
ol retail tlera, anu longing to lunge into some cultural
lile.
!er ra,ers were answereu wlen tle, returneu to tle at
to nu Vr Allen sitting l, tle winuow witl a cu ol tea anu
lis i!au. ! lae ticlets lor ,ou lotl lor a comeu, slow tlis
eening at tle Assemll, Rooms. le announceu witlout stir
ring. !e leen initeu to a wlisl, tasting. so !ll meet ,ou in
tle lar alter tle slow.
Cat retreateu to ler room. wlere sle sreau ler new clotles
on tle leu anu lotograleu eacl item witl ler lone. Sle
osteu ler laourite slot a camisole cunningl, u,eu in graua
tions ol colour lrom luclsia to earl, inl on ler !acelool
age tlen sent tle otlers to ler sisters. Sle texteu ler arents
to sa, sleu sent tle ua, walling arounu witl Susie anu tle,u
le going out to see a slow in tle eening. !nstinctiel,. sle
lnew wlat not to tell ler arents. Saral anu !mil, woulunt
gie ler awa,. ot lecause tle, were intent on leeing ler
conuences. lut ratler lecause tleir anno,ance at wlat tle,
were missing out on woulu manilest itsell in llaming tleir
arents.
Te aement unuer tle trilearcleu ortico ol tle Assemll,
Rooms was lus, witl eole milling arounu. e,es uarting all
oer tle lace. eager to sot acquaintances or tlose tle, woulu
lile to lecome acquainteu witl. !osters lastereu eer, surlace.
oerexciteu lonts trumeting tle attractions witlin. !er,tling
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clamoureu lor Cats attention anu sle clung nerousl, to Susies
arm as tle, usleu tlrougl tle crowus to get insiue.
Te scrum ol eole seemeu to grow tlicler tle lurtler
tle, enetrateu tle luiluing. Vr Allen lau solen ol tle
grace anu elegance ol tle interior. exlaining low it lau leen
restoreu to its eiglteentlcentur, glor,. Te,e let tle
erlect roortions anu returneu it to its original st,le ol
uecoration. riglt uown to tle clanueliers anu tle golu leal
on tle ceiling roses. leu tolu tlem oer tleir earl, uinner.
Cat lau leen eager to see it lor lersell. lut it was too crowueu
to lorm an, sense ol low it looleu. !n letween tle leaus anu
tle loaruings sle coulu catcl ouu glimses lere anu tlere.
lut it lormeu a lewiluering laleiuoscoe ol images. Te sole
imression sle lau was ol lunureus ol eole uetermineu to
see anu le seen on tleir wa, to anu lrom an assortment ol
erlormances.
! lnow wlere were going. Susie lau to raise ler oice to
le learu in tle tlrong. Sle lallleu. lalluraggeu Cat tlrougl
tle crowu until tle, nall, reacleu tleir uestination. Susie
lanueu oer tleir ticlets anu tle, were aumitteu to tle
auuitorium.
Tis was not Cats initiation into lie erlormance. Sleu
regularl, attenueu erlormances in tle illage lall anu een.
occasionall,. at tle Arts Centre in Dorclester. Sle lnew wlat
to exect. Rows ol seats. a solt mumlle ol conersation. a
curtaineu roscenium arcl.
!nsteau. sle was tlrust into a lot lumiu mass ol louies tlat
lleu tle sace arounu a small raiseu uais at one enu ol tle
acleu room. Trougl tle gloom. sle coulu see some clairs.
lut tle, were all talen. Vlat remaineu was stanuing room
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onl,. Stanuing room so tigltl, acleu tlat Cat was coninceu
il sle asseu out. nolou, woulu lnow until tle, all legan to
le out anu sle crumleu to tle oor.
!ts a lit lot. sle rotesteu.
You wont notice wlen tle slow legins. Susie assureu ler.
Because Susie lau talen so long to get reau,. tle, were onl,
just in time. A slinn, ,oung man witl a jaclintlelox sring
in lis ste lounceu on to tle stage. lis lair a wilu slocl ol
llonu anu llue tlat matcleu lis Tslirt. !e uieu straiglt in
witl a larleu attacl on lis arrial in !uinlurgl. lis Vest
Viulanus uelier, so last anu so leail, accenteu tlat Cat coulu
larel, male out one line in tlree.
Te auuience seemeu to lare letter. lollowing tle erlor
mance well enougl to cleer. laugl anu leclle in equal
measure. !t was a noel exerience lor Cat. anu in site ol ler
uiscomlort. sle lounu lersell cauglt u in tle atmoslere.
claing anu laugling regaruless ol wletler sleu got a
articu lar jole.
!entuall, tle slow came to an enu. witl wloos anu cleers
signalling tlat it lau leen more ol a success tlan not. Te one
goou tling alout leing so lar lacl was tlat tle, were alle
to male a relatiel, quicl getawa,. !t was almost uizz,ing to
emerge into tle relatie airiness ol tle lo,er alter tle closeness
ol tle eent. Te lar. Susie saiu. immeuiatel, uragging ler
awa, lrom tle uirection ol tle street anu ueeer into tle lowels
ol tle luiluing. !m gagging lor a urinl.
Te lar was no less crowueu. !eole stoou tlree uee waiting
to le sereu. Susie groaneu anu glanceu at ler watcl. Anurew
will le lere an, minute: le can uo tle uonle, worl lor us.
Come on. lets nu a seat. m, leet are lilling me. Cat wasnt
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surriseu. !en a teenager woulu lae lau more sense tlan
to go out lor tle eening in tle riuiculous sloes Susie lau
louglt tlat morning.
!inuing a seat uiunt seem a lilel, rosect to Cat. lut Susie
was unuaunteu l, tle crowus. Sle sieu a talle occuieu l, a
grou ol ,oung eole wlo were clearl, togetler. luncleu
arounu wine lottles anu glasses. Susie marcleu straiglt u to
tle talle anu lonleu lersell on tle enu ol tle lanquette.
Squeeze u. uarlings. sle saiu. waing ler lanus in a slooing
motion.
Desite tleir anarclic aearance. tlis was eiuentl, a grou
ol nicel, lrougltu stuuents. Te, oleuientl, squasleu closer
togetler. creating just enougl sace lor Susie anu a slier ol
seat lor Cat. But oliteness uiunt extenu to incluuing tle air
in tleir conersation. Cat lelt inisille anu unattractie. All at
once it uawneu on ler tlat sle lau neer leen in a crowueu
lace wlere sle uiunt lnow most ol tle otler eole resent.
!t was simultaneousl, tlrilling anu unnering. Te otential lor
romance or uanger was all arounu ler: it was time to emlrace
tle unlamiliar. not slrinl lrom it.
Sle turneu to slare ler insiglt witl Susie. wlo was scouring
tle room witl a out on ler lace. Lnleliealle. ! emaileu anu
!acelooleu at least a uozen ol m, lest lrienus to sa, weu le
lere toniglt anu tleres not a single one ol tlem to le seen.
! wanteu ,ou to meet tle !lliots. tle,e got a son arounu ,our
age. Anu tle Vintersons. tleir twin girls must le o to unier
sit, at tle enu ol tle summer. But no. ot a soul in siglt.
Cat lelt tle lullle ol excitement lurst witlin ler. ricleu
l, Susies uiscontent. But lelore sle coulu sa, an,tling. Vr
Allen aeareu. usling lis wa, tlrougl tle ress ol louies.
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Tis is imossille. le saiu. lreatling a clouu ol wlisl, lumes
oer tlem lotl. Teres no leasure in tlis. !ets just wall
lome anu lae a urinl tlere.
But well miss seeing eer,lou,. Susie comlaineu.
You cant see an,lou, in tlis mol. neer minu lae a
conersation. Vell catcl u witl eole soon enougl. Tis is
no introuuction to !uinlurgl lile lor oor Cat. !ool at tle
girl. sles racticall, melting in lere.
Cat was sure it lau not leen lis intention. lut Vr Allens
worus onl, sereu to male ler leel more unaealing anu
unsolisticateu. !lusleu. sle stoou u anu steeu asiue to
lree Susie lrom tle lanquette. As sle set o in tle wale ol tle
Allens. one ol tle ,oung men at tle talle ut a lanu on ler
wrist. Sle startleu awa, lrom lim anu le winleu at ler. Cool
to. le saiu.
Sle tool o alter Susie lelore sle lost siglt ol ler am
lo,ant easant uress. een more lot anu lotlereu tlan lelore.
But as tle, emergeu into tle clill ol tle eening. sle realiseu
tlat lriel nal contact lau maue tle entire eening wortlwlile.
!uinlurgl reall, was a cit, ol innite romise.
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