The Catspaw Incident

The Catspaw Incident

Chapter One

Hurry up, Tommy, or you’re going to be late, called Heather, Tommy’s mother, from the kitchen.

Coming, he shouted back as he struggled with his school tie.

It had been six weeks since he had even seen the thing, let alone put it on. Now his hands were having trouble remembering the trick of tying it.

Come on, you stupid thing, do up, Tommy said to the reluctant tie.

After a lot of huffing and puffing and more than a few choice words, these spoken under his breath, just in case his mother heard, Tommy, at last, had his tie done up.

Before he went down to eat his breakfast, he checked his reflection in his wardrobe mirror.

He smiled, and the small boy with jet black hair and a barely tied tie smiled back.

Are you ready for a new term? Tommy asked his reflection as he winked at the boy in the mirror. His mirror self winked back as if in agreement.

Ok then, let’s go.

Nice tie, said Heather when she saw the terribly tied tie round her son's neck as he walked into the kitchen.

Thanks, it took ages, Tommy said, answering her sarcasm with a little of his own".

Heather stopped her breakfast dance around the kitchen and looked at her son for any sigh of sarcasm returned. But all she got was an angelic; butter wouldn’t melt in the mouth look. She stared at him for a moment, then burst out laughing, and Tommy joined her.

Sit down and have some breakfast, she said, as she put cereal on the table, Ben will be here for you soon.

Just as these words were out of her mouth, there came a knock at the door.

Ben, the pair of them said together and smiled.

Go and let him in, Tom, said Heather, I’m sure that boy knows the minute I put food on the table.

Alright, Tom, said Ben, as the door opened.

Come in, Tommy said to his ever-smiling friend.

As they walked through to the kitchen, Tommy looked at Ben and said, It's eight o'clock on the first day of school; what is there to smile about?

Hello Ben, what some breakfast? asked Heather as the two boys walked into the kitchen.

Yes, please, Mrs S, Ben answered, a hungry look spreading across his face, then turning to Tommy, he said, See, there is always something to smile about.

Just sit down and eat, Tommy told him, a little annoyed that Ben always had an answer.

Go on, Tom, give us a smile, laughed Ben, as he rolled his eyes and pulled a face.

Try as he might, Tommy could not help but laugh at his friend.

You're an idiot; you know that, don't you? Tommy said as he picked up a glass of orange juice.

Just trying to be like you, Ben said, as he started to butter the toast that Heather put in front of him.

Ok boys, that’s enough, said Heather, eat up, or you will be late.

The two of them demolished their breakfasts in what seemed like moments.

Time to go, said Ben, as he pushed his empty plate away and stood up.

Yes, I guess so, replied Tommy, standing up as well, we're off now, mum.

Ok, boys, Heather said, over her shoulder as she washed up, have a good day. This is it, Tom, said Ben, as the two boys walked down the road, our last year of primary school.

Ben looked at his friend when he didn’t get an answer.

Tom, Hello, you in there? Ben asked, stopping to look at the daydreaming boy beside him.

What? Tommy said, shaking himself, oh, sorry, I was miles away.

She still not phoned you then? Ben asked, the smile slipping from his face.

Who? asked Tommy, pretending not to understand Ben's question.

Come on, Tom, this is me remember? said Ben, pushing his friend gently, You know who I mean. Has Lucy called you since she got back from holiday?

No, not yet, Tommy said, watching Lucy’s face float across his imagination, but she only got back yesterday,

So, you two still going out then?

Yes, of course, answered Tommy, a little more quickly than he meant to, just coz she didn’t call doesn’t mean anything.

But, he thought, She didn’t call, not through the whole holiday, and not last night. She didn't call; what does that mean?

If you say so, said Ben, his voice soft.

He knew that Tommy was worried that Lucy hadn’t called. Ben cared about his friend, and unlike most boys his age, he was not afraid to show it. So hearing the concern between Tommy’s words, he changed the subject and said, So, what do you think this year is going to be like?

Tommy sighed, glad to have something else to discuss.

I don’t, but it’s going to be exciting mixing with the other schools.

Tommy was referring to, what the children called the cauldron but was officially called the triangle year.

This was where the three primary schools in the area mixed their senior years. The children would all be combined and spend most of the year at an old mansion house called Catspaw Manor; this gave the schools much-needed room and gave the children the chance to prepare for life at secondary school. This scheme had been in place for nearly ten years and had been a fantastic success.

The two boys talked all the way to school until the distant roar of the playground broke into their conversation. Tommy stopped just before they turned the corner that led to the main gates.

What’s the matter? asked Ben, but he already knew the answer.

Despite what Tommy had said, and no matter how hard he tried to hide it, Ben knew that his friend was worried that Lucy would no longer want to be his girlfriend.

We have to go in, Ben said, starting to walk again, the bells going ring any minute.

Tommy stood there for a moment longer, and then taking a deep breath, he said, Ok, let’s go.

The noise of the playground rose tenfold as they neared the school’s old wrought iron gates. Ben was first to see her, standing just inside the gates, talking to the twins, Jean and June Summers.

Tom, he said, pointing.

I see her.

Tommy felt his heart start to beat faster as he got nearer and nearer to Lucy.  He’d always thought that she was pretty. But now, after the long summer holiday. She seemed to have become beautiful. Her hair was longer, and if possible, blacker. And she had grown taller and slimmer.

Tommy gulped when he saw one of the twins notice him. He read her lips as she said to Lucy,   Tommy’s here.

A million thoughts sped through his mind in the time it took for her to turn around.

We’re finished, he thought, why would someone so pretty want me?

But these thoughts vanished like early morning mist in the sunshine when Lucy spun around and shouted, Tommy.

It was all he could do to stop himself from falling, as she ran up to him and hugged him tightly.

Hi Lu, was all he could say as he hugged her back.

I’ve missed you, she said as she let him go.

Me too, he told her softly.

I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to embarrass you, she said, as she noticed his red face, it’s just so good to see you.

Then she hesitated and said slowly, I guess I should have waited and made sure that you still wanted to go out with me.

I don’t believe it, Tommy thought, she’s been worried that I don’t want to go out with her. 

At first, he couldn’t believe it. Lucy was fantastic, funny, and clever. And she was afraid that he didn’t want her.

It took a few moments for these thoughts to cross Tommy's mind, an eternity for Lucy. She liked Tommy as much as he liked her. He saw himself as a small, kind of geeky, looking boy. But Lucy saw him, as he genuinely was, someone who stood up for his friends and was never cruel or spiteful. He never joined in the horrible taunts or playground bullying that was part of everyday school life. If he saw anything like this going on, he would try and help the person who was being picked on. And Lucy thought that made Tommy very special. Now, as she stood in front of him, waiting for an answer to her question, she had the horrible feeling that he would no longer want to go out with her.

Why would he? she thought, look at me, I’m all skinny and gangly, and my hair is too long, and I always seem to say the wrong thing.

It was Ben who broke the silence between them.

Well, answer her, stupid, he said, nudging Tommy in the ribs.

What, Oh yes, right, said Tommy snapping back to reality.

Lucy look, he started to say but was interrupted by the bell ringing.

Come on, you lot, get to class, boomed the voice of Mr Lloyd, the headmaster, as he walked through the playground.

its ok, Tom, I understand, said Lucy, turning around and running into the school, misunderstanding him completely.

No, Lu, wait, Tommy shouted after her, but his voice was lost in the mayhem of the playground.

That was horrible, Tommy, said June, as she watched her friend run off, if you didn’t want to go out with her, you could have let her down easier than that.

Before he could say anything to defend himself, the two remaining girls turned and followed their friend into the school.

That just left Tommy and Ben standing in the middle of the emptying playground.

Turning to Ben, Tommy said, What happened? What did I do wrong?

Don’t ask me, said Ben, shaking his head. I don't understand either, but whatever you did, you had better put it right as soon as you can if you want to be still going out with Lucy by the end of the day.

But how can I put it right when I don’t know what I did?

Hey, you two, shouted Mr Lloyd, do you want me to write you an invitation, get to class?

Come on, said Ben, grabbing Tommy’s arm, we have to get to class. However you're going to sort this will have to wait until morning break.

As Ben dragged him into the school, all Tommy could think about was what had happened. In the space of ten minutes, he had gone from being Tommy, the happy boyfriend of Lucy, the most beautiful girl in the school, to being Tommy, a terrible, rotten monster that dumped Lucy in the middle of the playground.

I just don’t get what happened, he kept saying as they walked in through the large ornate double doors.

Neither do I, mate, repeated Ben, but it’s going to have to wait. But, I’m sure we can sort it out at break time, but now, we have to get to class, or we are going to end up in detention. I don’t want to explain that to my mum after only the first day, do you?

This brought Tommy out of his state of shock. He hated having to tell his mother when he got into trouble at school. It wasn’t that she shouted at him or punished him, but the hurt look that crossed her face sometimes was more than he could bear.

Yes, ok, you’re right, let’s go.

The boys started to run down the long central corridor, trying to get to their class before the teacher began to call the register.

As they reached the classroom door, Tommy stopped with his hand on the door handle and said, You will help me sort this out, won't you, Ben?

What, of course I will, we're mates, aren't we?

Thanks, Tommy said.

Ben smiled at his friend, remembering all the times in their short lives that Tommy had helped and stood by him.

Don’t be a dummy, now get inside, coz, if you make us late, and I get extra homework, you’re doing it.

No way, smiled Tommy, opening the door and walking into the classroom.

Chapter two

The morning passed by in a blur for Tommy, the introduction to the New Year by the headmaster, getting the new timetable, meeting his new teacher.

All these things went by like a dream for the young boy. All he could think about was what had happened in the playground at the start of the day. Try as he might, he couldn’t figure out what had happened.

He’d nearly had a chance to talk to Lucy at the morning assembly. She had been with Jean and June; He had started to walk over to her to try and explain that this morning had been a horrible mistake. But the twins hadn’t given him a chance. The moment they saw him, one of them swept Lucy away, and the other one, Tommy thought it might have been June, he could never tell them apart, had walked over to him, and in a low, angry voice had said, leave her alone, Tommy, Lucy, doesn’t want to speak to you.

But, June, it’s not like that; listen, please, Tommy had said, trying to see past Lucy’s angry friend to where Lucy had gone.

I’m Jean, not June, said Jean, placing her hands on her hips and giving Tommy an award-winning icy stare.

Great, thought Tommy, getting her name wrong is a fantastic way to get her on your side.

Then to June, he said, I’m sorry, it’s just that you both look so much alike.

The moment he said this, Tommy knew that it was a mistake. Jean’s stare, if possible, became even more challenging and cold, and Tommy suddenly remembered how much the twins hated being mistaken for one another. 

I guess all us girls look alike to you, Tommy Smith, said Jean, looking Tommy up and down slowly.

No, it’s not like that, it’s, Tommy started to say but was stopped by Jean's hand being held up in front of his face, in an unmistakable whatever gesture.

Before he could say any more, the headmaster started the assembly.

Jean took this chance to turn away from Tommy, and as he watched her walk back to her class and her friends. Ben walked up behind him and whispered, I wish I had you’re way with girls.

As he stood there, half-listening to the start of term assembly, Tommy went over what had just happened. It seemed that each time he had opened his mouth; he had managed to put his foot in it, first with Lucy and now with Jean.

Don’t forget, June, he thought, get it wrong with one of twin, and you’ve got it wrong with both.

But what was he going to do? How was he going to make things right? The only way he could think of was to get to talk to Lucy alone and explain that he did still want to go out with her. But how to get her away from the twins so he could put this