Read Online The Mysteries of Brambly Hollow by Alison Cronin - Free Book Online Page A

find some way to decline the mind churning offer without causing offence.
    “ You’ve been crying.”
    Meli stood back, affronted, not only that Elsa had noticed she had been crying, particularly as she had thought a layer of carefully applied make-up had concealed this pretty well, but also that she so blatantly commented on it.
    “I, I had something in my eye earlier,” she stammered unconvincingly, cringing as she heard the words emerge from her lips. Not the most original statement.
    “ Hey?” Elsa squinted as she cocked her left ear in Meli’s direction, and lifting a clump of matted hair fibres, she treated Meli to the dubious pleasure of staring at the badly fitting hearing aid, which was plugged into the opening of her lughole and held fast by a watertight sealant of brownish/black earwax. Meli averted her gaze.
    “ I said that was very kind of you, for the card,” she replied in a raised voice, gesturing meaningfully with the envelop. Meli saw no point in repeating the pathetic excuse, and having chosen to ignore the personal statement, she decided to wind-up the conversation as speedily as possible. She inhaled so sharply that the sudden influx of oxygen into her brain made her light-headed, as with some relief, she watched the curious woman pigeon-step in a half circle and lumber away, leaving behind her a strange fusty aroma in the air.
    From her right, Tabby appeared, leaping out from behind a potted tub of marigolds. Bouncing lightly over the cobbled driveway, she quickly traced her mistresses’ steps. Meli heard Elsa’s cursed greeting as soon as she saw her and lifting up her stick, she took a hefty swipe at her with its blunt tip. Unperturbed, the matchstick cat evaded injury by diving over the pendulum as it gathered speed towards her, and alighted on the top of the stone wall that ran alongside. Perching on the convex coping stones, she turned a pair of bright amber eyes over her shoulder and regarded Meli with her cold gaze for a moment before dropping down out of sight on the far side. Meli was glad she wasn’t a black cat as thoughts of witches and their familiars sneaked into her mind. Or could witches have cats of any colour? An icy shiver ran through her body. What was it about their neighbour that gave her the creeps? She gave a final glance after the departing figure. After all, it was quite normal to be standing on someone’s doorstep, face welded to the paintwork of the door, a knitted red bobble hat perched elf-like on the side of her head, with matching Rupert Bear red wellies on her feet, wearing a mint green jacket, which overall, gave an impression of a sweet wrapper.
    Meli shook her head. Pulling the front door closed behind her, and giving the handle a sharp tug for good measure to make doubly sure it was secure, she hurried across to her car. As she settled in the front seat she took a moment to check her face in the mirror. Her green eyes looked bright and clear now, she couldn’t detect any evidence of her earlier tears. How had Elsa known? Realising that she still had the card in her hand, she dropped it onto the seat beside her, automatically rubbing her fingers down her jeans, before starting the engine and setting off on the journey to the school.
    Her encounter with Elsa made her a little late, and she was forced to park some distance from the school gates. Slipping out of the car she stood beside it and waited for sight of her two sons. Bolting from the exit like two leggy greyhounds, they paused, swung their gazes up and down the road, and then spotting her they raced along the narrow path, shoving at each other in their haste to reach the car first and claim the coveted front seat, causing other small children to scatter. Muttering some embarrassed apologies to the other mums as they glared at her reproachfully, she quickly opened the doors and ushered them inside.
    “ You really are the limit,” she scolded gently. “You mustn’t push passed other children like