Things changed after that – but only slightly. If I was with Tom or Jenny, I never spoke to Emily. And she ignored me when her gang was around.
Just occasionally, if we happened to meet, we might talk – almost secretly, like two spies swapping passwords.
“How’s the ghost?”
“Keeping very quiet – maybe it’s gone on holiday.”
“I heard the floorboard creak again last night.”
Once I tried tapping on the bedroom wall, but she didn’t reply. Perhaps she wasn’t there, or perhaps, as Mum had said, the walls were too thick to let sounds travel through.
***
One day in assembly Miss Green said she had a special announcement to make.
“Many of you entered an art competition last term. There were several very good entries and I’m pleased to tell you one of them has won a prize! Here’s Mr Jackson from the Tourist Board, who is going to present it.”
A smart-looking man stepped onto the platform with a white envelope in his hand. It was like one of those TV award shows, where everyone tells everyone else how wonderful they are.
“The first prize winner in the Junior School section is: Emily Smith!”
All Emily’s friends began to clap, and Mrs Bell gave her a huge beaming smile like a toothpaste advert.
“Come out to the front, Emily, please.”
Oh well. I didn’t mind too much – not nearly as much as I would have done a few weeks before. It would have been nice, though…
The man shook hands with Emily and gave her the envelope. “No, don’t go just yet, Emily. I wanted to tell you what the judges thought of your entry. They liked it so much that even though London isn’t exactly a local tourist attraction, they still felt it deserved to win.”
London? Wait a minute! He was talking about my poster! I put my hand up, but nobody noticed.
“The collage of Big Ben was very striking and effective…” I saw a look of doubt cross Emily’s face. “And the slogan tied in with it well. LONDON – FOR THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE.”
I couldn’t sit still any longer. I headed for the front of the hall. “Denise! Sit down at once!” hissed Mrs Bell, but I ignored her.
“Excuse me,” I said loudly. “I think you’ve got the wrong Emily Smith.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“The poster of London – it was mine. That Emily’s poster was all about Brilby.” For a moment I thought Emily was going to deny it. I said quickly, “If you don’t believe me you can ask Miss Atkinson.”
“That won’t be necessary,” said Miss Green. “I’m sorry about the confusion, Mr Jackson. The fact is, we have two Emily Smiths in the school. We usually know this one by the name of Denise, and she is the Londoner – as I expect you can tell.”
What did she mean by that? It didn’t sound like a compliment… Anyway, who cared? I had won! First prize!
Emily, bright red in the face, got down from the platform, and I went up. In a kind of daze I stood there, clutching the prize, while Mr Jackson went through his little speech for the second time.
Back in the classroom I opened the white envelope. It held a posh-looking certificate and a travel voucher, both inscribed “Emily Smith”. Everyone crowded round to have a look.
Just for a moment I caught sight of Emily. I didn’t like the look on her face – not one little bit.
***
I could hardly wait to tell Tom when he got on the bus. After he had admired my prize I put it carefully in my coat pocket.
“So where are you taking us?” he said.
“Don’t know. Maybe we could all go to the seaside. Or Mum said she’d like to visit York.”
I didn’t tell him my original plan – the one I’d made months ago, when things at school were so awful. Had I seriously thought of running away to London? Crazy…
We walked down the hill in the pouring rain. It didn’t depress me – nothing could. Until, that is, I got home, hung up my coat, and looked in the pocket for my prize.
“Tom! The prize… it’s gone!”
“What? Don’t be daft. Are you sure you had it in that pocket?”
Frantically I checked all my pockets, my bag, my pockets again. “I know I put it in here… on the bus… remember?”
“Then there’s only two places it can be. Still on the bus, or somewhere between here and the bus stop. Come on! I’ll help you look.”
“Or else somebody’s nicked it,” I said. “You know how people sort of brush past you as they’re getting off the bus? I think Emily did that today. She could have slipped a hand into my pocket, easy as anything…”
“But why bother?” said Tom. “It’s not like nicking money. The thing’s made out in your name, so it’s worthless to anyone else unless…”
“Exactly,” I said. “Unless their name is Emily Smith.”