GRANDPA OFFERED TO take Archie while Dad examined Honey’s ankle. He realized immediately that there was no way she was going to be able to walk to the Hedgerows Hotel. He would have to carry her. He picked her up gently, being careful not to knock her ankle, and carried her like a baby.
“We’ll have to load these cases and Honey’s bags onto the sledge,” said Dad, fearful of falling over while carrying her. “Poppy, Grandpa, do you think you can manage with the extra weight?”
“I think so, Dad,” replied Poppy bravely.
“We’ll pull the sledge together, Princess Poppy,” said Grandpa, smiling.
It seemed that nearly everybody in the village was making their way to the hotel, carrying bags and holdalls, plus boxes, crates and logs. And even though no one could travel quickly because they were so laden, there was a bit of a race to reach the hotel – everyone seemed to think there would be no provisions left for them if they didn’t get there first! But it was impossible for Poppy and her family to rush.
After what seemed like an eternity they arrived at the Hedgerows Hotel, to be met with the warmest of welcomes. A huge open fire roared and crackled in the hallway and a big tray of hot drinks and shortbread had been placed on a table next to it. Hotel staff were serving the villagers and smiling warmly as they went about their work. Even Mimosa was helping to serve, very proud that her family had come to everyone’s rescue.
Mimosa’s mum, Mrs Woodchester, was explaining to everyone what to do next.
“When you’ve had a hot drink and a snack, please take one of these forms, fill it in and take it with you to the Grand Ballroom,” she said. “There, you will be allocated a bedroom and a job for the next few days.”
“Before we do anything, we need to attend to Honey,” explained Dad. “She fell and hurt her ankle on the way. It may even be broken. Is Dr Latimer here yet?”
Honey had been completely silent for some time now and was being very brave, but at the mention of the word ‘broken’ she started whimpering. She didn’t think any part of her had ever actually been broken before and it sounded very serious. Poppy squeezed her friend’s hand.
“Yes, he’s in the ballroom already. You’ll find there’s already a queue but Honey must go to the front,” said Mrs Woodchester kindly.
Mimosa looked very concerned about her friend and gave Honey a special goody bag full of Hedgerows Hotel postcards, pens and key-rings to cheer her up. Honey tried to smile, grateful for her friend’s sympathy, but she was in too much pain.
Mum quickly filled in the form and then caught up with Dad, Grandpa, Poppy, Honey and the twins as they made their way down the long corridor that led to the ballroom.
“Will Granny be there?” asked Honey, through her discomfort.
“We’ll find her soon,” said Mum confidently. “Don’t worry, sweetheart.”
Mum was concerned about Honey but at least she didn’t have to worry about keeping everyone warm and fed any more. The Woodchesters and their staff were managing everything beautifully and all the villagers were rallying together.
Poppy couldn’t believe her eyes when she entered the ballroom. Almost everyone she knew in the whole village was there, including all her sleepover buddies. What fun! Just then she noticed Granny Bumble coming swiftly towards them looking very worried indeed.
“Honey, love, what’s happened?” she asked.
“I . . . fell . . . over on . . . the way . . . here,” explained Honey in between sobs. “It might even be . . . broken and it really, really hurts.”
“You poor darling,” said Granny Bumble as she stroked her granddaughter’s head. “We’d better let Dr Latimer take a look. Poppy, be a dear and go and get him, will you?”
All around the ballroom there were babies sleeping and playing, grannies and grandpas nattering, mums and dads catching up with friends, and children making up games and races. All the different generations were playing together and helping each other out. Lily Ann Peach had set up her beauty things on a table and was offering manicures and head massages for free! Madame Angelwing was instructing some girls – and boys – in ballet positions, and Saffron was repairing a split seam on a pair of trousers while her husband David had a look at a pet hamster that one of the village boys had brought with him to the hotel. Meanwhile someone else was setting up a microphone on the stage. Poppy was excited to find herself sharing this amazing adventure with so many of the other villagers.
When she returned with Dr Latimer, Honey was lying on a dining table with her foot all ready to be examined. Although Poppy was worried about her friend, she was dying to speak to Saffron and David so she left Honey, Granny Bumble and Dr Latimer to it.
“Our telephone and electricity lines were brought down by the heavy snow so we couldn’t communicate with anyone,” explained Saffron as she stitched away. “We just decided to get on the tractor and head up to the main village to get some supplies and see what was going on. Sally Meadowsweet came with us. But her mum and dad, Farmer and Mrs Meadowsweet, wouldn’t come, poor old souls. They wanted to sit it out in their own house – they didn’t want to leave the animals all alone. So, anyway, when we finally reached the General Store, Aunt Marigold told us about her brilliant idea to meet here!”
“Actually, it was Grandpa’s idea!” boasted Poppy, looking over at her grandfather, who was sitting in an armchair with a sleeping Angel on his lap, chatting to his old friend, Captain Forster. “Anyway, I must see if Honey is OK. She fell over on the way here and she can’t even walk,” she explained, enjoying the drama a little too much.
Honey was given a bandage, some pink pain-killing medicine and the Hedgerows Hotel wheelchair to get around in. Even though she now seemed much happier, Dr Latimer was keen to get her to the General Hospital at Camomile Cove as soon as possible as he suspected that she had a hairline fracture.
