‘Give us a twirl,’ said Nancy, and Lara slowly turned around. Her green dress floated around her legs, the dozens of sewn-on fabric leaves lifting as she spun.
Carol clasped her hands together in delight. ‘It looks wonderful on you.’ She had also made a crown of yellow daffodils and attached more daffodils and white narcissi to Lara’s shoulders. They tumbled down the front of the dress to her waist.
‘I’m in awe,’ said Nancy. ‘How did you make such a thing?’ Lara looked like some sort of wood nymph and she glowed with excitement.
The community hall was bustling with activity. Lorna was giving out red buckets and high-vis vests to all the collection volunteers. In another corner, Dylan was getting changed into the straw bear costume. Rosie was by his side. Nancy was aware of her glancing over as Lara got changed. Then suddenly, she walked over.
‘You look really cool,’ she said.
Nancy watched Rosie carefully, looking for signs of trouble, but she seemed genuine.
‘Thanks,’ said Lara.
‘Lupin’s outside,’ said Rosie. ‘Olivia’s just tacking him up.’ She produced a bunch of daffodils from behind her back. ‘I brought some flowers to go on his bridle.’
Lara’s eyes lit up. ‘Wow, thanks.’
‘He’s really nice. Not scary at all.’
Unlike what was coming towards them. An enormous creature was lumbering ominously across the hall. Seven feet tall and faceless, its entire being was covered in dense, bristly straw. Tufts of it gathered at the knees, a thickened waist and somewhere a neck might exist. Two straw-clad arms lifted upwards and Nancy felt herself draw back.
‘What do you think?’ asked a voice from inside the straw.
Rosie’s eyes were wide with alarm. ‘Dad, you look terrifying.’
Nancy had to agree. The straw bear was monstrous. It was looking at her but she could see no face, no eyes, just a huge cone-shaped straw ‘head’ turned in her direction.
‘How can you see?’ she asked tentatively as she gazed upwards.
‘Small gap. Here,’ said Dylan, pointing with straw hands at some fronds somewhere on the front of the costume. Then he lifted the headpiece off and Nancy got a sense of relief as she saw his face.
‘That is very creepy,’ she said.
‘Isn’t it? I guess the villagers’ idea of fun was different two hundred years ago.’
‘I should think all the kids had nightmares.’
‘For weeks probably.’
Nancy smiled. She knew this to be Dylan, Imogen’s husband. She hadn’t met him before. He seemed nice, not at all what she might have expected, even while knowing someone’s wife didn’t determine their own personality.
‘Are you nervous?’ Dylan asked Lara.
‘Bit.’
‘Don’t be. It’ll be fine. You follow the band and I’ll be right behind you. And don’t worry about the end. I take off the costume long before they set fire to it. And so concludes the ritual expulsion of winter and the Spring Queen reigns again. Have you ridden before?’
‘Only once. On holiday.’
‘Lupin’s a great pony. Really steady.’
Nancy looked around, frowned. ‘Where’s Rosie?’
Dylan couldn’t see her either. ‘Probably gone to see Lupin. Trust me, he’s really gentle.’
Outside, the light was fading. Rosie watched as Olivia finished tacking up Lupin in the courtyard of the community hall.
‘Can I put a flower in his headband?’ she asked.
‘Course you can,’ said Olivia.
Rosie tucked the small posy of daffodils into the browband. She took her time, waiting until Olivia turned away to put up the gangplank of the horse trailer. Then she whispered in Lupin’s ear.
‘Just eat the carrot. Like every day. OK?’