Nadine Wild-Palmer - The Tunnels Below

H ave you ever woken up one morning and felt like everything has changed overnight? Thats because it has. Cecilia Hudson-Gray woke up on the morning of her twelfth birthday to the gurgling sound of the radiators coming on. It was a frosty March morning and the windows wept with condensation as the heating kicked in to settle the cold. Cecilia looked out of her window and was met by two black eyes and a sharp black beak; she inhaled a large sniff and pulled her quilt around her tightly. One for sorrow she thought, remembering the first line of an old nursery rhyme. She watched the brave bird poking about on the window ledge, parading jauntily along like it was performing a circus act. As the magpie dipped forwards preparing for flight, Cecilias brain also swooped into action as it occurred to her that there might be presents waiting downstairs! She leapt out of bed, her quilt flying out behind her like a cape, and thudded through the house like a rumble of thunder, followed by her sister, Hester, who mustve heard Storm Cecilia passing.

Happy Birthday, chimed her parents as Cecilia wedged herself in at the breakfast table.

Thanks, guys! she replied, pulling the sleeves of her pyjama top over her hands like mittens, shielding them from the chill of the morning and the heat of the hot cup of sweet tea in front of her. She picked it up and blew on it gently, tufts of steam rising off the surface.

Youll stretch your sleeves and ruin your PJs doing that, you know, her dad warned, planting an apparently unwanted kiss on her mess of hair. Cecilia responded by brushing away the invisible imprint of the kiss as her sister entered the room.

Hester sidled up to Cecilia and whispered in her ear, Nappy turd-day! and sat down, smiling smugly.

Cecilia put down her cup and began a mocking slow-clap. Very funny. How long did it take you to come up with that one Fester?

Hester refused a dignified response and stuck her finger in her nose, then reached out to wipe the fruits of her labour on Cecilias arm.

Daaaaad! Cecilia wailed like a baby.

Stop it, you two. Hester, its not fair if you dont have enough to go round! their dad, Lyle, joked then returned to making pancakes.

Meanwhile, the girls mumAlicesquirrelled away at the crossword, nibbling the end of her pencil. Drat! she exclaimed. Ive made a mistake!

You are a mistake, taunted Cecilia.

Err, no! Thats not a nice thing to say, missy. It might be your birthday but thats no way to talk to ya mum.

Her dad came rushing at her, brandishing a greasy spoon. He held it up to Cecilias chin, grinning from ear to ear.

What have you done with my daughter? he said playfully. And when are you planning on bringing her back?

Never! Cecilia hissed dramatically, squeezing her eyes into a villainous glare.

Why, why, WHY! Lyle broke down into a mock lamentation, dramatically falling to his knees and reaching his arms towards the sky, spoon falling to the floor, butter dripping everywhere.

Youre such a doofus, Dad, Cecilia chuckled through another sip of sweet tea.

Youre cleaning that up, by the way, Lyle, said Alice without looking up from her crossword.

No, Im not, said Lyle. Tatty to the rescue! Tatty was their cat and he hopped onto the floor quick as a flash at the mention of his name. Lyle retrieved the spoon and flung it into the sink, while Tatty licked the greasy patch of kitchen floor. Lyle flipped the last pancake and plonked it onto a pile he had already made.

All right, all right, grubs up! Dig in, you scallies, said Lyle as he put the pile of steaming hot pancakes in the centre of the table. Eat til your eyes are bulging out of your head! Weve got a long day.

Ten minutes later, Cecilia was picking at the remains on her plate, breakfast now resting happily in her stomach, when she was distracted by Hester climbing up on her chair. Hester cleared her throat and wiped her sticky hands on her pyjamas and through a mouth smudged with raspberry jam was about to speak when Cecilia interrupted her.

What are you doing? she asked.

Hester, even at the tender age of eight, fancied herself as a bit of a scholar and found any occasion when people were gathered together as a chance to recite a poem or a speech she had prepared earlier. She was going to write the speeches for a politician when she grew up. Hester unfolded a small piece of paper and began orating.

We are gathered here today

You pinched that, thats not your writing, heckled Cecilia.

Hester continued undeterred, to celebrate the birth and life of my dear sister, Cecilia Hudson-Gray, and I would like to personally mark the occasion with a gift and this wonderful speech I have written. Thank you. She sat back down. There was a light scattering of applause.

That was a lovely gesture, Hester, said their mum, patting her on the back.

So, Cecilia, do you think you deserve a present? said Hester. Her eyes were bright and excited. I hope you like it. If you dont, it wont go to wasteI can always keep it for myself.

She disappeared from the room for a moment and came back holding a crumpled brown paper bag that had been very badly taped shut. With a lot of Sellotape. Hester dumped her present on Cecilias lap. Here.

Cecilia could see how excited she was but knew that Hester had previous as far as presents were concerned: for Christmas shed given her a broken alarm clock from the 1970s.

Oh, its heavier than it looks. Thanks, Hess.

When Cecilia finally managed to open the present, it was surprisingly marvellous. Hester had saved up her pocket money (that is, she used what was left of her pocket money after she had bought herself a new fountain pen) to buy a vintage marble from the old bric-a-brac store down the road from their granny. She had seen it one afternoon, when she and Granny had gone into the shop for a snoop. There was something magical about the way it caught the light, and Hester and Granny had decided that it was super special and that Cecilia simply had to have it for her birthday.

The marble was large, not quite as big a tennis ball but on the way there. It had an oily layer on its outer surface onto which a pattern of silvery white markings had been etched. When Cecilia held it up to the light, she could see through a chip on its surface into a misty white centre with a constellation of silvery sparkles. It had an enchanting way of reflecting the colours around it, catching the pink on Cecilias pyjamas and the umber in Hesters eyes.

Wow. Cool.

Looks like the universe, doesnt it? Hester said.

Cecilia stared at it. Yeah. Thanks, Hess, its gorgeous. Cecilia secretly thought that she was getting a bit old for toys but in this case shed make an exception. It was more of a curiosity than a toy, plus it looked like it was made of glass and children arent usually allowed to play with things made of glass. She was definitely old enough to look after something fragile.

Lets have a look, missy, said her dad, holding out his hand. Cor, thats a corker, that is, Hess, nice one. And they high-fived.

I thought you could put it in this. Hester handed her sister a piece of gold string with a tangle of wires at the end.

What is it? asked Cecilia.

Its a necklace, dummy. Look, it fits in here like this! Hester demonstrated how to insert the marble into the contraption she had devised and handed it back to her sister, Then you can wear it on special occasions!