Collectables
Sarah Miles had practically the entire collection but then she would, wouldn’t she? Sarah Miles had just about everything she ever wanted and whenever she wanted it. She would line them up provocatively along the edge of her desk; ten wonderful little rubber animals. Two more and the collection would be complete. Darell looked longingly at them. So far he had only managed an elephant with a torn ear, which he had exchanged with Jimmy Robson for five highly prized bubble gums. They were expensive. Why did things always have to be expensive? Darell sat behind Sarah well to the left and had a clear view of his heart’s desire. Every single class there they were: a tiger poised and ready to pounce, with his tail curled high, an eagle with wings fully outstretched, a bear on his hind legs, a dear glancing behind her, a snake coiled around and around with just its head peeking out from its concentric form – so much fun to be had, so many fights, attacks – sometimes fatal, sometimes not. A whole world of wonderful adventures, and all Sarah Miles could do was to stick them in front of her and ignore them. Darell turned back to his exercise. “What I did at the weekend”. He could think of nothing at all. It had rained most of the time. He leaned his head on his hand and stared out of the window. Finally, and it surprised him, the bell went. He just had time to see the prize menagerie scooped up and squashed into a pink fluffy pencil case. Outside, his mother was waiting for him at the gate, along with a lot of other Mums or Dads or older brothers and sisters. “I have a few things to do before we go home, ok Darell?” Darell nodded mechanically and they began to make their way towards the parade of shops that ran just behind the playing fields. They stopped at the bread shop. A wonderful honey smell and lots of things stuffed with cream or smeared with a pink gloss with coloured bits on. His mother bought a ready sliced family loaf and then she suddenly said: “Do you fancy a doughnut, Darell?” She never bought doughnuts. She never bought anything apart from the white sliced and, occasionally, a macaroon for Granny. “Err, yes!”, he stammered. He wondered if he ought to try his luck and ask for one of the pink glossy cakes or two fat meringues with cream bulging between them and a sticky glace cherry submerged on top, but the moment passed.
“Just the post office and then we’re done”.
Off they trudged. The post office was in fact tucked away at the back of a stationer’s. It was the oldest building in the street with lots of steps up and down and curious rooms to the sides. There was a narrow staircase somewhere in the middle but it had a chain strung across it with “Private, no admittance” written in red on a white sign. He always longed to step over it and see just what was beyond the “no admittance”. Right next to the staircase was a small counter crammed with all kinds of useful things for school and behind it, a big roundy lady in a pale blue overall. She had soft, pink cheeks and wore glasses with a gold chain. Her lips were bright red and when she smiled she showed incredibly perfect white teeth. “And, how’s Darell today?” she asked, half looking at Darell and half at his mother.
“Fine, thanks”, he mumbled. The two women began talking and Darell began to idly scan the counter. His eyes stopped short; there they were: the whole incredible collection all practically spilling out of a box right in front of him – all the animals jumbled together. There must have been at least five of every kind. He didn’t plan anything. He didn’t even look up at his mother or the lady in the pink overall. He simply opened his palm as wide as it could go and, spreading his fingers over a random assortment, thrust the rubbery loot into his trouser pocket. For a second, the world stopped: surely something horrible would happen, but it didn’t. He could feel his treasure pressing on his leg and he pulled his jumper down to hide any tell-tale bulge.
“See you soon, Darell”, the pink lady said, and his mother propelled him out of the shop and along the street.
“I’ll get the kettle on as soon as we’re in and we’ll see about those doughnuts”.
Doughnuts? He couldn’t even think about them. What had he done? There must have been at least ten in his pocket. How could he possibly smuggle them into his room? Where would he hide them? He’d never be able to play with them except in the strictest privacy – and he’d never be able to take them to school. No, it was lunacy. They’d just reached the pedestrian crossing. The little green man lit up; they stepped into the road. “It’s now or never” he thought; and ramming his hand into his trousers, he dug out the mass of rubber animals and, as hard as he could, flung them behind him. They were both walking towards the other side and the animals were thrown behind. It should have been the end of a very painful dilemma. But a blue and a red one bounced ahead of them, directly in front of his mother. It was a wonderful turquoise dragon and a bright red crocodile – right in front of his mother.
“What the - ? Darell!” She spun round and there were the remaining pieces of the filched collection at varying intervals over the tarmac.
“Get back onto the pavement”, she yelled.
Cars were already hooting their horns but with one arm held up in an awkward halting position she continued picking up every one of them. Her face was red and puffy looking.
“Right, straight back to the shop” she panted. They marched along in silence, his mother’s plastic mack making a harsh crackling sound as they walked. It wasn’t happening. She wouldn’t make him go back into the shop. She wouldn’t do that. They’d reached the front door.
“In you go, Darell”
The shop was still busy. The lady with the pink cheeks was serving somebody. His mother didn’t wait.
“I’m sorry to interrupt”, she burst out. “My son’s got something to say, haven’t you, Darell?” And she glanced down at him, her eyes wide and staring. He couldn’t speak, he could hardly move.
“What did you do, Darell? She was breathing hard. “Tell the nice lady what you just did”.
“I,..I…-“
“Hello, Darell”, said a familiar voice at his elbow. And there was Sarah Miles, in a smart white imitation leather coat with black shiny buttons.
“I’ve come to buy the two missing animals I need to complete my full set – a dragon and a crocodile. Then I can start collecting ‘My Little Pony’!
