We trailed after them, Alice grumbling because she was carrying too many bags, Maudie whining because she was tired and thirsty, and Smash in a foul mood, kicking her way through the pine needles – and kicking me, accidentally on purpose, when I got too near her.
I walked along after them, my head spinning. I couldn’t believe the Psammead was real. I’d longed for storybooks to come true all my life. When I was Maudie’s age I’d kept a keen lookout for Wild Things and Gruffaloes and wanted a Tiger to come to tea. As I got older and read my way through Mum’s old Puffins, I played going to stage school with Pauline, Petrova and Posy, and I told stories in the attic with poor starving Sara Crewe, and I spent Christmas Day with Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy – but these were all pretend games, even though I imagined them vividly enough.
If I’d encountered the Psammead on my own, I might have thought I’d imagined it too – but the others had all seen and heard it themselves. It really had granted Robbie his wish. My heart thudded hard as I watched Robbie and Dad together. I was so happy for Robs – though a mean little bit of me wished it was me making Dad so pleased and proud. I knew the Psammead could grant wishes. I should have got in first and wished that I could do something extraordinary to impress everyone. I knew something else from reading the book. The wishes always stopped working after sunset. I felt I had to warn Robbie – but he was so over the moon and stars with happiness I couldn’t spoil things for him just yet.
Dad got tired after lugging Robs on his shoulders for a minute or two, so Robbie jumped down and they marched along together. Every now and then Robbie ran ahead, leapt up at a branch and swung madly round and round, while Dad cheered until he was hoarse.
When we got back to Dad’s house at last, Robbie rushed out into the garden to climb the lime tree.
‘No, Robbie. You’ve done enough climbing for today. Just simmer down and stop being so boisterous. I don’t know what’s got into you,’ Alice snapped.
‘Hey, hey,’ said Dad. ‘Leave the boy alone. He’s not doing any harm. He’s just happy.’
They usually took painstaking care not to criticize each other’s children.
‘Look, we agreed, climbing trees is dangerous. We got cross with Smash because she did it, so it’s not fair that you’re positively encouraging Robbie to climb trees now,’ said Alice.
‘Look, the lad’s really gifted – surely you can see that. Just look at him!’ They both stared out of the kitchen window as Robbie practically ran up the lime tree vertically, while two magpies flew out of the branches in alarm.
‘Yes, I’m looking – and I’m trying to be a responsible adult here. He could fall and break his neck,’ said Alice.
‘Yes, I know. You’re right.’ Dad opened the kitchen window. ‘Come down this minute, son. You’re scaring your stepmother.’
‘Don’t call me that!’ said Alice. ‘All the stepmothers in fairy stories are mean old witches.’
‘Well, nobody could mistake you for a mean old witch. You’re my fairy princess,’ said Dad.
Smash and I looked at each other – and then we both mimed vomiting. Dad and Alice went out in the garden arm in arm to supervise Robbie, while Maudie toddled after them, sucking on her newly washed beaker.
‘Oh, yuck!’ said Smash. ‘I can’t stand it when they act like that.’
‘Me neither,’ I said.
‘Fairy Princess!’ said Smash, in a silly man’s voice – and we both fell about laughing.
It felt as if we were almost friends instead of deadly enemies.
‘Still, your mum does look like one with all her lovely golden hair,’ I said, fingering my own meek mousy plaits. ‘She doesn’t actually look like a mum at all – she looks so young and she’s got such a fantastic figure.’
‘She has Botox injections every six months to smooth out all her lines – and she’s got false boobs,’ said Smash.
‘She hasn’t!’ I said. I started to feel a lot better. ‘Well, my dad still thinks she’s wonderful, anyway. And I wish he wouldn’t go on about it.’
‘It’s okay for you. You’ve just got to put up with one parent acting like an idiot. Your mum hasn’t met someone else, has she?’
‘No. She tried dating someone she hooked up with on the Internet but it didn’t work out.’
‘Well, my dad’s gone off with this really, really young girl. Everyone thought it wouldn’t last, but now he’s married her. I can’t stand her.’
‘Is she horrible to you?’
‘Not really. She acts all nicey-nicey, and says we’ll be just like sisters together, but I know she doesn’t really want to be lumbered with me.’ Smash’s voice went croaky, as if she might start crying.
‘You were a bridesmaid at their wedding, weren’t you?’ I asked quickly, to distract her.
‘Yes, and it was awful. I had to wear a stupid dress and have my hair all curly. I looked ludicrous.’
‘What colour dress? I’ve always longed to be a bridesmaid,’ I said.
‘Blue silk, and matching shoes with silly little heels,’ said Smash.
‘Oh wow, are you allowed to wear proper heels? I wish I had heels, but Mum won’t let me,’ I said.
‘Hey, you can wish for them tomorrow then!’ said Smash. ‘Just ask that Psammead thingy and it’ll puff up and those old Tesco trainers will turn into wicked high heels. Isn’t it amazing? We can have magic wishes! And I found it, don’t forget.’
‘Yes, but I identified it,’ I said.
‘Let’s have a deck at your book then, and see what those other children wished for,’ said Smash, grabbing it.
‘They wish to be beautiful,’ I said.
‘Well, that’s a waste of a wish,’ said Smash.
‘I’d quite like to be beautiful,’ I said wistfully. I had once heard two teachers discussing me at school. One wasn’t sure who I was, and the other one – my favourite, who started up our school library – said, ‘Oh, you know Rosalind, she’s that pale plain little kid with the pigtails.’
‘Well, you be beautiful then – but I’ll be rich,’ said Smash.
‘You’ll have to be more specific than that. The children in the book wished to be rich and they were showered with old gold coins and they found they couldn’t spend them anywhere.’
‘I shall be ultra specific. I’ll wish to be rich and famous,’ said Smash. ‘Then I can have my own show on television. I’ll have my very own penthouse suite with staff so I won’t need to live with my dad or my mum. I’ll get driven around everywhere in this huge great limo and all the paps will chase after me and people will scream and want my autograph all the time. When Maudie’s older, she can come and live with me too, and I’ll buy her everything she wants and take her to amusement parks during the day and out to a show every evening.’ Smash paused. ‘Why are you looking at me like that?’
‘Smash, the wishes don’t last. Only until sunset,’ I said. ‘At least, the wishes don’t last in the book for the other children.’
‘Well, that’s a bit of a let-down,’ said Smash. ‘It’s scarcely worth having them if they’re all over and done with in an afternoon.’ She looked out of the window again, where Robbie was swinging and whooping. ‘Does Tree Boy know?’
‘I don’t think so,’ I said uncomfortably. ‘Oh dear, he’s going to be so disappointed tomorrow. And Dad.’
‘Are you going to tell him?’ asked Smash.
‘Not just yet. He’s so happy,’ I said. ‘Don’t you tell him either, Smash, please.’
She hesitated, but then shrugged. ‘Okay.’ She looked out of the window once more. ‘Oh yuck and double yuck! The Fairy Princess and your dad are kissing.’
‘Yuck, yuck, yuck,’ I said, and we both giggled together and made disgusting kissing sounds.
Smash went on doing it when they came back into the kitchen with Maudie and Robs. Alice glared at her but Dad was too hyper to even notice. He was clapping Robbie on the back and feeling his muscles and calling him The Champion.
‘We’re g
oing to start you training for the next Olympics straight away, son,’ said Dad.
‘I didn’t know that tree-climbing was an Olympic sport,’ said Alice drily.
‘Oh, come on, darling! With Robbie’s amazing agility and climbing skills he’ll make a fantastic gymnast. How old do you have to be to get into an Olympic team? How old was Tom Daley when he started? You might have to wait till the Olympics after next, Robbie, but I’m sure there are junior teams – and they’ll make you captain because you’ll be the best.’
‘Captain Robbie!’ Robbie yelled, strutting around the room.
‘Three hearty cheers for Captain Robbie!’ said Dad. ‘Look, I’m going to phone my mate Tim, this guy I know at my gym. He teaches PE at St Christopher’s. I know he runs a special gym class in the holidays. We’ll pop you down there tomorrow and see how you do on the old wall bars and the ropes.’
Smash and I looked at each other. My heart started thudding.
‘Do you do any of that stuff at your school, son?’ Dad went on.
‘No, we mostly do football – and I’m not much good at it, Dad.’
‘Well, never mind. No one’s expecting you to be brilliant at everything. Great little footballers are two a penny – but you’re truly gifted at gymnastics,’ said Dad.
‘Dad? Dad, please don’t phone your friend,’ I said as Dad dialled a number on his mobile.
‘Why not, lovey?’
‘Because – because Robbie’s skills might not last,’ I said desperately.
‘What?’ said Dad.
‘You never know, it could be just a fluke, Robbie being brilliant at tree-climbing. Maybe he’ll wake up tomorrow and find he’s forgotten how to do it entirely,’ I said.
Dad looked at me. Then he nodded as if he understood.
‘Hey, Rosy-Posy, don’t worry. I’m really proud of you too, you know. I’m sure you’re going to be clever at all sorts of things. But Robbie’s got such a special gift we really do have to take notice now. You want the best for him, don’t you?’
Dad thought I was jealous! This was so insulting I wanted to punch him – and Robbie made it even worse.
‘Maybe I can teach you how to climb trees like me, Rosalind,’ he said magnanimously.
I couldn’t stop Dad phoning this friend of his and fixing up to take Robbie round to the school at ten the next morning.
‘We’ll show him, eh, Robbie?’ said Dad, giving Robs a high five.
‘You bet, Dad,’ said Robbie, high-fiving back.
I couldn’t get Robbie on his own for ages. I had to trail after him to the bathroom and hang about outside.
‘Are you following me?’ he said, barging right into me.
‘Yes! Oh, Robs, listen. There’s one huge great fact you need to know. The Psammead’s wishes stop after sunset. I’m so sorry – I should have explained. You won’t be able to climb trees any more,’ I gabbled.
‘Yes, I will,’ said Robbie. ‘I’m brilliant at it – you saw me.’
‘Are you mad? That was because you wished it.’
‘Yeah, but I know how to climb now. I won’t forget. I’ll still be able to do it, you’ll see,’ said Robbie. ‘It’ll be like learning to swim or how to ride a bike. You never forget how, not once you’ve learnt.’
‘Oh, Robbie, I don’t think it’s like that a bit. You’ll go back to being hopeless at it, like you were before,’ I said, forgetting to be tactful.
‘You just want to spoil it all,’ said Robbie. ‘You want Dad to make a fuss of you.’
‘Oh, for goodness’ sake! I’m just trying to stop you making an utter fool of yourself in front of Dad’s friend,’ I said.
‘I’m going to be just fine, you’ll see. Better than fine. I’m going to be absolutely brilliant,’ said Robbie.
He sounded truly confident – but that night he woke us all up having one of his nightmares.
‘What’s that weird shouting?’ said Smash sleepily.
‘Oh no, it’s Robbie,’ I said, shooting out of bed.
I ran along the landing to Maudie’s bedroom and snapped on the light. Robbie was lying down in bed with his eyes closed, but his arms and legs were flailing around in a tangle of duvet and he was yelling. Maudie was sitting up in her cot sucking her thumb, her cuddle blanket wrapped right round her head.
‘Robbie shouty shouty!’ she said anxiously.
‘Yes, it’s all right, Maudie. He’s just having a bad dream,’ I said. I knelt down beside Robbie. ‘Wake up, Robs! It’s okay – you’re just having a nightmare.’
Robbie opened his eyes. He clutched me and I held him tight. He was burning hot and yet shivering too.
Then Dad and Alice came running in.
‘What’s the matter? Maudie? Are you all right, poppet?’ said Alice.
‘Robbie,’ Maudie mumbled, and started to cry.
‘What’s up, son? Hey, hey, Dad’s here,’ said Dad, easing me out of the way. He wrapped his arms round Robbie and rocked him to and fro. ‘It’s all right, little champ, Dad’s got you safe.’
Alice picked Maudie up from her cot and took her back to bed with her. Dad and I stayed looking after Robbie. He was properly awake now and crying.
‘I’m sorry, Dad,’ he sobbed.
‘It’s okay, little pal. You’re just overtired with all that tree-climbing. My word, you’re so wonderful at it. Just wait till Tim sees you!’
‘No, no,’ Robbie wailed. ‘I don’t want him to see me. I can’t really climb. It was just the Psammead. He granted me a wish.’
‘Shut up, Robbie,’ I hissed.
‘Now then, Rosy-Posy, let him talk it all out. He’s obviously had a dreadful nightmare, poor little chap. I used to have terrible nightmares myself at his age. What was granting you a wish in your dream, Robbie? Was it a monster?’
‘No, a little furry animal. He was quite nice but a bit cross, like a schoolteacher. He’s real, though, Dad, just like the one in the storybook. Ros, tell him,’ Robbie said, knuckling his eyes.
I couldn’t tell Dad. To start with, he’d never believe me. He’d think I was dreaming too, imagining it all. I was almost starting to wonder if we had made it all up, because it sounded so bizarre and extraordinary. And if it was all true, and Dad did start to believe in the Psammead, I knew he wouldn’t be able to keep it to himself. He’d tell Alice, he’d tell all his friends, and journalists and television reporters would camp out at the sandpit and harass the poor Psammead. Maybe they’d even capture it and put it in a zoo. It would hate it so if it was permanently on display, being prodded into granting wishes all the time. There’d be nationwide competitions to get a Psammead wish, TV game shows, toy replicas of the Psammead, Royal Command performances – while the poor creature longed to bury its head in the sand and burrow down as far as it could go.
All these images flickered in my head alarmingly. I couldn’t help Robbie out, not if it meant exposing the Psammead.
‘You’ve been dreaming, Robs,’ I said firmly, patting his shoulder. ‘Go back to sleep now.’
I slipped his favourite lion into his hand so he could hang on to it for comfort, and he closed his eyes and settled down.
‘There now,’ said Dad, putting his arm round me. ‘You’re good with him, Rosy-Posy. I forget how little he really is. I think this is mostly my fault. I got him so overexcited. I just got carried away. He’s so brilliant at climbing and I never twigged, all these years. I don’t spend enough time with you two nowadays. It’s awful, barely knowing my own kids.’ Dad went on mumbling away as we crept out on to the landing.
‘Dad?’ I interrupted. ‘Dad, you won’t get cross if Robbie isn’t very good at climbing tomorrow? Especially in front of your friend Tim? You won’t make him do anything he doesn’t want to?’
‘What? Don’t worry, sweetheart. Tim’s a really friendly guy. Robs will love him. And I’m not going to force him to do anything at all. I just want him to have fun. Don’t be such a little worry-pot.’
I did worry, most of the night. I
felt dreadful in the morning. Robbie didn’t look much better either. He was very pale, with dark circles under his eyes, and he hardly ate any of his cornflakes at breakfast.
‘Now then, champ, you need to stoke up that skinny little body,’ said Dad.
It was clear to everyone else that Robbie was going to be sick if he ate another mouthful. Even Alice looked concerned. She put her hand on Robbie’s forehead.
‘Aren’t you feeling well, darling?’ she asked. ‘I think he might be sickening for something, David. Perhaps you’d better ring Tim and cancel the trip to his school. Robbie doesn’t look up to it.’
‘But I’ve fixed it all with Tim as a special favour. I can’t really back out now,’ said Dad. ‘I think Robbie’s just a bit nervous, but goodness knows why. I keep saying, it’s going to be fun. You’re really going to enjoy yourself, son. Apparently this gym at the school is pretty fantastic. The equipment they’ve got there is out of this world, not just ropes and wall bars – they’ve got a trapeze and a full-size trampoline. Wait till you try that out!’
‘Can we try too?’ said Smash.
‘Well, Tim’s really just assessing Robbie – that’s the deal. He’ll have a classful of kids on his holiday course. It will seem a bit of a cheek if I take all of you along,’ said Dad.
‘Can’t we just watch?’ I said. ‘Please, Dad.’ I needed to be there with Robbie. I had to protect him.
‘Okay, okay – but just to watch, right?’ said Dad.
‘I don’t want them watching me,’ said Robbie.
‘Don’t be silly, Robbie. When you’re an Olympic champion, you’ll have the whole world watching you,’ said Dad. ‘And I’ll be in the front seat at all your events, cheering you on.’
Robbie smiled at Dad wanly and got up from the table. He walked purposefully to the back door.
‘Where are you off to, son?’
‘I’m going to climb that big tree at the end of the garden,’ said Robbie.
‘What? No, no, we haven’t time. We’ve got to be off in ten minutes,’ said Dad.
‘But I need to see if I can still do it,’ said Robbie.
‘Of course you can do it, you silly boy. You climbed right up to the very top only yesterday,’ said Dad.