life behind a lens

chapter eight

Everything seems to go mind-numbingly silent. I can't believe my ears. It can't be true, it mustn't be.

Chancing a quick half-glance at Becky, I can see she is thinking the same thing; no one ever gets two prizes for one award. Not ever.

We stumble up the creaky wooden steps, onto the small cleared stage. Our names, and copies of our pictures are projected onto a huge screen, for every pupil and teacher to see.

Becky and I collect our certificates, and a replica of my sister's trophy, a silver shield, is handed to both of us. The cold metal is heavy in my hands. Our names have been etched into the middle of the shield, in an old fashioned looking font.

Joint Winners, the words say. I grin at Becky standing next to me; gazing at the trophy in awe. She catches my eye, and we simultaneously lift the shield into the air in triumph. The left corner of the hall erupts with whoops and cheers, while the rest of the audience politely explode with applause (or that's what it appears to me).

Smiling uncontrollably, Becky and I depart the stage.

***

"That was absolutely brilliant!" I turn to Becky, grinning from ear to ear. "I don't know how that happened but it certainly did!"

"I'm so pleased that we won a joint award, I wouldn't be able to bear it if you won the whole thing!" She replies excitedly.

"We are definitely not insignificant first years anymore, we're celebrities!" I punch the air.

We carry on making up fantasies about how we will become famous as 'Double Trouble' in the near future for so long, we don't realise we have left Courts Castle far behind, and are well into the grounds.

A sense of forboding overwhelms me, and I start to run back to the castle for a reason I can't explain. Becky follows cautiously, and closely behind. We reach the back of the castle, the walls are covered with old ivy, and bracken brushes the bottom of the walls. I stare up at the towering stained glass gilded windows, that line the crumbling ancient walls.

The ruins of Courts Castle seem to whisper with mystery, and a feeling that I shouldn't be here overcomes me. It could be the staring stone statues, or the shadows that leak through gaps in the stone. I should be leaving, but something draws me closer. Something strange. Something that only comes from within.

***

It turns out that Pippa has been a professional photographer for five years.

As we sneak back in to the hall, unnoticed by most people, we recognise the winners from each of the schools queuing up in front of a shiny white table, crammed with stacks of photographs in every square centimetre. As we walk closer we realise she is signing copies of her own photography, and of the students who got awards.

At the back of the queue I have a clear view of some pictures laid out on the table. It is quite hard to make out from this distance, but I recognise the melting orangey-pink of a sunset, and a grey sphere which must be a sculpture.

At last it is our turn to choose. I select my own fox picture, and one of some shadowy mountain peaks crowned with a million stars.

"That photo is beautiful." I observe, as Pippa writes her name in loopy handwriting. She gives me a warm smile, and her eyes twinkle with pleasure.

"Congratulations, both of you, with your prize." Pippa says, and signs off with Joint Winner - London Photography Academy in metallic gold pen.

I can't stop grinning at the words on the printed photo, as we thank Pippa and make our way back towards the minibus. Just as we are about to board the tiny vehicle, Miss Winters gathers the prize winners into a small circle.

"One last thing before we head back," she whispers. "Pippa has organized a trip to Spain for everyone who won a prize, in every school. It is to take place in the summer holidays, but all the details will be given to you in a letter and there will be a meeting for your parents."

Back in the minibus, I lean into the seat in a daze all the way back to London. I wonder how long you can go on smiling before your jaw falls off.