Woodlington

Chapter 5 - A Good Day

Compared to their old house in Brenich, Willows End seemed too big to be real.

Alex, needing to stretch her legs after the potion, was exploring. She was doing the bedrooms first, of which there were five. Though hers was easily the best, Jack's wasn't bad. In fact, it was kind of cute, and had realistic animals painted on the walls. There was also a rocking horse, several beanbags, and two large toy chests; if she'd been younger Alex might have picked this one instead of hers.

Without doubt, her mother's was the worst.

It was foul! Why Mrs Dowling had chosen it was anyone's guess.

Stepping inside was like putting on a pair of pink glasses. There were lace doilies and vases of plastic flowers everywhere, the bed covers and curtains were rose patterned, and the wallpaper (a faded display of prancing ballerinas) looked like it'd been sprayed in glitter.

How anyone, let alone her mother, could sleep in such a room, was a mystery.

Coming to the bathroom, Alex opened the door and peered inside.

It was enormous, as was the clam-shaped bath which took centre stage.

Perched on clawed feet and as high as her waist, it had seven taps spaced around its edge. Unable to resist, Alex turned one on and watched as thick foamy water gushed out. Within seconds there was a layer of bubbles coating the bottom of the tub.

'Well' thought Alex, as she closed the door. 'If Mum ever goes missing, I'll know where to look.'

She headed for the stairs.

The banister of course, had surely been built for one purpose: to be used as a giant slide. Alex hooked a leg over it, and laying against the wooden rail, slid smoothly and quickly to the bottom.

She toppled off, laughing.

Brilliant, no more walking downstairs for her!

Hearing her mother and Jack in the kitchen, Alex scooted across the hall and disappeared into the large living room.

She felt like she'd stepped into a palace.

The carpet under her feet was beyond thick and she found herself sinking into the warm shag as though it were quicksand where walking seemed more like floating.

Climbing onto the nearest settee, Alex stood on an armrest and leapt off. She hardly felt the landing at all - it was like landing on a huge cushion.

Rolling onto her back, she found herself staring up at the ceiling lights. They were set into circles of black metal, which were hanging from ropes wrapped around thick beams in the ceiling.

Alex wished there was a way to get up there. She could just picture herself shouting "hey Mum, look at me," while swinging from one.

Getting to her feet, she spotted a piano against the far wall.

Now then, this was more like it.

Within seconds she was standing before it.

Plonk, plonk, plink.

Alex banged away, pretending she was playing something good. Placing a finger at one end, she ran it from the first key to the last and back again.

Seconds later, the door opened and Mrs Dowling's head appeared.

"Oh, it's you! I wondered what the noise was."

She came over.

"I didn't notice that before."

Jack, clinging to the hem of her dress, was watching Alex with his mouth open.

"Come on," she said, moving over. "You can help."