The Ring of Mystery by Penny Luker Bev had not been out for months, but the days were warmer now and although she had no idea how to go on, she did feel up to walking round her garden. At the back of the garden they owned a field. She corrected herself; she owned a field. Peter, her boyfriend had walked out and left her. Her whole life had turned upside down. The house was already in her name. She’d paid for everything as he tried to build up his business.
branches. How on earth had that got there? This was private land. She went up to it and examined it. It was beautiful and perfect. Almost unreal. She hesitated to step through it. What if it was a time portal and took her centuries back into the past or perhaps even more frightening, to the future. What rubbish, she told herself firmly and in any case, what was there for her here? She slipped her small frame nimbly through the circle.
When he’d walked out on her to marry Fiona, he’d graciously said,’ I don’t want anything from here. I’m going to be so bloody rich you’re not going to believe it.’ With her old and trusty flask of tea she wandered to the end of the garden and into the field. It was unsurprisingly a mess. The Blackthorn bushes in the middle of the field had flourished and were taking over the top part of the field. The grass was high, too high, but there was a pathway near the edge. Bev decided she would take the chair from the tiny hide she’d built last year and go and drink her tea and watch the birds.
On the other side the grass was cut and she could hear the sound of a small child chattering. ‘No, here’s one for you, Mr. Ted, and one for you, Janet.’ The child looked up and ran over to Bev, excitedly. ‘I was hoping you’d come one day. The Queen of the castle,’ she said and curtseyed. ‘Your throne is this way.’
She turned a corner and came across an amazing sight. It was a circle made from thin Blackthorn
Bev couldn’t help but smile. The throne was a tiny plastic stool and she wondered if she sat on it, if she’d be able to get up. ‘The Queen would like to know, who you are, what you’re doing here and where’s your mummy.’ The little girl’s face fell and Bev thought that tears might follow. ‘I’m not cross with you,’ she added quickly. ‘I’m Lilly. I live next door. Mummy’s working. She likes me to play outside when she’s working.’ - 64 -
