CHAPTER IV - The Gate

Arvin ran.

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He heard Mrs Bell call his name, but no footsteps followed him. He passed the biscuit house and the woman with the cushion. Nobody tried to grab him.

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At the stone posts, he looked back.

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They were all standing in the road.

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Mrs Bell held the napkin she had tucked into his collar.

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“Which way did Mum go?” he called.

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Nobody answered.

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He turned through the gate.

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The trees beside the road were full of hanging figures.

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There were more than he remembered. They hung at different heights, their arms loose at their sides. Some still wore party hats.

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Arvin slowed beneath a pair of brown shoes.

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One shoe had a piece of silver tape across the toe.

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The edge was peeling up, just as it had when Arthur picked up the beanbag.

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He looked back towards the square.

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Arthur was standing beside Mrs Bell, leaning on his stick.

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Above Arvin, the brown shoes turned.

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The air was still.

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He pulled his costume away from his legs and ran again.

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The road curved between the trees. Around the bend, he saw orange light and two stone posts.

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Mrs Bell was waiting inside them.

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“There you are.”

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Arvin backed away.

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“That's not right.”

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“You'll be cold out here.”

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He turned and ran the other way.

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There were three trees before the bend. He counted them as he ran.

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Before he reached the third, Mrs Bell was in front of him again.

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He stopped at the gate, crying too hard to speak.

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Mrs Bell stood where he had left her. Behind her, the houses glowed. He could smell warm pastry.

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“Just sit down for a minute,” she said.

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He shook his head.

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“No more sleeping.”

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Her smile faded.

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For the first time, she looked as tired as Mum had looked before they left home.

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“We made so much,” she said.

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Arvin held his bucket tightly.

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“I'm sorry.”

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She looked down at him. Then she looked up into the trees.

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For a while, she didn't move.

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Somewhere behind her, Arthur said her name.

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Mrs Bell bent and picked up the two sweets from Arvin's bucket. She put them in the pocket of her apron.

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“All right,” she said quietly.

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She took a square of cake from the plate beside the gate and wrapped it in a napkin.

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“For the walk.”

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Arvin didn't want it, but she tucked it into his bucket before he could say so.

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Then she turned him around.

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“Keep going this time.”

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“Will you come?”

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Her hands rested on his shoulders.

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“Not tonight.”

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He took a step. Then another.

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Behind him, someone began calling that the games were starting.

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Arvin kept walking.

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He passed beneath the brown shoes. Farther on, a skirt brushed the branches above him. He looked at the road instead.

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At the bend, he heard Mrs Bell again.

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“Arvin?”

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He almost turned.

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“You forgot your apple.”

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He closed his eyes and kept going.

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The tune reached its high notes. He waited for the pause.

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When it started again, it sounded just as close. He walked faster.

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He could hear people clapping, and the scrape of chairs being pulled out.

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Then his foot caught on something. He fell forward onto his hands.

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The bucket rolled away.

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When he tried to get up, the orange lights were gone.

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He called for Mum until he couldn't make his voice work anymore.

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