Cherry Blossom Dreams Read Online Free Page B
Author: Gwyneth Rees
out by now. In any case, I didn’t see why he should be the only one to get to check up on the place.
Sean just grunted in reply. Frankly, I was starting to feel pretty annoyed with him. I absolutely hate it when he shuts me out like this. When we were younger we’d told each other everything and been pretty much inseparable. It was only after the move to secondary school that things started to change between us.
He turned towards me suddenly, looking unusually serious. ‘Listen, I’ve got something to tell you that you’re not gonna like …’
‘Are you OK?’ I asked. ‘You’re not in trouble at school, are you? Are you worried about going back?’ In the past I’d always have known when he was in trouble without having to ask.
‘It’s nothing like that. I’ve arranged to meet Zack at Blossom House,’ he said.
I just stared at him. Zack, his new best buddy, was generally viewed as a bit of a weirdo. The main attraction for Sean, as far as I could tell, was that Zack kept lots of weird reptiles and creepy-crawlies as pets.
‘You told Zack?’ I finally got out.
‘Zack has got something he needs to keep secret and I said he could keep it at Blossom House,’ Sean told me.
‘What is it?’ I demanded. ‘And what about keeping Blossom House a secret?’
‘Don’t worry, Sasha. Zack won’t tell anyone about Blossom House,’ he assured me, ignoring the first part of my question. ‘Look, I’m a bit late so I’m going to run. I’ll see you there.’ He glanced down at my feet as he spoke. He had seen me trying to run in my flip-flops while we were in Greece and he knew there was no way I’d be able to keep up.
I felt anger boiling inside me as he tore off ahead of me along the pavement. Sean and I had both sworn a solemn oath not to tell anyone about Blossom House, not even our best friends. I hadn’t even mentioned the place to Lily.
I thought back to the beginning when the two of us had first started hanging out there, letting ourselves in and out with our own keys. I’d known that what we were doing was wrong, but I’d let my brother persuade me that we were acting as house-sitters, protecting the house from squatters and the like.
For ages we visited the house once or twice a week, mainly at the weekends but sometimes after school too. In the summer holidays we’d bring little picnics with us and I’d read a book on a rug in the garden while Sean lazed on the grass doing stuff on his phone. Sometimes I’d go there on my own – especially after Lily and I had argued, or when Mum or Granny were driving me mad.
We’ve always had to be careful not to put on any lights after dark or do anything else which might alert the neighbours, but because Blossom House is detached, with trees and a thick hedge on either side, and with a back garden that isn’t overlooked, we’ve always felt pretty safe. And though we had to be prepared for unexpected house viewings, there were hardly any, and as time went by Blossom House began to feel more and more like our very own private hideaway.
We had escaped to it a lot, right up until recently, when our own home had become a much cheerier place to be again. We’d stopped hanging out at Blossom House quite so often, but it had still remained our own special secret.
Until now …
When I eventually reached the house I stopped briefly to admire the magnolia tree, its branches heavy with blossom. There was no sign of Sean or Zack so I hurried down the weedy gravel drive, past the front porch with its sandstone pillars and round to the tall wooden side gate, which my brother had left unlocked. I walked right past the sign saying ‘Trespassers will be prosecuted’. I’d never thought that meant Sean and me.
When I reached the back garden I couldn’t stop myself breaking into a massive smile. The cherry blossom trees were in full bloom and for a moment all I could focus on was the mass of beautiful pastel-coloured petals. Mum says that even as a baby I
Sean just grunted in reply. Frankly, I was starting to feel pretty annoyed with him. I absolutely hate it when he shuts me out like this. When we were younger we’d told each other everything and been pretty much inseparable. It was only after the move to secondary school that things started to change between us.
He turned towards me suddenly, looking unusually serious. ‘Listen, I’ve got something to tell you that you’re not gonna like …’
‘Are you OK?’ I asked. ‘You’re not in trouble at school, are you? Are you worried about going back?’ In the past I’d always have known when he was in trouble without having to ask.
‘It’s nothing like that. I’ve arranged to meet Zack at Blossom House,’ he said.
I just stared at him. Zack, his new best buddy, was generally viewed as a bit of a weirdo. The main attraction for Sean, as far as I could tell, was that Zack kept lots of weird reptiles and creepy-crawlies as pets.
‘You told Zack?’ I finally got out.
‘Zack has got something he needs to keep secret and I said he could keep it at Blossom House,’ Sean told me.
‘What is it?’ I demanded. ‘And what about keeping Blossom House a secret?’
‘Don’t worry, Sasha. Zack won’t tell anyone about Blossom House,’ he assured me, ignoring the first part of my question. ‘Look, I’m a bit late so I’m going to run. I’ll see you there.’ He glanced down at my feet as he spoke. He had seen me trying to run in my flip-flops while we were in Greece and he knew there was no way I’d be able to keep up.
I felt anger boiling inside me as he tore off ahead of me along the pavement. Sean and I had both sworn a solemn oath not to tell anyone about Blossom House, not even our best friends. I hadn’t even mentioned the place to Lily.
I thought back to the beginning when the two of us had first started hanging out there, letting ourselves in and out with our own keys. I’d known that what we were doing was wrong, but I’d let my brother persuade me that we were acting as house-sitters, protecting the house from squatters and the like.
For ages we visited the house once or twice a week, mainly at the weekends but sometimes after school too. In the summer holidays we’d bring little picnics with us and I’d read a book on a rug in the garden while Sean lazed on the grass doing stuff on his phone. Sometimes I’d go there on my own – especially after Lily and I had argued, or when Mum or Granny were driving me mad.
We’ve always had to be careful not to put on any lights after dark or do anything else which might alert the neighbours, but because Blossom House is detached, with trees and a thick hedge on either side, and with a back garden that isn’t overlooked, we’ve always felt pretty safe. And though we had to be prepared for unexpected house viewings, there were hardly any, and as time went by Blossom House began to feel more and more like our very own private hideaway.
We had escaped to it a lot, right up until recently, when our own home had become a much cheerier place to be again. We’d stopped hanging out at Blossom House quite so often, but it had still remained our own special secret.
Until now …
When I eventually reached the house I stopped briefly to admire the magnolia tree, its branches heavy with blossom. There was no sign of Sean or Zack so I hurried down the weedy gravel drive, past the front porch with its sandstone pillars and round to the tall wooden side gate, which my brother had left unlocked. I walked right past the sign saying ‘Trespassers will be prosecuted’. I’d never thought that meant Sean and me.
When I reached the back garden I couldn’t stop myself breaking into a massive smile. The cherry blossom trees were in full bloom and for a moment all I could focus on was the mass of beautiful pastel-coloured petals. Mum says that even as a baby I
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