Alice-Miranda At School (3 page)

Alice-Miranda skipped back towards the office, determined to see Miss Grimm immediately. She navigated her way through endless hallways lined with rows and rows of beautiful timber doors. She now had quite a long list of things to talk to Miss Grimm about and would need at least half an hour. When at last she reached the office, she tapped on the door and let herself in. Miss Higgins was seated behind an enormous oak desk. Alice-Miranda could hardly see over the top of it, so she climbed up into the chair opposite to get a better view.

‘Hello Miss Higgins,' she said cheerfully.

Miss Higgins recoiled and almost fell off her chair.

‘Oh, hello Alice-Miranda.' She sniffled into her handkerchief. ‘How are you getting on then?'

‘I have had the most wonderful morning and I've met loads of lovely people. I had brownies with Mrs Smith and a cup of tea with Mr Charles and the most delightful chat with Jacinta Headlington-Bear and I really would like to tell you all about it. But it doesn't look as though you're having a very good day. Whatever is the matter?' Alice-Miranda leaned forward. ‘Have you been crying?'

Miss Higgins was so taken aback that she burst into tears.

Alice-Miranda took a clean handkerchief from her pocket and handed it to her.

‘Oh, Miss Higgins, you poor thing. Please tell me all about it. Perhaps I can help.'

Through tears and sobs Alice-Miranda found out that Miss Higgins was about to get married. She had a lovely fellow from the village, Constable Derby. They had fallen head over heels last summer and on Christmas Eve he had proposed. It was all so wonderful. Except for Miss Grimm.

‘She told me that if I marry, I shouldn't bother to come back again. She needs my full devotion and undivided attention and I'm afraid I don't think that's very fair at all.'

Alice-Miranda frowned. ‘Why do you want to stay?'

‘It's very complicated, Alice-Miranda, and I wouldn't expect you to understand. You're only a little girl,' Miss Higgins replied.

‘I know I'm small,' said Alice-Miranda, ‘but I'm quite a good listener.' She slid off the leather chair and walked around to Miss Higgins's side of the desk. Alice-Miranda reached up and rested her hand on Miss Higgins's shoulder.

She blew her nose loudly. ‘It's just, well, I have a very important job to do and I'm afraid that I don't want to leave it up to anyone else.'

Alice-Miranda smiled. ‘Please don't take this the wrong way, Miss Higgins, but I know lots of young ladies who could do this job. My father has twenty girls in his office who could swap places with you in a minute.'

Miss Higgins frowned.

Alice-Miranda continued. ‘I didn't mean to upset you, Miss Higgins. It's just that I thought secretaries
did jobs like answering the telephone and writing letters and doing the filing – things like that.'

‘Yes, I suppose I do all those things but there are other responsibilities that
I must
look after and well, I hate to imagine what would happen if I wasn't here,' Miss Higgins replied.

Alice-Miranda bit her lip. Her brow furrowed and she seemed lost in her thoughts.

‘Miss Higgins, Winchesterfield-Downsfordvale is the most beautiful school in the whole country. The staff are dedicated and the students, I'm sure, are magnificent. But there is something missing from this establishment and it has been nagging me all day.'

Miss Higgins dabbed at her eyes and looked up.

‘I need to see Miss Grimm immediately,' Alice-Miranda continued. ‘If she doesn't make some changes right away things will only get worse.'

‘Oh dear. I'm afraid Miss Grimm doesn't see students,' Miss Higgins replied quietly.

‘I don't understand,' said Alice-Miranda. ‘She's the headmistress. It's her job to see the students and the teachers and all of the people who work in this wonderful school.'

‘I'm afraid that Miss Grimm doesn't really see anyone. She hasn't seen anyone for, well …' Miss
Higgins hesitated. ‘Now let me think … goodness … is it really …
over ten years now
,' she whispered.

‘Ten years! Is she dead?' Alice-Miranda exclaimed loudly.

‘No, of course not.' Miss Higgins looked up anxiously. Alice-Miranda couldn't help but notice that her hands were trembling. ‘She's just very busy.'

‘But what about assemblies and parent–teacher nights and plays?'

Miss Higgins began shuffling the pile of papers on her desk. ‘There are the other teachers and, well, nobody seems to fuss. The school just sort of runs itself, and as long as the results are good, I don't see why it matters all that much.'

‘Then how does she tell people things?' Alice-Miranda frowned.

‘She has her ways.' Miss Higgins smiled thinly and raised her eyebrows.

Alice-Miranda was not convinced. ‘Well that won't do at all.' She turned and ran towards the huge double doors that led to the headmistress's study.

‘No, Alice-Miranda, you mustn't, you mustn't.'
Miss Higgins leapt from her chair and rushed to block her path.

Alice-Miranda ducked under Miss Higgins's outstretched arms, grabbed the ancient brass doorknob and pushed open the huge mahogany doors.

There, in the most enormous chair, sat a tall woman wearing what appeared to be a dressing-gown. Her long blonde hair hung limply around her shoulders like an old shawl. Her porcelain face was a blank canvas.

With an elegant fountain pen perched nimbly between her manicured fingers, she was engrossed in the contents of an enormous leather-bound book.

‘Hello Miss Grimm, I am so very pleased to make your acquaintance.' Alice-Miranda skipped
around to the other side of the desk and held out her tiny hand.

Miss Grimm peered over the top of her very stylish spectacles. She stared at Alice-Miranda as though she were some kind of nasty stain.

‘I'm sorry, Miss Grimm. I couldn't stop her.' Miss Higgins stood behind Alice-Miranda, ready to scoop her up and take her away.

‘Hello Miss Grimm, my name is Alice-Miranda Highton-Smith-Kennington-Jones and I have just started here today. Winchesterfield-Downsfordvale is quite the most beautiful school in the world but there are a few things I need to talk to you about most urgently. In fact, I've been worried ever since I arrived that there was something not quite right and just a few moments ago I think I realised what the matter is. It's most important that we talk right away.'

Miss Grimm did not say a word. Alice-Miranda smiled and waited … for just a moment.

‘I am so sorry. I can see that you are not ready for visitors this morning, so I will go away and come back a little later when you have had time to dress and finish your cup of tea. I have some work to do with Jacinta Headlington-Bear, which I can tell you
all about later. What about 2 pm? That's marvellous. Thank you so much for your time, Miss Grimm. It really is a pleasure to meet you and you should be very proud of this beautiful school.'

And with that, Alice-Miranda turned on her heel and skipped back from where she came. Miss Higgins rushed after her and hurriedly closed the doors.

Miss Grimm had not said a word during the entire exchange. It appeared that she was completely dumbstruck.

Alice-Miranda was weary. It had indeed been a very busy morning and she still had to help Jacinta with her homework. She hurried back to her room to give Brummel a full briefing.

Then she used the phone in the common room to call her parents.

‘Oh darling heart, you've changed your mind?' It was fortunate that Alice-Miranda couldn't see the smile on her father's face. ‘You can be back with us in a blink,' he cooed. ‘I'll send Cyril and Birdy right away.'

‘Silly Daddy. I'm having a marvellous time. I have met loads of interesting people and it really is the most amazing place. But there are a few things I've noticed and I was wondering if perhaps you could help?'

‘Of course, darling – I'll send the builders right away,' said her father.

‘No, Daddy. I don't need the builders. But I was wondering if perhaps you could spare Mrs Oliver for a little while.'

‘Oh, don't tell me the food is awful?' her father moaned.

‘Not at all. Cook, whose real name is Mrs Smith, made the most delicious brownies I have ever tasted. And you know, she might even somehow be related to Mummy's side of the family, seeing as Mummy's a Highton-Smith and I suppose a long time ago someone was just a Smith.

‘Anyway, Mrs Smith has two delicious grandchildren who live all the way over the sea in America and can you believe that she has never been to visit them?'

‘That's awful. Why ever not?' Alice-Miranda's father replied.

‘Well, I asked her the same thing and she said
that Miss Grimm doesn't let her take holidays because there would be no one to cook her dinners.'

‘That's a little bit selfish,' her father's voice frowned down the phone line.

‘That's exactly what I said. So, I was wondering if you could spare Mrs Oliver, just for a couple of weeks.'

‘I'll have to check with Mummy, but I think that should be positively wonderful. We're heading off to the town house for some business and I'm sure Dolly would enjoy a change of scenery.'

‘Oh, thank you, Daddy. You are the best. And please tell Mummy I love her too and I will talk to you both in a little while. And don't worry – Winchesterfield-Downsfordvale is everything I expected and so much more.' And with that Alice-Miranda hung up the telephone, hugged Brummel Bear and set off to meet Jacinta.