Seven for a Secret Never to be Told

Mia’s Nan drove them home then tucked Mia up in a fleecy, red blanket on the sofa in the living room. Mia held her Nan’s hand and began to drift into a calming sleep. She could hear birds singing outside and her face felt warm from the sun shining through the window. She fell into a sleep that was dreamless, a place of silent blackness that was warm and comforting.

When she woke up she could hear her Nan talking in the kitchen. She lay there for a while with her eyes closed remembering everything that had happened, reliving it. She wiped away a tear and took a deep breath remembering what her Nan had said about Safi being alright. She desperately wanted to see him and stood up and wandered through to the kitchen.

‘Well here’s my little heroine,’ said her Nan putting her arm around her. ‘Did you get some sleep?’ Mia nodded and smiled weakly.

‘Who were you talking to?’ she asked.

‘Mary, Mary Jaggers, we were chatting on the phone. She sends her love and hopes you’re feeling better.’ Mia’s Nan reached for the kettle and filled it with water at the sink. ‘Let’s have a cuppa and then I’ll ring Safi’s mum and see what time we can go and see him.’

‘What time is it now?’ asked Mia feeling a bit confused.

‘Just gone five, you’ve been asleep around three hours.’

‘Did Miss Jaggers say anything about writing to her brother?’ asked Mia sitting on the stool in the corner of the kitchen while her Nan took out some cups and saucers.

‘Yes, she said she’s sent him the pictures and asked him about the boys and the token. He hasn’t written back yet but I’m sure he will.’ Mia’s Nan took out some milk and sugar. ‘Do you want sugar in your tea?’ She looked at Mia and winked. Mia couldn’t help smiling as she wasn’t normally allowed sugar.

‘Yes, two please.’ Mia’s Nan made the tea and they sipped the warm liquid and dunked chocolate chip cookies. Then Mia’s Nan called Safi’s mum who gave them the go ahead to visit him in hospital.

At the hospital Mia’s Nan and Safi’s mum were talking quietly by the window of Safi’s room. Mia stood by Safi’s bed. He was sleeping. Plastic tubes were attached to his nostrils feeding him oxygen and his hand was bruised where sticking plaster held a device in place that allowed the nurse to give him injections. Mia felt numb and her throat was dry. She swallowed then quickly looked over her shoulder to make sure no one was listening. She leaned in towards Safi and whispered his name. Nothing. She tried again but a little louder.

‘Saf, Safi.’ He blinked a few times and opened his eyes. He smiled. Mia knew immediately he was alright. She sighed with relief and smiled back. ‘Oh Saf, I was so worried. What happened at school? What happened to you?’

‘It’s called an asthma attack,’ said a voice behind them. It was Safi’s mum. She looked kindly at Mia with her big, dark eyes. Her hair was hidden by a black scarf. She wore a flowery top and a pair of jeans. Her English was stilted with a heavy accent, but she spoke slowly and Mia understood every word she said. ‘It’s happened before, a long time ago when Safi was very young. When we were in Iraq. There was a…’ her voice became shaky and hesitant. ‘There was a…an explosion. It was in the um…market… close to our house. I was buying a water melon. We were near…we were near the blast but by some miracle were not injured. But Safi…Safi had a bad asthma attack. He was very young and they said it was because of the bomb exploding. They said it triggered his attack.’ She looked sad. ‘There were often explosions. The noise, the fear…the fear…it would always cause an asthma attack. Since we have come to England Safi has not had any problems…never…until now.’

‘What caused it?’ asked Mia, ‘there were no explosions, there was nothing that would have…’ she was going to say ‘frightened Safi’, but she stopped, suddenly remembering the photograph that he was looking at when he had the asthma attack.

‘The doctor thinks that maybe some pollen from a flower or tree has caused it…we don’t really know.’

‘But they can do something about it can’t they?’ asked Mia.

‘Yes. Safi can take medicine. He will have to carry an inhaler in case this thing happens again, but…’ and she smiled, ‘he will be alright.’

‘Can Mia stay for a while?’ asked Safi. He was pushing himself up on his elbows. Mia’s Nan suggested that she and Safi’s mum get themselves a drink from a coffee machine she had seen down the corridor and they left the room leaving Mia and Safi alone.

‘What happened at school?’ she asked again. ‘What happened?’

‘The photograph. The photograph of the boys.’ His eyes grew large.

‘What about it?’

‘There are two boys in the photograph that look the same. Twins I suppose,’ he spoke quietly.

‘Yes, I was going to tell you about them. Miss Jaggers told me their surname was Bassett. One of them is called Bobby, Bobby Bassett. And you know what? He’s still alive. He lives at the old people’s home where Nan works.’ Safi listened carefully to everything Mia said.

‘You know the day I came to your house and you waited for me outside my class?’ Mia nodded. ‘Do you remember I was showing a boy the short cut to the hall from the patio door of my classroom?’

‘Yes. I remember.’ Safi looked dazed.

‘The boy that I gave directions to…’ his voice faltered momentarily but he was deadly serious. ‘He…he’s the same boy as in the picture. Mia…He’s one of those twin boys.’ A shiver ran down Mia’s spine and her knees felt like jelly. All sorts of things were racing through her head.

‘Are you sure?’ She tried to smile. ‘You boys all look the same,’ she joked. ‘And anyway, it’s a really old picture…it’s easy to make mistakes especially after what happened. The asthma attack, it was terrible, you can’t be thinking straight.’

‘Mia…I had the attack because I recognised him…Even his clothes were the same…at the time I didn’t really think about it. Classes are always dressing up as Romans or Victorians…’ His voice tailed off and he stared at Mia. ‘I think you should stop trying to find out about the token and the crying you hear in the night. Try to forget it…leave it alone.’

‘I can’t Saf. And now you’ve told me this it’s more important than ever that I find out what’s happening.’

‘If you carry on you could be in danger Mia. Leave it alone.’ He grabbed her arm and squeezed it tightly. His expression was grim as he stared into her eyes and repeated ‘Leave it alone.’

‘I can’t.’

‘Remember what happened in the bath. You could have drowned. I could have died. It’s too dangerous. Leave it alone.’

Just then the door opened and Safi’s mum walked in.

‘Time’s up now. More rest for you Safi and hopefully home tomorrow.’ Mia’s Nan stood at the door.

‘We’ll visit Safi again soon Mia. Fingers crossed he’ll be at home, but time to go now.’ Mia looked at Safi. She could see the concern on his face. She sighed.

‘I’ll see you tomorrow Saf.’ He smiled weakly.

‘We can catch up on Warriors of Albion – there’s a competition on CBBC to visit the set and meet the cast. We can enter that,’ he said. Mia nodded. Her Nan held the door open for her and ushered her out.

Mia leant her head against the window of the car as her Nan drove them home. She watched the countryside go by as the light of day began to fade and felt a well of determination rise up inside of her. She had to get to the bottom of what was happening. She was not going to give up. She was going to unravel the puzzle of the boy and the crying, the magpie token and the icy water. She was going to find out what was going on if it was the last thing she did!