Feeling Sorry for Celia (12 page)

I hope you’re fine, and have a very nice day, and eat something delicious for breakfast tomorrow.

Love,

Elizabeth

Coffs Harbour at Night!

Dear Mum,

Don’t worry. We didn’t fall under the speeding train wheels and we’re not lost in a banana plantation. Saxon’s auntie is really nice and she gave us cinnamon toast and hot chocolate as soon as we arrived. Her house is right on the beach so we had the cinnamon toast looking through the window at the water, and then we did our run along the beach (and we were way too slow, considering that the Trail Run is exactly
one week
away, but it was still fun). The auntie also has a lot of plants and a lot of giraffes. (She collects them.) (Not real giraffes.) So far, we haven’t seen Celia but we know where the circus is and we’re going there to find her tomorrow.

Love from Elizabeth

PS Sorry about this postcard. I know you think these are just
stupid
and
completely unfunny
, but they were on special.

Caffs Harbour in the Mist!

Dear Dad,

Just letting you know that we arrived okay, and Saxon’s aunt seems nice and nothing like an axe murderer.

Have you ever been to Coffs Harbour? It’s got bright colours.

Well, I’ve run out of room.

Lots of love,

Elizabeth

PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL MESSAGE FOR CELIA BUCKLEY

Celia,

IF ANYBODY IS LOOKING AT YOU, PRETEND THIS IS A LETTER FROM READER’S DIGEST ASKING YOU TO BUY A CONDENSED VERSION OF
THE CATCHER IN THE RYE
AND MAYBE WIN FREE TULIP BUDS.

Now turn around really casually and walk away, kind of murmuring, ‘Hmm.
Catcher in the Rye,
that’s an okay book. Wouldn’t mind a few tulips around the caravan either.’

OKAY

Are you safe now?

Are you sure nobody is watching?

HI.

It’s me, Elizabeth. I am here to rescue you.

I caught the train up with Saxon Walker – he was in your
Geography class, you know? We are staying with his auntie and she’s very very nice and she makes cinnamon toast and collects video games, giraffes and cricket memorabilia.

We have put an empty Sprite can in the tall grass next to the rubbish bin (it doesn’t look suspicious, it just looks like someone threw it and missed the bin) by the gates.

You should put a reply note in there telling us the best time to rescue you.

We will hide behind the rhododendron bush after we leave this note for you, to make sure it falls into your own hands.

NOW RIP THIS LETTER INTO VERY SMALL PIECES AND
EAT THEM
. (I don’t really think you should eat them cause I think that could be unhealthy especially if you have glandular fever coming; they might clog up your glands or something. But Saxon says you have to. He’s going mad on me right now for saying that at all. He says you HAVE to eat it. (I still don’t think you sho–

OKAY. Good luck Celia.

We are with you in spirit.

Elizabeth and Saxon

Lizzy!!!!!!!!!

My God!!!!! I can’t believe you’re here. I never felt so weird as when I saw your handwriting wrapped around a cricket ball that was rolling towards me. (That was weird for very many reasons which I’m sure I don’t need to go into.) But it’s fantastic that you’re here.

You know what though? You don’t really need all the espionage stuff. This is just a circus, not a concentration camp. Next time you come by, why don’t you just knock on my caravan door instead of hiding behind the rhododendron bush? I’ll be there this arvo, around four. Can’t wait to see you.

Celia

Caffs Harbour – A Bright Afternoon!

Dear Mrs Buckley,

Hi! This is just to let you know that CELIA IS FINE. We have rescued her. She is looking forward to coming back to see you and starting school again. She’s got a bit of a cold at the moment, so we’re going to stay with Saxon’s aunt for another few days, then we’ll all get the train back together. Celia says hi to you and hi to Ben. The weather is fine.

Best wishes,

Elizabeth

Cqffs Harbour – A Cloudy Night!

Dear Dad,

Hello, how are you? I’m fine. Just letting you know that I’m still fine. We found the circus where my friend Celia was and we rescued her. So she’s fine. Except a bit sick. I just
phoned Mum and told her all about it. I hope you are well. It’s pretty cool here and Saxon’s auntie is still nice.

Well . . .

Hope to see you soon.

Love,

Elizabeth

Elizabeth Clarry

c/o Auntie Robbie’s house,

The second house after the milkbar

with the two rusty wheelbarrows

and the broken giraffe head on the front lawn

Coffs Harbour

Dear Ms Clarry,

Those postcards to your dad and to Celia’s mum were really wonderful. Very imaginative and perfectly structured.

No, really. You should be, like, a writer or something?

The Society of Talented and Interesting Correspondents

Dear Christina,

The rescue mission is complete. Not meaning to blow my own trumpet or whatever, but you know what I am, don’t you? I’m a hero. A HEROINE. I’m probably the best friend ever to live in the history of the world.

We made contact with Celia in a very clever and tricky
way. Okay, this is what we did. First, we dressed completely in green. Saxon said we had to, for camouflage. We got Saxon’s aunt to drop us off about a block away from where the circus was stationed, and then we slipped from tree to garbage bin until we reached the circus gate. We found a rhododendron bush and hid behind that, and we were perfectly silent. Except for when I burst out giggling. Saxon always looked at me solemnly when I did and said he was amazed that I could consider putting the mission into jeopardy with such frivolity. That only made me worse of course.