The Girls from See Saw Lane by Sandy Taylor Page A

really look at it,’ said Mary. ‘She told me to imagine myself in the picture, sitting in front of an easel with a box of paints at my side. She said if I really wanted to be that girl in that picture, I could do it. I had the potential and the talent, but it was up to me to use it, not to waste it. She said it always feels like you’ve got as much time as you need to do all the things you want to do, but you’ll be surprised how life has a habit of stepping in and interfering with those plans, and most importantly never settle for second best. That’s what she said, Dottie. Never settle for second best. I didn’t really understand what she was on about at the time because I was too young, but I do now.’
    And that was why Mary decided not to apply to Brighton College of Art but to aim straight for the top, for L’Institut d’Art in Paris. Only thirty students were admitted each year, so there was massive competition for the places. Everyone said she was daft, as there was a perfectly good college of art right here in Brighton, but Mary was determined, and once Mary was determined you might just as well save your breath.
    â€˜I know I’m not ready yet,’ said Mary. ‘But I will be one day.’
    And she would. Mary spent every free minute practising her drawing. She couldn’t afford oil paints and canvases, not on her salary from Woolworths, but she could apply for the Institute with pencil drawings. If hard work could get Mary a place at that art school, then I had no doubt at all that she would get there.
    Mary’s bedroom was really tiny. You had to kneel on the bed to look out of the window and there was only room for one person to stand up at a time. Still, Mary and I loved it in there, with Mary’s things all piled on the shelves above the foot of the bed. I was really jealous of Mary having a room all to herself and not having to share with an annoying older sister like I did.
    â€˜Come on,’ said Mary, tipping a box of make-up, brushes and ribbons onto the bedspread. ‘It’s time to get ourselves ready to spread our wings.’
    I grinned at her and decided to stop worrying about all the bad things that might happen and join in Mary’s excitement.
    â€˜We’re going to look amazing, Dottie Perks,’ she said. ‘We are going to look so amazing that all the boys will be stunned and awed and unable to take their eyes off us for a single second!’
    We spent ages backcombing our hair and changing our clothes. The window was open and all the outdoor noises from the estate came in; barking dogs and kids shouting and playing with home-made water-bombs and music. Mary’s two oldest brothers, Winston and Warren, were outside trying to start the motorbike they kept in the front garden and spent all their lives playing with. Despite the attention, the bike never actually did anything apart from make screeching, coughing noises when the boys jumped on the pedal. It was nice being in Mary’s bedroom listening to all those familiar sounds.
    We had to take turns with the mirror. Mary went first. She told me that this was only fair, because it was her mirror and she wanted me to watch her so that I would feel brave enough to put on lipstick and mascara and blusher. She sat, cross-legged on the bed, and scrutinised her reflection as she tried to get the lipstick on just right.
    â€˜There’s so much hairspray on this mirror that I can hardly see anything,’ she complained, rubbing at the glass with her elbow.
    â€˜In my case, that’s a good thing,’ I said.
    Mary cocked her head to one side and pulled a flirtatious face.
    â€˜I have to look my best, Dottie, because there‘s going to be lots of girls there tonight all vying for Elton’s attention.’
    Well, I wasn’t sure I agreed with that, but I wasn’t going to say anything.
    â€˜Do you think I look okay?’ she