Three Summers by Judith Clarke Page B

her mind.
    â€˜You forgot!’ Fee slapped her forehead. ‘I don’t believe it! Ruth Gower forgetting about exam results!’
    Ruth pointed to the envelope lying on the table. ‘Aren’t you going to open it?’
    Fee did a funny little hopping dance on the tips of her toes. ‘No! No, I can’t! I can’t touch it! You do it, Ruthie, please!’
    Ruth picked up the letter from the table. ‘Will I open it?’
    â€˜Open it,’ said Fee.
    Taking a small knife from the kitchen drawer, Ruth slid the blade beneath the flap of the envelope. There was a soft ripping sound. She drew out the pages and held them towards Fee, but Fee clasped her hands behind her back and shook her head.
    â€˜You’re not going to look at it?’ said Ruth. ‘Ever? You’re going to be this old, old lady who tells everyone, “I never knew the results of my final exams . . .”?’
    â€˜No, I’m not that bad. But you read them for me, okay? My hands are shaking like anything, I couldn’t even hold it properly. It doesn’t matter what’s in there anyway, I’m totally, absolutely sure I’ve failed.’
    â€˜And I’m sure you haven’t.’
    â€˜Yes, I have .’ Fee tossed her head and the heavy hair went flap, flap, against her shoulderblades. ‘And I don’t care, really. Stupid old exams!’ But then she sighed, and her whole body appeared to falter and fold a little into itself, so that she seemed suddenly smaller. ‘Mum and Dad will care, though,’ she said. ‘And Gran. Gran especially. She says a girl always needs something up her sleeve.’
    Ruth scanned the sheets quickly and smiled. ‘Well, you’ve got something up yours.’
    â€˜What? What?
    â€™ ‘Five Bs and an A. You’ve passed. Told you.’
    Fee unfolded. She was strong and beautiful again. ‘What’s the A for?’
    â€˜History.’
    Fee sat down on a chair and covered her face with her hands.
    â€˜Are you all right?’
    Fee’s hands flew away from her face. She was smiling. ‘Oh Ruth, I was so sure I’d failed! I never did a stroke of work all year. It was all Mattie, you know. All Mattie and getting engaged and making plans – school just faded away. It seemed stupid to be going there. And yet I passed! I passed anyway! I can’t believe it!’
    â€˜You’re a genius, that’s all.’
    Fee stretched one leg out and admired her slender brown foot. ‘Well, you might just be right. Here, give us!’ She snatched the pages from Ruth’s hands. ‘ Look at all those Bs. Queen of the hive, that’s me! Only one poor little A. Guess I’ll have to wait till Joanie Fawkes kicks the bucket and apply for her job as postmistress.’
    â€˜No need. With five Bs and an A you could go to teachers’ college.’
    â€˜Teachers’ college! Catch me ! Anyway, they don’t take married women in that place, not if you’re pregnant, anyway.’
    â€˜Are you—?’
    Fee laughed. ‘Could be, who knows? Anyway, bet I soon will be.’
    â€˜Would you be happy if you were?’
    â€˜Yes. Oh, yes ! Mattie’s child! And mine!’
    All good things come to Fee, thought Ruth, and they came easily and naturally, as if she’d been born for happiness. She felt no jealousy; Fee’s happiness came because she fitted in so perfectly with life. ‘I’m glad,’ she said.
    â€˜Oh, Ruth. Ruth! ’ Fee sprang up from her chair. ‘Oh, look at me! So full of myself, I haven’t asked about you. Did you get into university? Did you get a scholarship, Ruthie?’
    â€˜Yes.’
    â€˜Good!’ Fee clapped her hands. ‘And top marks, I bet.’
    â€˜They were all right.’
    â€˜ All right. Oh, you !’ Fee shook her head and then said a little mournfully, ‘You’ll be going away then. You really