The Wizard of Oz .
Pulling the furry hood up over my head, I sighed and stepped into the living room. How the hell did I find myself in these situations?
âTa-daa!â I said, holding out my arms as I entered the room, only to find nobody there. The costumes were still piled on the floor and the chest was still open, but there was no sign of Marion.
I returned to the hall, noticing how silent the house was. Suddenly the forty-year-old fancy-dress costume I was wearing wasnât the only thing making me uncomfortable.
âMarion?â I said. No reply. I tried again, louder. âMarion?â Again nothing.
Creeping across the hall I pushed open the door to the kitchen, half expecting to find a flock of birds in there. Instead I found an empty room, with the back door standing wide open.
âMarion, you there?â I called, edging towards the open door. Clouds of cold air rolled in through the gap, making me shake and shiver like⦠well, like a cowardly lion.
As I drew nearer the door I saw her. She was standing just outside the house, looking out into the darkness. A full bowl of dog food was clutched in her hands.
âThere you are,â I said, stepping out to join her and immediately wishing I hadnât. The cold was biting and my current attire was hardly designed for warmth. âYou OK?â
âStill no sign of him,â she said. âIâm really starting to get worried now.â
I didnât speak. I couldnât tell her the truth. Not now. Not after leaving it so long.
âHeâll be fine.â
âIâm not so sure,â she said, pulling her cardigan tightly around her neck. âIt doesnât feel right. Somethingâs wrong. Somethingâs happened.â
She spent another few moments scanning the darkness, before finally turning to face me. Her expression went from sad to surprised to delighted in under a second.
âOh my goodness. You lookââ
âLike an idiot?â
âWell, itâs not quite the word Iâd have chosen,â she grinned. âBut maybe it is a little bit on the neat side. Joe couldnât have been as tall as you, after all.â
âJoe?â I asked, through chattering teeth.
âThe old friend of mine I mentioned.â She gestured with the dog bowl towards the door. âNow get inside before you freeze.â
I gratefully rushed back inside, not stopping until I was in the living room, where the fire crackling in the hearth quickly began to warm me up. Marion arrived a few moments after me, Totoâs bowl no longer in her hands.
âNow,â she said, âwhereâs that camera?â
âDonât you dare!â
âKidding,â she laughed. âI think youâve been tortured quite enough for one night.â
I smiled, relieved. âThanks.â
âBesides, youâre here for ages yet. Plenty more costumes for you to try on.â She caught my expression and gave another laugh. âIâm joking. You have to stop taking me so seriously.â Her eyes went to the stash of clothes on the floor as she remembered something. âAlthough, come to think about itâ¦â
I stood there by the fire, hunched over in my badly fitting lion costume, watching her rummage through the outfits. Silently, I gave thanks that Ameena wasnât around to pass comment.
âIâve got Dorothyâs dress and the Tin Manâs hat,â Marion announced, holding up a blue and white checked outfit and a metal funnel. âIâm sure I used to have the full set, but oneâs missing. Thatâs a shame.â She held the items higher. âFancy either of these?â
âIâll pass, thanks,â I said.
She nodded and smiled. âFair enough.â Her bones creaked as she got to her feet. âNow, itâs high time you were in bed.â
I looked at the clock and was shocked to see the hands had crept past midnight. Too