THE MISSING
BROOCH
There was a steady buzz of voices at the museum. People were swarming around, trying to get a better look at all the intricately made costumes. It was so busy, that nobody noticed a little dog with a glittering object caught in it’s fur. Tilly Morland loved her mum’s job. In her opinion, it was the best job anybody could have. I suppose I should tell you a bit more about who Tilly was. Tilly had blue eyes, framed by wild, tangled, hazel-coloured curls. She was very kind but she had a fiery temper. Now, back to her mum’s job; her mum worked in the conservation department at a costume museum. Tilly could have spent hours, sitting there watching her mum work. That day, she went into the museum where her mum was waiting for her. “Hi love, how was school today?” her mum asked. “Alright.” Tilly mumbled, for she really hated school. In fact on most days she skipped school altogether and went to sit in the treetops of the parks. She loved to hear the leaves whispering with the wind and feel the breeze through her hair. She never told her mum this, of course. Tilly was exhausted today, she didn’t know why. She sat down at the table and slumped into a deep, deep sleep.
“Who is she?” “She isn’t a costume, is she?” Tilly woke to the sound of these whispers. When she finally looked up, she saw anxious faces looking down at her. “I demand you tell me your name immediately. Are you a new costume? You must be, but you are wearing such ugly clothes!” a haughty voice exclaimed. Tilly felt most offended, her clothes weren’t that ugly, were they? “Who are you?” Tilly retorted. She was talking to a posh-looking lady in an old court dress, so wide Tilly couldn’t imagine how she could fit through the door. Suddenly, Tilly realised she was talking to the mannequins in the costumes, the ones that a few hours ago, were standing lifelessly in the exhibitions…
“Well? I haven’t got all night you know.” “I’m Tilly Morland. You aren’t supposed to be talking, are you?” “Of course I can talk. How rude.” The mannequin gave an affronted sniff and shot a poisonous glare at Tilly. “Hey aren’t you the big costume from the third floor?” “I am Lady Ann, not as you so charmingly described it ‘the big costume from the third floor’. Also, I shall not be addressed by ‘hey’. You may curtsy or bow. Goodness, how rude you are. And look at your hair. Have you no shame? Come here and let me pin it up.” Lady Ann yanked Tilly forward and started tugging her hair into a tight bun, while also giving her a lecture on hair maintenance. Tilly shook herself free and started to look round at the other costumes. One of them walked forwards and started to explain what was happening. “When the sun sets we come alive. Occasionally a human meets us. If they do, then they may join us every evening.” Tilly was lost for words. This truly was the most peculiar thing she had ever seen. Tilly skipped school the next day and waited anticipatingly for sunset. After what seemed like ages, darkness finally descended. However, when she got to the museum, she heard a piercing scream, followed by howls of desperation.
Tilly ran towards the noise. Lady Ann was screeching sounds of anguish and her heaving sobs racked her body. “What’s wrong?” Tilly asked. “Her brooch - it’s gone. Her brooch is what lets her come alive. If she doesn’t have it back by the full moon, then she’ll - well she’ll die.” Tilly suddenly realised that the Full Moon was tomorrow evening. She needed to find that brooch tonight. “MY BROOCH! FIND IT!” Lady Ann screamed ballistically, “NOW!” Everybody hurried away, nobody wanted Lady Ann to get any angrier. Suddenly, Tilly thought she had an inkling of who it could have been… “YOU - TILLY GIRL! FIND MY BROOCH! OR ELSE! GO ON THEN! What are you waiting for? GOO!” That night, Tilly walked rapidly down the corridor, making sure not to be caught by the night guards. She was sure it had been Gerard, the head night guard, who had stolen the brooch. Gerard was a snooty, suspicious character, with a crooked nose and a greasy moustache. Aha! Tilly finally found what she had been looking for. It was Gerard’s office. Tilly poked her head round the door to check if the coast was clear. It was. Tilly crept in and started to rummage around.
She opened drawers, she cleared the desk, she even managed to break open the safe. In short, she ransacked the office. Despite this, the brooch was nowhere to be found. “Let’s come into my office, shall we?” Gerard’s voice was very loud and Tilly jumped at his words. She looked around desperately for a place to hide. Tilly wrenched open a nearby cupboard and waited. “Oh my goodness. What has happened to your office?” a voice asked. “Is it a robber? Let’s check the galleries.” Tilly’s heart was pounding and her palms were sweating. She could imagine just what would happen if they caught her. Her mum would lose her job, perhaps. This was a disaster and she hadn’t even found the brooch. As soon as she heard footsteps retreating, she slumped out of the room. She walked on until suddenly Tilly saw a guard. She stopped dead and ran as fast as she could in the other direction. The guard must have heard her so he shouted “HEY!” and ran after her. Tilly tried to shake him off by turning this way and that, until she found herself face-to-face with a dog. He was so cute that Tilly couldn’t resist picking him up and carrying on. As she was running, she caught a glimpse of something shiny in the dog’s fur.
It was the brooch! Tilly ran on until she found Lady Ann. “The brooch. ! I FOUND IT! It was caught in this dog’s fur!” Tilly yelled. Lady Ann snatched the brooch and inspected it, before putting it on in a very self-satisfied way. “Thank you child with ugly clothes and messy hair.” “Although, I should probably thank the dog, not you.” she added. Tilly didn’t even bother to argue. It was the night of the Full Moon Ball, a ball the costumes threw every year. Tilly even allowed herself to be dressed up by Lady Ann. The ball was magnificent. All the costumes were waltzing with each other to beautiful music. There was a banquet with every food you could imagine. When Tilly crept back into bed that night, she wondered if it had all been a dream. Sometimes, it is hard to sort the dreams from reality.