'Lucas?' said Clara. 'Are you feeling all right, dear?'
Lucas pushed the pointy hat back onto the crown of his head. 'Perfectly,' he said. 'Why do you ask?'
She looked him up and down, from the tip of his blue, wide-brimmed, conical hat, covered in a galaxy of silver spangles, to the floor-skimming hem of the matching robe. He pushed the cavernous sleeves to his elbows and pulled an apple off the tree.
'Er,' she said, not quite sure how to broach the subject. 'It's just...'
'Yes?' he asked, taking a bite from the fruit.
‘You’re meant to be picking those, not eating them,’ she said sharply, before remembering what the main problem was. ‘Uh, is that really the best outfit for the job?’ she added.
Lucas looked down at his shimmering garb. ‘I don’t see why not.’
'But you're dressed as a wizard,' said Clara, deciding head-on was the best way to tackle this latest oddity.
'That I am,' said Lucas. He took another crunch out of the apple. 'I like it,' he said indistinctly.
'All right,' said Clara doubtfully. 'It's very, um, fetching.'
'Isn't it?' he said happily, proudly displaying the embroidery. 'I made it myself.'
'I knew I recognised the fabric,' exclaimed Clara. 'They're your mother's front room curtains.'
'No they're not,' he said shiftily. 'They're my wizard robes.' 'But why?' pressed Clara. 'Why are you togged up as a wizard?'
'Well,' he said, leaning against the apple tree. 'I thought with all the topsy turvyness going on this month, if I dressed like a wizard, maybe I'd get some magical powers.'
'Dress for the job you want, kind of thing?'
'Exactly.'
'And how's that working out for you?'
Lucas scrunched up his eyes in concentration. He held out a hand dramatically and wiggled his fingers.
An apple dropped into the basket at his feet.
Clara looked up.
'Uh,' she said. 'Try that again.'
He did.
Another apple plonked onto the pile.
'That's amazing,' said Clara, wide-eyed. 'I'll be right back.'
'Where are you going?' called Lucas as she sprinted back to the house.
'To see if I can find another pair of curtains your mother won't miss.'
Hmm, maybe I should get the sewing maching out too...? Saff x
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