Half an hour later, Audrey was proud of what she’d achieved. Layla’s dark ginger wavy hair had glamorous big waves, her make-up was tasteful and Layla couldn’t stop gawping into the mirror. Audrey picked up her phone and got Layla to stand next to her before they crouched down, both pouted and she took a selfie.
‘You mustn’t post that anywhere without my permission,’ Layla warned.
‘I wasn’t even thinking about it. I was going to print it out, one for me, one for you, a souvenir.’
‘You’re the best big sister ever.’ Layla threw her arms around Audrey.
‘Go show Gran,’ Audrey’s voice shook as Layla trotted down the stairs – because she was starting to matter to other people; it wasn’t just her mum anymore, there was Gran, Layla, and the new friends she was making at school. All of a sudden it started to mean something that one day she’d be leaving it all behind.
Downstairs Gran was flabbergasted at Layla’s transformation and Layla was still twirling around, preening her hair, alternating between showing Gran and looking in the hallway mirror by the time Audrey joined them.
When eventually she stood still, Audrey asked, ‘Layla, do you know the most important thing when it comes to wearing make-up?’
‘What’s that?’
‘To take it all off properly at the end of the day before you go to sleep.’ She handed her a packet of make-up remover tissues. ‘Take these, there are a few left, they’ll work on eyes and skin.’
‘I can’t wait till I’m allowed to wear my own make-up every day.’
‘That’s another important thing.’ Audrey bent down with her hands on her knees so she was eye-level with Layla. She touched a finger to her nose with a light flick. ‘Don’t wear it before you need to – learn to see the beauty you already have, the beauty everyone has.’
‘Daddy always says beauty is on the inside as well as outside.’
‘And he’s exactly right.’ She turned to Veronica. ‘Maybe we could give you a makeover, Gran. What do you think?’
But Gran laughed at the idea and instead cut slices of Bakewell tart before Layla showed her the latest kindness calendar. And if she suspected they were tampering with it, she never let on. All she remarked upon was how full it was and she seemed to be excited more than anything else.
‘Mrs Haines wants us to include someone else in the calendar this time, to be a team.’ Layla pointed to the sentence written across the top in small letters to squish it all in. Audrey had tried to make her writing as much like a teacher’s as she could, neat and uniform and clear. She just hoped Layla wouldn’t do one of her winks right now or it would be startlingly obvious.
Gran peered more closely and read out, ‘“Find a friend this month and join forces for double the fun”. You mentioned that before – is Dad helping you out?’
‘He’s too busy with work.’ She managed to look glum despite the makeover.
‘That’s a shame.’
‘Would you help me, Veronica?’
‘You want me, really? To help with this?’ Although excited at first, she looked a little doubtful. ‘I don’t want to mess it up if I can’t do some of the items.’
Audrey hadn’t thought this might make her feel bad in any way. ‘Gran, I’m sure there’s plenty required that won’t involve doing anything you don’t want to do.’
‘I don’t know.’ Veronica shook her head, already looking overwhelmed.
Audrey had to think fast. ‘How about I help out too? You’re Layla’s main helper of course, but if there’s something you can’t do, then I can step in.’ She looked at the calendar and pointed out a square. ‘This one, for example: “Rake leaves off the path for a neighbour” – I can help Layla with that, but some of the others we can do together. Look at this one, Gran.’
Gran read out loud. ‘“Join a group”.’ Her eyes pleaded with her granddaughter and Audrey could tell she was beginning to panic.
To quell the rising anxiety, Audrey put a hand firmly on her gran’s. ‘We’ll do it together, us three. I’ll help with as much as I need to, I promise you that.’
‘You promise? I don’t want to let anybody down.’
‘I promise, Gran.’ When her gran nodded, she added, ‘We’ll be in a club. And I do believe that’s an item on the calendar.’
‘The Kindness Club!’ Layla called out.
Gran jumped, a hand at her chest. ‘That’s an outside voice if ever I heard one.’ But she hugged Layla. ‘I like the idea and I really do want to help.’
‘Then it’s decided,’ said Audrey. ‘All three of us will work on this, all three of us will do as many tasks as we can, but some will only be for two.’
‘We need to make a promise, a bit like I had to do when I joined the brownies,’ Layla announced.
Audrey stood and held her right hand to her temple in a salute sign. ‘I, Audrey, do solemnly swear to offer random acts of kindness using the kindness calendar. I promise to help Layla and Gran fulfil all the tasks on the calendar, leaving nothing out.’
Gran and Layla stood and adopted the same pose.
‘I’ve forgotten it already,’ Gran admitted.
‘Repeat after me,’ said Audrey and took each of them through the promise stage by stage. And at the end their hands met in the middle of their circle and launched into the air as they declared the Kindness Club officially open.
Veronica was rummaging in a kitchen drawer and took out a pen. She found ‘Form a club’
