Thank For Alfie you for braving the world with me both real and imaginary
1 CHAPTER 1 Mum always turns everything into a game Even boring outings to the theater When the play starts Mum says count the number number of times the cast say Rapunzel's name Apparently they say it seven times in the first seven minutes She pauses looking between me and my best friend Elle We glance at each other and frown Seven Mum repeats like this should mean something to us The witching number She looks disappointed Oh never mind I can't help but laugh Mum's games don't always make sense because her brain works in mysterious ways We're at a coffee shop next door to the theater having having cake and hot chocolate while we wait to watch the afternoon performance Fine You think of a better game to play while we watch she says chucking her napkin at me and grinning We could just watch the play I offer Mum shakes her head Boring
2 Okay fine I think for a moment How about we count the number of times the cast says hair I suggest Isn't that what the story is about It's Mum's turn to laugh Rapunzel isn't about hair she says I've never heard something so ridiculous It's about freedom and independence and exploring the world While Mum talks I look up a line from the story on my phone and read it out smirking Rapunzel Rapunzel let down your hair You have to admit Mum it does seem to be about hair Cheeky Mum says taking a sip of her coffee Anyway what about you Elle What do you think we should count Elle who's been watching us talk back and forth like she's a referee at a tennis match chimes in We've been doing Shakespeare at school this year and apparently whenever anyone performs Macbeth it's bad luck to say his name in the theatre before the play Mum looks genuinely interested Yes I have heard this But also did you know And soon enough Mum and Elle have launched into a conversation about different traditions in the theatre something I could never talk about Elle's like a chameleon she always knows what to say She changes personalities depending on who she's around and can talk to just about anyone like Mum I'm just a plain old lizard darting into the corner of every room I enter
