17

Next, you spend a while telling your grandma about some of the people you've met in your time here.

You tell her about your neighbor Robin (whose family didn't live in Silvertree when your grandma was last in this house), and how Robin is busy with an exhibition for the town archives, after he successfully saved them from closure.

You tell her about Marlowe, who works for the local news site and has recently gotten a permanent position there.

You talk about Rana, the person who spearheaded the campaign to save the forest from the developments and organized a whole group of protesters to help fight for the cause.

You describe Nic, the person you met working in the pet store, who has spent some time traveling the countryside in her van and having a much better time than she was at her job.

And then you tell her about your neighbors over the road—Maxie, Zoe, and their son Tobias, who is planning to start college soon, and just yesterday he told you he'd started packing.

And while it isn't easy to sum up everything you've felt since you met all of those people, you tell your grandma that:

When you think back to how it was living in the forest with your grandma, it really feels like another world; not least because you were often the only two people in it. Since coming to Silvertree, one of the strangest things you've had to get used to is that you're not on your own anymore. And maybe it was too much to expect that you would always have your own world all to yourself. After all, that isn't what most people get, even if they might want it. But it still hasn't always been easy being around so many other people. No matter where you live, you think you'll always need a little bit of your own space.

When you mention Tobias's family, your grandma gives a nod of recognition.

"Oh yes—I remember them. We were neighbors for a long time. I wasn't the most neighborly person, of course, and I can't say we were close. But I remember how you used to play with little Toby. Wow; time really does fly."

It's just then, as your grandma seems to look off into the distance for a moment, that you remember the conversation you had with Dolores last night. What she told you about the warning your grandma gave her a decade ago—and the advice she gave you about talking to your grandma if you had any questions. You don't know what your grandma might have hidden in the books she gave to Dolores, and you don't think you could guess what information could have been in there. Given that there's so much you feel as if your grandma hasn't told you, you're not sure if it would be worth bringing all of this up—or if there might be something your grandma would be willing to explain.

In the end, you take a breath, and begin by saying:

"Grandma—there's actually something else as well. I met a woman called Dolores, and she told me how you used to be friends."

your grandma shakes her head quickly as if pulling herself out of the past—and then, eyes widening slightly, she opens her mouth.

"Dolores? Dolores Silver? Oh—goodness, yes. I haven't thought about her in a long time. We mostly used to garden together, or sometimes we would go for walks in the forest. She was…about the opposite sort of person to me in almost every way, except that we were both thought to be quite eccentric. She knew everybody in town, would spend half the year traveling the world, seemed to throw parties almost every week. Oh, and she was never shy about speaking her mind, no matter when or where. I think I spent a good few years a little bit afraid of her. But you know, she was always very perceptive. She seemed to recognize when a person was less outgoing than herself, and she wouldn't ever push that. I remember when she first spoke to me I was surprised how gentle she was. I think I spent more time with her than anybody else in Silvertree, and a lot of the time we would hardly say a word. I always appreciated her company. I hope she could see that, even if I didn't always say it."

She breathes out slowly, before looking at you again and adding:

"I'm sorry, Huknock—was there something else you were going to say?"

You swallow; and after a second, you reply: