May Queen Book 1 by Maddy Bell Copyright© 2024 Madeline Bell One day your life is just, well life, the next has Daisy in it!

I can’t disagree with the fair Denise, the session was brutal. Well okay, not SAS brutal but for someone whose exercise regime consisted largely of standing around a cricket pitch, the non stop, high tempo session was indeed, exhausting. Most of those taking part were of the female persuasion and most I knew at least by sight but no one questioned Claire’s niece from Devon joining them. The first twenty minutes seemed like eternity, the second felt like forever, but finally it was over.

I must admit that I was bushed, I just about managed to stay sat upright as I mopped my brow and sipped the last of my water. Aunt Claire was clearly in much better shape than me, she seemed to have hardly broken into a sweat. I was vaguely aware of the chatter around me as mats were rolled, footwear exchanged and so on, only jerking back into the here and now when Aunt Claire returned.

"Here, get this down you,” she suggested passing me a large paper cup.
"What is it?” I asked sniffing the contents a bit dubiously.
"A smoothie, there’s all sorts in it to help with recovery and boost your energy, Janice makes it by the bucket for Mondays.”

I sniffed at it again before taking a sip. Whatever I was expecting, the muddy looking contents tasted pretty good if a little, well, slimy. I couldn’t pick out anything in particular but there were hints of banana, rhubarb, root beer? Well something with that same sort of antiseptic overtone at any rate. And Mum was right, it really was quite refreshing and felt quite revitalised by the time I’d finished my cupful of murky elixir.

And so an ‘energy’ smoothy was added to my morning regime, I’d never noticed but Mum has apparently been drinking them for years. Can’t do any harm, some extra energy never goes amiss.
 

The following morning Aunt Claire decreed that I start sorting myself out, at least with the little bit of makeup I was allowed to wear for school, essentially a bit of mascara and some lip gloss. Clothing wise, well whilst I was hard at work revising on Monday, some suspiciously Wellow House like skirts had been added to my wardrobe alongside several assorted white blouses to match. On the plus side I wouldn’t stand out quite as much but I also felt like I was being stitched up somewhat.

And so I started to get into a bit of a routine, much like Johnny going to The Dukeries Academy without the bus journeys but with makeup and skirts. I’ll even go so far as to say I was enjoying being a pupil at Wellow House, most of those in my year were friendly enough and whilst I’ll never really be part of their shared experience, I at least felt included. The teachers seemed to have more invested in our education, the classes smaller and disruption pretty much non existent.

That was until Friday rolled around.
 

What happened on Friday I hear you ask. Two things, no three really, maybe. Whilst Mrs Jarvis had given me a timetable on Monday, I must admit that I hadn’t bothered to look at it beyond the very basic what subject which day, after all, most of my classmates were doing the same subjects so any changes of venue only required me to tag along. Which is how I managed to miss two very important issues.

The first was that Friday afternoon was Fifth year ‘games’, regardless of the upcoming exam season.

"You not brought any games kit Daisy?” Maggie Brown queried as we queued for lunch.
My mind was focussed on the pork cutlet and asparagus rather than casual conversation. "Eh?”
"Games, PE?”
"What about it?”
"You’ll be giving blondes a bad name,” Julia suggested from behind me, "We’ve got PE straight after lunch.”
"Didn’t you do games in Devon Dais?” Maggie queried.
"Er, not really.”
"You must’ve done something,” Julia pressed.
"Cricket?” then after a moment added, "I went to my aunt’s aerobic class on Monday, does that count.
"Ooo, Miss Simmonds is gonna love you,” Julia noted with a smirk.
 

The lunch, as I’d become accustomed this week, was excellent but it was spoilt a little by the news that despite reassurances from Mum when I took on this job, I will be expected to take part in the afternoons activities. The rest of the year had slunk off to get changed after eating which left me the only one still in ‘uniform’ when I found my way to the sports hall.

"And who do we have here? More importantly, why aren’t you in your games kit?” a woman I presumed to be Miss Simmonds barked at me.
"Erm Daisy Miller Miss, I didn’t know we’d have games still in the run up to the exams.”
"She only started this week Miss,” Jess added on my behalf.

Miss Simmonds did not look amused.

"Well Erm Daisy Miller, at Wellow House PT is always part of your education, exams or no. I suppose you are lacking any sort of suitable clothing?”
"Yes Miss, I could sit and revise?”
"Are you sick, or injured Daisy Miller?”
"No Miss.”
"Well in that case, you will join the rest of the fifth form for this afternoons activities. Lets see, Jessica De Vere, take our blonde fledgling to the kit store, find her some suitable clothing to wear, and don’t be all day, the rest of you out to the old pavilion.”

A key fob was passed over and my fate was sealed.
 
So much for no games whilst I’m being Daisy. The aerobics is bad enough but this is like ten times worse, the chances of being found out in the next few hours have risen dramatically even with Little Johnny carefully tucked in my knickers.

"Come on Dais, she’s okay really but she doesn’t like anyone taking the Michael,” Jess told me, leading the way towards, I presume, the kit store.
"I really didn’t expect to need sports gear,” I mumped.

Of course, Mr Johnson and his staff at The Dukeries were just as passionate about our participation in Phys Ed. but I had hoped to have some reprieve whilst I’m Daisy. The Kit Store, when we arrived it was already open, one of the lads I recognised as being in the Upper Sixth was pulling out what I recognised as fairly standard school issue cricket gear.

"What are you two up to?”
"Miss Simmonds sent us to find Daisy here some kit,” Jess explained.
"You’re the new girl right?”
"Er yeah, I mean yes.”
"On with you then, make sure you lock up when you’re done.”
"We will,” Jess confirmed, jiggling Miss Simmonds keys.

I have to admit, my eyes did linger a little as he gathered his bags of kit up, no fat on those buns!

"Earth to Daisy,” Jess mentioned waving a hand in front of my face.
"Eh?”
"I know he’s well fit but like Upper Sixth Dais and word is that he’s got a girlfriend already, back in the Home Counties.”
"I wasn’t…” I blustered. Well I was but I’m not that way inclined, or am I, is Daisy?
"Come on, lets get you togged up.”

The Wellow House spare clothing supply was in somewhat better order and condition than at my previous school, it didn’t take too long to locate a full set of kit including a pair of trainers. The good news was that as it was April and cricket season, the skirt and polo shirt covered almost as much as my uniform. Certainly, having survived Monday’s aerobics, I should manage an afternoons cricket dressed somewhat more demurely.

When the pair of us reached the ‘old’ pavillion, the other girls were already doing stretches – something I did at least know about. In fact, although the session was longer than a typical Wellownians training session, we followed a similar format, stretching, a few laps of the field then we split into two groups, one in the nets, the other doing fielding exercises. A swap about and finishing with a one side game.

As Johnny, playing men's youth, I am, was, pretty mediocre but good enough to get a game in the local league matches. As Daisy, well my skills haven’t miraculously improved but I had better technique and more accurate bowling which didn’t go unnoticed.

"Well done Miller,” Miss Simmonds called out when I bowled three for nought.

Of course the next ball I was taken for six. I guess the difference this afternoon was that the girls were essentially playing for fun, even at my lowly level in the men's game, most players take it very seriously, even in training. The net result was that I actually enjoyed myself and felt quite exhilarated when we packed up for the day. Of course I got volunteered, with Debbie to return the kit to the store where of course James Barclay was doing likewise – he looked even more buff after an afternoon on the sports field.
 

So that was the first thing, the second thing was sort of connected, Saturday morning classes, seriously? Yep, from nine until twelve every Saturday, the boarders had to do it, ergo the few day attendees had to too. Not that I exactly had anything planned but really?

But in terms of timeline, the third ‘thing’ was on Friday evening, It had vaguely been hinted at the previous Friday but ditz that I am, I hadn’t assimilated the information. For the next three Fridays taking us up to May Day, the youth of the village, from age eight upwards, would be practising the reels for the big day. As Queen in waiting I would escape most of the skipping about but I still needed to learn my part for the grand conclusion – joy.

"You look flushed,” Aunt Claire suggested when I got home from Wellow House.
"Been playing cricket.”
"At school?”

Well duh!

"Friday afternoon is fifth and sixth form PE.”
"Oops,” she allowed.
"It was okay, I had to borrow some kit, I’ll need some of my own for next week.”
"Like what?”
"Just a skirt and polo, I’ve got the rest.”
"I’ll check with Angela when we see her later.”
"Later?”
"Really Daisy, you’d forget your head if it wasn’t screwed on, yes later, you’ve got dance practice and I’ve got the committee.”
"Dance practice?”
"For your big day?” Aunt Claire hinted.
"I didn’t think I did any of that.”
"Mostly you don’t but the Queen does lead the final reel.”
"Oh joy,” I sighed.

 
© Maddy Bell 04.08.2025