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!

 
Of course, being a child of Wellow, I had done this stuff before, it’s not compulsory of course but the younger kids seem to enjoy it and whilst the boys generally find a reason not to once they reach secondary school, most of the girls stick with it until they reach ‘Queen’ age. So yeah, I’ve been a girl for barely a week and Johnny last took part when he was eleven.

Of course, being the eldest ‘girl’ meant I was roped into helping with the younger ‘dancers’ who were, lets say, enthusiastic if not skilled. Then of course there was the inevitable meeting with some of my younger ex schoolmates. Johnny was often the butt of the Markham twins, Laura & Jessica but Daisy, well there was a vibe that I couldn’t quite put my finger on.

"You look a lot like Johnny,” Laura had opined as we sat on the edge of the stage as instructions were given to the youngsters.

Had they seen past my disguise?

"We are cousins,” I pointed out.

"So where do you go to school?” Jess enquired.
"Wellow House,” I answered without word of a lie.
"We thought you’d be going to Dukeries like the rest of us peasants,” her sister stated.
"Who said I’m a peasant?” I taunted.
"Don’t get your knickers in a twist.”
"We were just saying.”
"Mum says you’re gonna be Manda’s replacement,” Jess continued.
"That’s the girl who died right?”
"She was well cool,” Laura told me, "Johnny had a bit of a thing for her but she was playing hard to get.”
"Oh?”
"Yeah, she quite fancied him too,” Jess stated.
"So you got a boyfriend?”
"Not at the moment,” well I haven’t, its no lie.
"There’s s’posed to be some right hunks at Wellow.”
"Might be,” I allowed.
"I bet she’s fighting them off,” Laura suggested.
"Hardly,” I riposted, "We’re revising for our GCSE’s, even if I was interested we don’t have time.”
"Me thinks she protests too much,” Jess gibed.

I was saved from further interrogation by Imelda Forest, the leader of the village choreography department.

"Daisy luv, can you give me a hand.”
"Sure,” I agreed, quickly slipping from my perch and hurrying to the waiting ‘pole’ dancers.
 

"Well that went well,” Aunt Claire told me as we jounced away from the village hall down the lane.
"It did?”
"Everything is going like clockwork for the big day.”
"Except for the stand in May Queen.”
"Replacement maybe, not stand in Dais, you will be the Queen, one hundred percent,” Aunt Claire stated firmly.
"It still seems wrong.”
"It might be less than ideal but its not wrong kiddo, so how was the dancing?”
"Okay I guess, the twins were giving me the third degree, do you think they suspect something?”
"They’re just curious that’s all, I mean, Johnny disappears and his pretty cousin turns up, I’d be surprised if they weren’t asking questions.”
"If you say so.”
"Imelda says you were a great help with the little uns, like you knew the steps already.”
"They aren’t exactly difficult,” I pointed out.
"Even so, she was impressed with your patience.”
 
We were nearly back home when Mum dropped the next bombshell.

"Next Wednesday.”
"What about it?”
"It’s Amanda’s funeral, do you want to go?”

Oh boy. Of course, in the back of my mind I knew there would be a funeral, I just hadn’t thought about the when. Johnny would definitely want to go but Daisy never even met Manda, I mean are there protocols about going to a ‘strangers’ funeral?

Mum broke into my thoughts as we pulled into the car park, "I think you should, most of the village will be there and no doubt a lot from the school too.”
"What about school, Wellow House that is?”
"I’m sure it won’t be a problem under the circumstances.”
"I haven’t got anything to wear.”
"Spoken like a true woman,” Aunt Claire informed me, "I thought we could go to Worksop in the morning.”
"Can’t, I’ve got school until twelve,” I pointed out.
"I forgot about that, how about I pick you up from school and we can go direct from there?”
"I guess,” I allowed, "Looks like a busy night,” I noted looking at the full car park.
 

And indeed the Red Lion was busier than it usually is on a Friday which is generally busy enough. Apparently there’s a wedding over in Eakring tomorrow, some of the guests are staying at The Maypole but they’d been advised to eat at the Lion as we have a better menu.

The Maypole, it has to be said, despite the name is run by outsiders who’ve never got involved in village life. Not only that but these days it’s more hotel than pub with prices to match, they get business from Wellow House parents and ‘functions’ but most villagers come to the Lion. It’s not exactly a war between the two hostelries, more like an uneasy truce.

Anyhow, the extra meals for the Maypole guests, the Coven’s usual after meeting wine and dine and a significant birthday of a chap on the new estate meant it was all hands on deck. I can’t serve behind the bar of course but I can serve tables which is how I spent the next three hours. Of course, Johnny used to do it too but it was quite different doing it as Daisy, for starters, everyone wanted to talk and secondly, everyone wanted to talk!
 

I have to say, I was certainly glad of my smoothie next morning, I was well tired from the night before, whoever dreamt up Saturday morning school should be shot! Somehow I got myself out the door on time, I have got a lot quicker at getting ready but it still takes at least twice as long as Johnny would’ve done.

Some of that time, it has to be said, is just me staring at the girl in the mirror. I know its Johnny looking back but I’ll admit that even for me, its hard to see my former self. My lips have settled down from the initial swelling of the plumping and I’ve become used to the brightness of my hair, my more delicate eyebrows, the glint of jewellery in nose and ears, even the length of my nails. I guess if you had Daisy and Johnny alongside each other you’d say we were related, you wouldn’t, I don’t think, clock us as the same person.
 

"Hard night Dais?” Maggie enquired as I tried to disguise a Queen sized yawn as we waited for Mr Fletcher outside of the Biology lab.
"Could say that, the pub was rammed last night, it was all hands to the pumps.”
"You pull pints?” Jess queried.
"Course not, its just an expression, I was serving tables.”
"Oh the glamour,” Debbie smirked.
I shrugged, "It’s a family business, everyone has to muck in.”
"At least its not mucking out,” Sarah Jane noted, "Debs family own stables.”
"What if we do?”
"Just saying,” Sarah Jane smirked.
"So who’s going to Manny this afternoon?” Jess enquired, "Dais?”
"Not today, I’m going to a funeral on Wednesday so my aunt is taking me to Worksop to get something to wear.”
"That’s a bit of a downer,” Maggie stated.
"Tell me about it,” I agreed with a surreptitious rub of an itchy chest.
"You want to get some E45 on them Dais,” Jess mentioned.
"Eh?”
"Itchy boobs, E45 works wonders, that or Sudocrem.”
"Er right,” I allowed as I felt myself colour up.

The conversation was ended by the arrival of our tutor.

"Come on people,” Mr Fletcher chivvied, "Lots to cover, not much time, you okay Miller?”
"Er yes sir, just a bit erm warm.”
"Well let me know if you need to go out for a bit, now page forty five, structure of cells.”

What was all that about.
 

Mum, Aunt Claire, was waiting for me when I let myself out of Castle Wellow, seriously, the place has more security than Ranby prison!

She was chuckling when I got into the car.

"What’s so funny?”
"Oh nothing,” she told me with a grin.
"Try me,” I persisted.
"Well seeing you coming out of there in your school uniform.”
"What about it? And its not school uniform.”
"Close as.”
"Hmmph!” So much for the no uniform promise.
"Well you look so comfortable in it.”
"Its not like I got much choice is it?”
"Well it was never intended, when Angela suggested you coming here.”
"I guess,” I allowed as I pulled the seatbelt into place.

"Have we got any C forty five cream?” I enquired as we took the short cut down Sparken Hill to Worksop town centre.
"E forty five,” Aunt Claire corrected, "What do you need that for?”
"My chest was a bit itchy this morning, I think its these damn bras, Jess said it worked for her.”
"Not got any but we can pop into Boots® and get some but I think I need to take a look when we get back too.”
"Fine,” I allowed, "So we got to get something black for the funeral I guess.”
"No, Amanda’s parents want it to be a celebration so respectful but not dour.”
"Wouldn’t the dress I got in Lincoln do?”
"A bit too frivolous I think.”
"If you say so, you’re buying.”
"I guess you could always go in your school uniform?”
"I’ll pass on that thanks.”
"Well its a fall back if we don’t find anything this afternoon.”

If Retford is an out and out market town, Worksop is the next level up. There used to be loads of big coal mines surrounding the town, Manton, Shireoaks, Carlton and so on, but it was a local centre well before that with a priory and castle. Today, with the mines long gone, the main industry seems to be distribution and producing oiks.

Don’t get me wrong, its not a bad place but it does have a bit of a rep for trouble on Saturday nights, being town of choice for partying if Mansfield is too genteel for you. But on a Saturday afternoon its full of shoppers, the choice somewhat wider than Retford and more spread out.

We found a chemist before any sort of clothing emporium, Superdrug rather than Boots, I hope this E stuff works, the urge to give my chest a good scratch was strong.

"Can we eat first?”
"Eat?” Aunt Claire queried back.
"I’ve not had anything since seven o’clock, that’s over four hours ago.”
"Lets take a look in Boyes first, they might have something.”

And pigs might fly, Boyes are to department stores what greasy spoons are to fine cuisine! Don’t get me wrong, if you want cheap and cheerful homewares they are a good starting point but clothing, well not fashion icons.

"Whatever,” I allowed, my enthusiasm for this expedition sagging even further.
 
© Maddy Bell 04.08.2025