Chapter 3

The summer holidays blossomed with colour. Perinone poppies, straw sunflowers, and raspberry roses. The sun shone – a good omen for Shirley, and the farm’s crops thirstily drank the water that was poured on them by the farmerette. Without her knowing, the smell of fresh air, the broad accents, and the endless green became more, and more familiar. In fact, the bustling city sounds, and the stuffy smell became forgotten, lost in the universe of past. As the warm wind blew through the trees, Shirley found a peace that she had never glimpsed of before.

Everyday, Shirley visited Arjun, sometimes with Old Rose, sometimes without. The two whispered together, and gazed up at the sky. Shirley would stroke the peacock, and in return, the peacock would dance for her. Many nights they spent together, undetected. Together, they discovered the forest’s deepest secrets.

However, there was one thing that worried Shirley so much she couldn’t go to sleep. A worry that pulled her heart with fear. That someone would see Arjun, and harm him. Sell him. Something bad. But Shirley reassured herself every time, thinking that Arjun would be clever enough to attack. Yet she couldn’t stop the voice at the back of her brain… ‘He’s going to be discovered.’

It happened though. One night towards the end of July, Shirley was making her way into the wood when she heard a terrified voice shouting help, followed with a squawk. She recognised Arjun’s call and rushed forwards, pushing bushes aside as if they were feathers. Arjun stood with his claws sharp and body tensed as if ready to attack. A few feet away, Mrs Reid shook like jelly, holding a basket of herbs. Shirley ran forwards, and held the agitated peacock still, whispering until he calmed down.

It was close. When Shirley returned home, she and Old Rose discussed what they could do. Was it time to let Arjun go?