Later in the afternoon, Brown Owl calls around with my dress. Mother offered her a cup of tea and Brown Owl gratefully accepted. My mother asked me to put the kettle on. “I think I can finally stop for the day now.” Brown Owl said as she pulled out a dining chair and sat herself down.
“Busy day?” Mother asked as she hung my dress from the pantry door. Brown Owl said she’d spent the morning helping to decorate the float and carriage, and has just been delivering the dresses to each of the Seven Sisters, including Benjimin and Antony Proctor. “Were they wearing their Sunday dresses?” Mother asked.
Brown Owl smiled and nodded and said they both looked nice. “What were they like?” I asked. I don’t know why I asked and didn’t really know what to say other than “oh” when Brown described Benjimin’s lime green frock and Antony’s royal blue one.
“Are you looking forward to tomorrow?” she asked.
“Er… yeah I guess.”
“I think he’s bit nervous.” Mother said.
Brown Owl said that’s understandable and claimed that every May Queen gets nervous. “…even the girls.” she smiled and asked if I’d been practising my speech.
“Yeah… a bit.”
“Good boy.” she replied, “Although I only realised last night that I’d made one glaring omission.”
“What’s that?” I asked.
Brown Owl dipped her hand into her handbag and removed a sheet of A4 paper, seemingly identical to the one on which my speech is printed. She handed it to me and asked me to read it aloud. I thank everyone for attending and wish them an enjoyable day. Then I thank everyone who’s organised the event and those who are participating. I thank everyone for the beautiful flowers which will be distributed to the local care homes and day centres and thank my seven sisters for all their work and support… “This is the new bit.” Brown Owl said.
“…and I’d like to thank the ladies of the sewing circle for all their hard work making my beautiful dress.” I paused, gulped and glanced at my dress hanging from the door frame. “I hereby announce that the May Day celebrations are open, and wish each and every one of you a wonderful day.”
Mother and Brown Owl clapped their hands. “Very good Vincent.” Mother said.
“Yes… excellent.” Brown Owl agreed, before suggesting that after thanking the ladies of the sewing circle for my dress, that I should pause, hold out my skirt and “…do a little curtsey.”
“OK.” I gulped. I re-read the line, mimed holding my skirt out and curtseyed before completing my speech.
“Wonderful!” they declared. I blushed and asked if I really have to curtsey afterwards. “Of course.” Mother claimed.
“But… I’ll be curtseying at the end anyway, when I get my round of applause.”
“You’ll be curtseying a lot more after that when everyone wants to meet and greet you.” Brown Owl said. “We’re expecting a huge turnout… especially now word has got around that this year’s May Queen is a boy!”
I bit my lip as a little swarm of butterflies fluttered in my tummy. Brown Owl advised me to throw my original speech away, since I don’t want to read the wrong one by mistake and forget to thank the ladies of the sewing circle. Mother asked what the order of play would be tomorrow. I know the May Queen procession begins at 10.30am, but am surprised to hear that I need to be ready by 9.00am. I ask why so early. “Because we need plenty of time to make sure that everything is perfect.” I’m told.
“Why don’t you take your dress up to your room ready for the morning?” Mother suggested.
