He said, “I will if you will.”

So I smiled and shook his hand and said, “It’s a deal.”

So it’s a date-type date.

Blimey.

And Blinking Nora.

Yaroooo!

Jumping Jehoshaphat. I am sooo excited about going on a proper date with Charlie I can hardly breathe.

I even ate one of Dibdobs’s moss cakes.

And said night-night to the shoe.

That’s how happy I was.

Praise the knees!

I RAN ALL THE way to Dother Hall on Monday morning. I couldn’t wait to tell the Tree Sisters my big date news about Charlie. I’m on cloud nine, drifting along watching clouds one to eight, and waiting to go on my first proper date with someone I really like.

The Tree Sisters were almost as excited as me. When I told them about Charlie we did a celebration dance on Vaisey’s bed in the dorm.

Flossie said, “Miss Tallulah Mae, you doggone gone and got yourself a boyfriend—it’s Jazzle time!” And she got her secret stash out.

Vaisey hugs me every time she sees me.

And even Jo is pleased for me. I know because my arm is black and blue.

This week is going sooooo slowly. It’s still only Monday afternoon. I may go mad or have to knock myself out.

The whole of Dother Hall is beavering away at different ideas for the Big Night Out. Sidone said, “Girls, I want to involve the WHOLE community. Go out and spread the word far and near. When I told my mature ladies at the Blubberhouses Large Ladies Who Pole Dance for Fun Society, they had some interesting ideas. Some may say pole dancing is the territory of the young and lithe, but that is not their view. I think everyone will be surprised on the night.”

When I got back to Heckmondwhite, I bumped into Ruby. She said, “I’ve thought of something to do for the Big Night Out. It will be a mega laugh. Matilda can do some of her backing dancing.”

And when I got home, Dibdobs was skipping about the kitchen with joy. “Oh, it will be marvelous. Oooh, Lullah, I could squeeze you!”

She gave me a list of ideas she and Harold had come up with for the Big Night Out to read in bed.

Ethnic drumming

I know what that will be, a load of pans and a tin bath.

Harold said, “Yes, the Iron Men’s Drumming group will search inside themselves for their Inner Woman, and play soft themes of love and harmony on our lovingly crafted drums.”

I’d seen his lovingly crafted drum. It is essentially an old dustbin lid.

Then there was Dibdobs’s special:

Foragers’ banquet

With a suggested menu of Nettle Soup and Moss Pasta with Wild Garlic and Snails.

Also on their list are:

Leaf-hat parades

Sheep-poo sculpture competition

On Wednesday I went into Dother Hall and Bob came clinking out of the music studio to put up a notice. It said:

Big Night Out

Peace, dudettes.

Just a heads-up vis-à-vis the Big Night Out. The Iron Pies have got a very extensive playlist for their first outdoor gig. We’re gonna rock the forest, man!