not speak at all, but keptlooking around him, asthough he was afraid thatthey were being followed. Ittook Ryder a long time toguide them back to the park,and once there, he was ableto make Tommy take his ownbike, and finally they reachedtheir house, where their mumhad been worried sick aboutthem being gone all day long.“What do you think thatwas in the tower?” Ryderasked his brother that night.“A booby trap or something?”“We must never go backthere. Promise!” Tommy hadnot spoken since they hadreturned, but his words werenow forceful, and there was aquiver of fear behind them.“OK, I promise,” Ryderrelented, and let the subjectdrop.The boys never did goout riding their bikes again.Tommy seemed too clumsysomehow to manoeuvre his,and Ryder was never all thatkeen. And soon Ryder forgotall about the tower anyway,as he went back to hiscomputer games and his TVprogrammes.Tommy worried hisparents. He always seemedto be hungry, as though hehadn’t eaten in weeks. Histemper was shorter too, andas he grew, he becameclumsier, knocking intopeople and furniture. “It’salmost like he’s a differentperson,” his mum said oneday to Ryder, as Ryderhelped her wash the dishes.Ryder thought for a second,but then shook his head. Hedid not tell his mum or hisdad about their bike ride, orthe tower, or the sleepingbeauty. Tommy nevermentioned it either, but then,Tommy doesn’t speak muchthese days.Inside the tower in themiddle of Swithen Wood, thebeautiful girl slept on, andstill sleeps to this day,paralysed, waiting untilsomeone comes to awakenher from the spell. Inside herbeautiful, ageless head, thereal Tommy Frobisher isscreaming.Photography byGraham DeanIssue 1 www.newfairytales.co.uk 10
Cloudberriesby linda sarahIssue 1 www.newfairytales.co.uk 11
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