Roxie Mitchell

The Mandrakes

Chapter One: The Disappearing Bin Bag Rachael Digby woke to her alarm buzzing tirelessly, it could have been going off for ages for all she knew. She cracked her eyes open and looked at the time flashing on her digital clock. 8:15! She was in the shit! School was starting in half an hour and being the first day back after the 6 week holiday she really didn't want to be the last one in. She didn't want to have to walk into the classroom late again and be the center of attention so early in the year. She just wanted to blend in and not be noticed. Rachael didn't have any friends in her class, or in school for that matter–she was what everyone called a loner. She wasn't a complete loner though, she had a best friend out of school who lived on her road called Charlotte Mandrake, but Charlotte attended a fancy boarding school far away, so Rachael would only see her best friend during the holidays. But, this being the last year in school, that would all change soon. Charlotte was a bit weird, she was very secretive, as were her mum and dad. They had kooky things in their house that Rachael couldn't even explain, but Rachael loved Charlotte's family. They were much nicer than her own family. Rachael didn't much enjoy her own family, she would much rather be at Charlotte's than at home. Rachael's mum and dad were always away on "business" although she was sure her mum and dad were just doing what they could to get away from their hermit of a daughter. Mr. and Mrs. Digby were social butterflies in every sense. They would forever be attending social events and were big in their world of jacuzzi sales–nearly 80% of their neighbourhood owned a Digby Jacuzzi. The Mandrake family certainly didn't own a Digby Jacuzzi. In fact, they didn't mix well at all with the community, which suited Rachael down to the ground. She couldn't really stand the people her own parents mixed with. Talking about Jacuzzis and tennis and blah blah blah. Rachael remembers that Charlotte's father, Dimitri, didn't even know what a Jacuzzi was. When Rachael explained what it was he exclaimed, "Ohh like a giant cauldron for people"! Rachael thought Mr and Mrs Mandrake were funny people. They didn't even own a car or a television set. And she loved their eccentricities. Their home was dark and old fashioned, like they hadn't changed their furniture since the house was built in the Victorian times. They had beautiful gas lights and candles, old leather bound books and stuffed animals. She loved it there. Her own home was a pristine, modern day, state of the art home. They had a maid and everything was up to date. But it didn't feel the slightest bit homey, especially so since her parents were away so much of the time. Rachael got her uniform on and rushed out the front door to the black Mercedes waiting on the grey slate driveway. "Hello Fredrick," Rachael said sunnily to her chauffeur in the front seat. "Good day, Miss Digby, we are rather behind this morning, but no worries, Miss Digby, I will do my best".