S.D. Robertson - Stand By Me - The uplifting and heartbreaking best seller you need to read this year

Elliot’s head reappeared, eyes wide with terror at the suggestion. ‘No, don’t do that. Can’t you throw them over to me?’

Imagining herself in the same situation, Lisa understood why Elliot didn’t want her to see him virtually naked. ‘Yes, that’s fine,’ she replied. Removing the rucksack from her shoulders, she moved to the very edge of the stream and tried a few practice swings in the right direction. ‘Right, I think I can make it. I’m going to aim straight for the middle of the bush. On three, okay? One … two … three.’

She threw the bag as best as she could, getting it across the water at least, but not as far as Elliot. It caught in the low-hanging branch of a nearby tree, a metre or so in front of the bush where he was hiding.

‘Sorry,’ she said as Elliot’s face sank. ‘That didn’t go to plan. I can come over there and grab it, if you like.’

‘No, I’ll get it.’ He paused before adding: ‘But would you mind looking the other way?’

This amused Lisa. At primary school, when they’d had to change for PE or games in the classroom, the boys had usually been happy parading around in their underwear. It was the girls who tended to be more self-conscious. ‘No problem,’ she replied. ‘I’m turning around now.’

Lisa noted how peaceful it was down the lane as the noise of every movement Elliot made carried across the stream. By the sound of things, not least his various grunts and groans, he seemed to be struggling to pull the bag free. She was about to ask if he needed a hand when he shouted, ‘got it.’

‘Great. Can I turn around again?’

‘Yes.’

He was back behind the bush when she did so, but a few moments later, he emerged with a look on his face somewhere between sheepish and relieved. He looked odd in the T-shirt and joggers, both of which were tight width-wise but too long in length.

She threw him a smile. ‘Do they fit okay? They were the best I could find at short notice.’

‘They’re fine, thanks.’ Elliot stepped forward in the flip-flops, which actually looked about the right size, and then almost tripped over one of the oversized legs of the jogging bottoms, barely managing to steady himself on a tree trunk. ‘Oops.’

‘Careful,’ Lisa warned. ‘Maybe you ought to roll up the legs a little.’

‘Good idea,’ he replied, bending forward to follow her suggestion. ‘I’m really not very good without my specs.’

He wasn’t exaggerating about this, as Lisa discovered when she had to take back the rucksack and help him across the stream. Then they made their way back to the village.

‘What do you want to do about getting your things back?’ Lisa asked as they neared the start of the lane.

Elliot shrugged. ‘Nothing, I guess. What can I do? They’re gone now.’

‘But your glasses.’

‘I’ll have to wear my old ones again and tell Mum I lost them.’

‘Why not tell her the truth? She could contact the parents of these boys. Then they’d have to return them.’

‘You’re kidding, right? Then I’d be a telltale, which would only make things worse. It’s not like I can prove what they’ve done. It’s their word against mine. And there were three of them. I wouldn’t want to worry my mum, anyway.’

He stopped walking, took hold of Lisa’s arm and looked her in the eye. ‘You’re not going to tell your dad, are you? Please don’t. I’d be dead meat.’

‘No, of course I won’t.’ She grimaced. ‘He’s, um, not actually a policeman. I kind of made that up. Sorry.’

She expected Elliot to be angry with her about this, but instead he started to laugh, making his deep blue eyes sparkle. ‘Really? Wow, I can’t believe I fell for that. I’m so gullible.’

Lisa smiled. ‘It’s understandable. You did have other things on your mind at the time, what with being almost naked and all. I shouldn’t have lied to you.’

‘That’s okay. You rescued me, which more than makes up for it.’

‘True.’ She looked over at Elliot, in her poorly fitting clothes and flip-flops; then down at herself, wet and caked in mud, and it was her turn to laugh.

‘What?’

‘I was thinking how ridiculous we both look, that’s all.’

Her words set Elliot off again, in a fit of giggles this time, and the way he laughed – which reminded Lisa of a seal – was so contagious that soon she too couldn’t stop.

She lost track of how long they stood there chuckling next to the Victoria Street sign. Several adults walked past in that time and the odd looks they gave the pair only served to make them laugh even more.

Eventually, Elliot announced that he ought to get home. ‘Is it okay if I return your things tomorrow? I could bring them round to your house in the morning, if you like.’

‘Um, sure,’ Lisa replied.

‘Cool.’

‘Not as posh as you’d think, is it, this place?’

‘What do you mean?’

Lisa nodded towards the sign. ‘Victoria Street. It’s a very grand-sounding name.’

‘Oh, right. Yeah, no one actually uses that. Everyone calls it Vicky Lane.’

‘Really?’

‘Yep. Anyway, I’ll see you tomorrow.’

‘Wait. Before you go, you are all right, aren’t you? You know, after everything that happened.’

‘I’m fine, thanks to you. I owe you one.’

‘I was glad to help.’

Lisa could tell that Elliot was itching to leave, no doubt keen to get some of his own clothes back on, so she said goodbye and they headed off in opposite directions.

He seemed a bit odd, she thought. Certainly not a typical boy of her age. But that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, and the laughing together at the end had been good fun.

Maybe they could be friends.

When the man returned to the room, the lapel of his black jacket bore a pressed metal badge, which stated that his name was Will.

Of course. How had he forgotten that?

‘Here you are,’ Will said, handing over a large white mug of tea. ‘Sorry I took a while. It’s hot, so be careful.’

‘Thank you.’

‘Sugar?’ Will asked, opening his palm to reveal some sachets.

‘No, thanks.’

Will, who hadn’t brought a drink for himself, seemed happy to watch him sip the tea in silence. Meanwhile, he scrutinised him with his blue eyes, occasionally running a hand through his thick grey hair. Only when the mug was half empty did Will ask him if he felt more clearheaded.

‘Yes.’ The tea really seemed to have helped. He’d even stopped tapping his fingers and bouncing his leg up and down.

‘Good. You’ve probably got a few questions.’

And of course he did, starting with where he was and how he’d got there.

It was a huge amount to take in, even though some of it was as he’d suspected or remembered. It was devastating and yet also strangely calming. For if the worst thing imaginable had already happened, what else was there to fear?

The last thing he expected was to be presented with a proposal. His unique circumstances and the transitory nature of his current position meant he could help with something, Will explained at length.

‘Is this for real?’ he asked eventually, still absorbing the details. It involved a person who meant a great deal to him – who he’d love nothing more than to help – and an incredible, impossible chance to return to the world he’d thought lost forever only moments ago.

Will responded with a solemn nod. ‘Yes, and so you know, it’s a rare privilege that you’re being offered here. But it will only be for a short time – probably a matter of days.’

‘What do I have to do? How does it work exactly? How would I even get there?’

‘Give me the word and I’ll take care of the details.’