A twist in time

Hannah had been given a special gift, she just had to learn how to use it¼

Iwas only little, the first time it happened.

I came home from a birthday party clutching a little plastic bag full of sweets and novelties.

Was it fun?' Mum asked, as we drove home.

It was all right,' I answered. Oh, Hannah, you don' t sound too thrilled,' Mum replied. What' s up?'

It was silly really, because it had been a good party.

All my friends were there. Polly' s mum had made lovely food and a gorgeous cake with pink and white icing.

There had been lots of games too.

I was usually a good sport when it came to games. As far as I was concerned, you won some, you lost some, and you kept smiling, whatever the outcome.

But not this time.

This time, when I' d seen the prize for the pass-theparcel, I' d been consumed by jealousy of Treena, who opened the last paper wrapper.

It' s beautiful!' Jodie cried, as Treena touched the little silver locket.

Everyone gasped as she held it aloft.

Usually in pass-the-parcel, the prize was something cheap and cheerful like a box of Smarties, or a pack of hair slides.

But this time, Polly' s mum had really pushed the boat out.

I thought I' d make the prize something special,'

Polly' s mum said with a smile. As you' ve all been so good this year.'

The little locket was so shiny and delicate, and what irked me most was that it could have been mine I' d had the parcel in my hands and had practically flung it to Treena, as if it had burnt me!

If I' d just held on to it a split-second longer, the music would' ve stopped and it would have been my prize.

Maybe you' re coming down with something,' Mum said, as she parked the car in the driveway. Why don' t you go and lie down on your bed for a bit and see how you feel?''

With the mood I was in, lying down on my own sounded like a good idea.

I went upstairs, punched my pillow and lay on my back.

That was the last time I was just a regular little girl.

Because, as I lay there, my fists clenched by my sides, I thought about the party and the game I' d so nearly won.

Suddenly, the room started spinning and I felt a rush of air.

And in just a moment, there I was, back at the party again, and Polly was saying: Let' s play pass-the-parcel! Mum, will you do the music?'

Well, that's weird, I thought. What's going on?

Feeling distinctly dizzy, I gave myself a shake and tried to figure out what was happening. Was I dreaming?

But there was Polly, telling us about the puppy she and her mum were going to collect after the party, and Treena saying she wished she could have a pet, but that her little brother had allergies.

These were the exact words everyone had used when I' d been at the party.

Before I could ask myself any more questions, the music started and the game began.

Each layer of wrapping was taken off by precisely the person who' d done it before.

Which was when it dawned on me¼

If everything was just like it was before, then the parcel with the locket in it and one final layer of paper would come into my hands again just before Treena only, this time, I' d hold on to it for a second longer, the music would stop and the necklace would be mine.

What harm could it do?

I' d wake up in a minute, anyhow, and realise it was all just a dream.

I did what I' d planned, Polly' s mum stopped the music and yes! I unwrapped the locket.

It' s beautiful!' Jodie cried. Everyone gasped and

Polly' s mum made her little speech about this being our last party all together.

I felt my fists unclench by my sides and, in a blink, I was back in my bedroom, lying on top of my duvet.

A dream, that was all. Just then, Mum popped her head round the door, to ask how I was feeling.

A bit better,' I told her.

Oh! What' s that you' ve got round your neck?' she asked. I didn' t notice that earlier.' I put my hand to my throat, and gulped when my fingers found the locket.

It definitely hadn' t been there before.

When we went back to school after Polly' s party, I asked around the girls to see who remembered what about that afternoon.

Everyone said the same thing I' d won the locket. There was no mention of Treena ever having it.

I tried to think of a rational explanation for my experience, but failed.

Luckily, it was then that Gran decided to pay us a visit. The minute she saw me, she knew.

Helen, I feel like a walk,' she informed Mum, who was peeling potatoes. I think I' ll take Hannah with me for company.'

I didn' t mind. I liked spending time with Gran.

If we stroll as far as the shops, I could buy you an ice cream,' she suggested.

We hadn' t gone very far,

I gave myself a shake and tried to figure out what was happening. Was I dreaming?

when Gran said: It' s happened, hasn' t it, Hannah? You can tell me. I understand.'

What' s happened?' I replied cautiously.

You don' t have to keep it from me,' Gran answered, and took my hand gently. I know all about it. It' s a gift shared by the women of our family. Except for your mother I don' t know why, but it seemed to skip a generation, there.'

Somehow, I knew Gran wasn' t talking about mental maths or scoring goals in hockey.

Gran, I' ve only done it once, by accident, and it frightened me. Is it really time travel?'

Yes, Hannah. That' s exactly what it is. And there' s nothing to be scared of, providing you use it responsibly.'

I used it to get a necklace someone else had won as a prize,' I said, nervously. Will I be in trouble?'

Gran smiled.

You' re just a beginner, love. You' ll grow used to it, and then you' ll use it for good. But you mustn' t tell anyone else. People will think you' re crazy, they won' t understand. If you need to discuss it, come to me.'

Gran advised me to practise a bit, making little visits to the past but not changing much just to get some more experience of coming and going.

As I did so, my confidence grew, a bit like learning to ride a bicycle.

Pretty soon, I could hop from one time and place to another at will.

I used my power to revisit happy times, and to right a few wrongs like saving Mum from needing stitches after that slip with the potato knife, and reminding Dad to pick his wallet up off the car roof before we drove to the seaside.

All through my teens, I continued time travelling now and again.

Gran had warned me not to use it for selfish purposes, as this wouldn' t be good for me in the long run.

It was hard not to sneak a peek at my exam questions and then go back and do the necessary revision, but I was determined to resist.

Instead, I used my special power to patch up things between quarrelling friends, place an orphaned kitten in the path of a lonely young woman, and steer a rich businessman who came to school to talk to the Young Enterprise project in the direction of our form' s clean water charity fund.

I' m proud of you,' Gran said. You' re not abusing your gift.'

I was proud of myself too, because the temptations were sometimes great.

My teens gave way to my 20s and I began thinking seriously about my future. I was sharing a flat with Treena, and the best you could say about it was that it was cosy' by which I mean tiny. I wished I could meet someone special, fall in love and start the next chapter of my life with a home of our own. An actual house, if possible, with a little garden.

You' re obsessed with finding a boyfriend,' Treena told me. Just enjoy your youth for a bit, first.'

I didn' t think I was obsessed. Maybe just a little preoccupied¼

One evening, as we were sitting at the bar of our local, both Treena and I needed to visit the loo.

Let' s not go together,' Treena urged. We' ll lose these two seats if we do. You go first, and I' ll get another round in then you can mind the drinks and the stools while I go.'

This made sense, and after I' d paid a visit and freshened up my make-up, I re-emerged into the bar area.

Looking across to where Treena was sitting, I saw that she had company.

A tall young man with a head of mousey brown hair was leaning over the bar next to her, his head turned to look at her, and laughing.

He was gorgeous. I made my way back to my stool and Treena introduced us. Hannah, this is Daniel. He' s just arrived in the

A tall young man with a head of mousey brown hair was leaning over the bar next to her