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She shuts her netbook and turns back to Mum
‘Where was I? Oh yes There are no sharp corners, no hazards at the hospital So everything needs to be pointed out Like crossing the road, and--’
‘Excuseto feel stretched Dislocated
‘What is it this time?’ Mum says
‘I already knohat subject I want to take’
Penny raises an eyebrow ‘Oh, you do, do you? What, then?’
‘Art’
She smiles ‘Well, you may need a few more practical subjects And they’d have to assess you to take you in art’
Mu Of Aets up to look; her eyes widen ‘Well I should think they’ll let you, dear’
She turns back to Muht I’m sure, with time, Kyla will adjust to your family’
I cross my arms Kyla will adjust: what about everyone else?
‘She had a nightht,’ Mum says ‘Screa ht be an idea: I am the one who knows all about it
‘There is a history of that, I’ at hospital Nine months instead of the usual six We’ll look at so that in Group They tried all the usualAnd--’
‘Excuse me Could you talk to me, instead of about me?’
The sainst,’ Muer,’ Penny says ‘Now Kyla, dear: letupstairs?’
I shut the door, hard, and plonk n of Sebastian, and it is two long hours before A table I pick up a sketch pad
Now the shock is over, noIf I close my eyes, they are all in rasp a pencil, but it is no good: it rests between ht hand, the hand I draw and write with Time for an experiment: pencil in the left hand It feels aard at first; wrong I do a few quick sketches and it starts to loosen up, but I can’t shake the feeling of wrongness, an edge of fear al will happen if I continue
But I can’t stop
A fresh page: who first?
Dr Lysander Getting her right is all about the eyes Tricky eyes, she has; mostly shielded and cold, but she peeks out now and then When she does she seein, hesitant at first with an unfa, all Faster and surer as confidence increases Dr Lysander begins to look back ate
I draw much better with my left hand
CHAPTER SIX
Voices drift into o to theA boy and two girls stand in the garden beloearing school uniforms like A under others in a drawer, and head for the stairs A for a walk Why ever not?’ Aood idea; she hasn’t been out of the house yet What about traffic?’ Muain
‘I do actually know not to jump out in front of cars,’ I say when I reach the bottom step
‘Oh bother, take her then! Just watch her very carefully’
‘I know, Mum,’ Amy says After Mum leaves the hall she adds, in a low voice, ‘I know better than you’
She turns to me ‘Kyla, come meet my friends’
I start for the door
‘Put soht Amy finds the trainers I wore frole with the laces We head outside
‘This is Jazz,’ she points at the boy ‘And Chloe and Debs Everyone, meet Kyla’
‘Oh, she’s cute I wish I could trade my sister in,’ Chloe says ‘How old is she?’
‘Talk to her if you want to know so,’ Amy says
‘I’m sixteen,’ I say
‘Sweet sixteen and never been kissed,’ Jazz starts singing as alk up the road, and s him in the arm ‘Shut up you numbskull, she’s off li out of view
Jazz grabs her hand ‘Sorry Miss, I was joshing Forgive me?’
‘I suppose,’ she says, and he slips an arm around her waist Amy is tall but he is taller; broad shouldered with an easy way of walking Now that I’hteen, so years older than any I’ve met in hospital And he is different not just because of that: his se of mischief that I’ve never seen on a Slated boy He’s cute
We walk through the village, back the e ca houses like ours, then rows of terraced cottages, a pub with ‘White Lion’ on a painted sign Until we get to a post that points out a green way, marked ‘footpath’
‘Fancy a ramble?’ Jazz says
Chloe and Debs evidently do not, as they say goodbye
Amy links one arm with round is soon uneven and rough, and I have to concentrate on placingfields covered in dead stubble of whatever was growing there on the other The path narrows, and As on to my hand
He protests
‘Shut it, nuher and higher; I breathe harder The hedge and fields give way to trees, and I drink in the riot of orange and red leaves, brown and grey trunks; soreen leaves that prick if you touch them Holly?
‘The view is this way, ladies,’ Jazz says