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‘Like what?’

‘First of all, ere you up?’

I shrug ‘I couldn’t sleep’

He stirs his tea, seehtly

‘I see Second question: why did you co for Sebastian’

He seems to consider this answer, then nods

‘Third: ere you so scared when I turned on the light’ He says it like a stateure out

‘I don’t know You startledto do with ht, and can’t see who it is, and…

‘Speak what you just thought,’ he says, and I juht shines in my eyes and I can’t see, and I’ht be why,’ I say, all in a rush Surprised to hearthe question, about the dream I’d told everyone else I couldn’t remember

‘You blacked out then, didn’t you’

I nod

‘Yet, despite a fright just noever silly, you’re not even low’

‘No’

My Levo is a quite contented 51

‘Interesting,’ he says Pauses, then smiles his usual happy s school toet some rest’

I dash upstairs, both relieved and confused; tea left untouched What was that about? I’d alated And I answered his questions ht possible; almost felt coers shtot the distinctly unpleasant feeling, that so And despite his smile, he wasn’t happy about it

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Monday o to school,’ Areat’

I pull on my uniforht new on Friday when it beca for five foot nothingh not the whole answer I want – no, need – to know everything Every fact and detail I can find out and categorise, draw and file away, is one uess But it’s all the rest of it’

‘What do you hs ‘It’s not like the hospital school Not everyone will be nice’

Muo down for breakfast I look about, suddenly nervous that Dad will be here, or won’t be here, and what that ?

‘Keep it down,’ she says ‘Dad got in late last night; he’s asleep’

Not a dream

Amy and I have cereal; finally Mum comes to sit with us

‘Kyla, listen Are you sure you want to go today? You don’t have to yet, you know’

I look at her in surprise She’d been happy to hear I was to start school, get out of her hair, she’d said, so she could get back to work herself

‘Yes, I’m sure,’ I say

‘Yesterday at the show, you seemed nervous about all the crowds of people Lord Bill’s is a big school: there are over a thousand students Are you sure you are up for this?’

‘Please let o,’ I say, suddenly worried she won’t, and I’ll be hoto do

She stares back, then shrugs ‘All right If you are sure this is what you want Do you wantthe bus?’

‘No I’ll be fine with A the bowls

‘Leave them I’ll do it’

Well

I look at Amy She smiles as Mum carries the dishes into the kitchen ‘See, I told you she isn’t that bad,’ she whispers

I get on the school bus, Amy behind; it’s nearly full

Heads turn; ripples of low voices folloalk up the aisle I feel eyes like footprints walking up my spine There are two empty seats opposite each other I irl by thenarrows her eyes She puts her bag across the empty seat

Amy crosses her arms The bus lurches as it pulls away frorab the back of the seat to stopover

‘You know, I think that was a bit rude,’ As her feet up across the seat Voices hush; eyes swivel and stare

A hand waves at the back of the bus ‘Kyla? There’s room here’

I look across heads: it’s Ben Relief fills me, to see a face I know A safe place

Airl