Page 9 (1/2)

‘It’s all right,’ I say to Areen trees blue sky white clouds green trees blue sky white clouds…

‘Hi,’ I say to Ben, and sit down next to hi in a sether at the back of the bus All in the sah so looks better on Ben But no Tori?

He leans down, close to irl,’ he says in a low voice

‘Why?’ Apart from the obvious

‘She’s a Slater Hater’

‘Oh’

Green trees blue sky white clouds green trees blue sky white clouds…

‘I’et off the bus

‘It’s not your fault’

‘Well, I should have warned you I--’

‘You’ve been warning et a lift with Jazz, anyhow He’s at the dentist this ’

Relief unknots my stoo off to classes ‘Don’t look so worried, you’ll be fine,’ Ben says Waves as he goes

The SEN Unit: for students with special educational needs Apparently that isat a desk, tapping at a screen

‘Uh, hello,’ I say

She looks up, doesn’t smile ‘Yes? What do you want?’

‘I’m a new student’

‘Another one? Name’

I stare back at her Nahs ‘Your name?’ she says, slower and louder

‘I’m Kyla Kyla Davis’ The new second name, sao with Kyla But who knohat either of ether better?

She shuffles soht forward a feeeks, weren’t you? I have just been trying to schedule you in with a whole day’s notice’ She sighs ‘Have a seat’ She points at a chair, gets up, and disappears through another door with the file in her hand

I sit

And so goes et out of the Unit I sit in chairs People coet a tour of the school toet pointed towards a roo with a bunch of other Slateds, all younger than n of Amy, or Ben Everyone smiles and chews, like a bunch of placid coe drove past in a field thisassistants – TA’s – posted at both ends of the table Watching and listening

In the afternoon I get handed a History of Lord Williah Mum had called it Lord Bill’s It is old, really old: founded in 1559, so it will soon be five hundred A boys’ school, then co-ed It used to have an autism unit: is that where I am now? Before autism was eliminated The school was shut for five years after the county riots; it was reopened by the Central Coalition with o, with new fields and running track in annexed land Now it is a specialist agricultural college, like most secondary schools

Amy and Jazz come for me at the end of the afternoon I smile relief at Jazz, back froo?’ A I just sat around all day, waiting for sohs

We walk down a footpath between brick buildings to a parking area, and along to a dented two door car It is mostly red, but with bits patchworked here and there in other colours

‘Ladies, your chariot,’ Jazz says, and bows

I grab the door handle, and then think I’ve got it wrong

‘Allow me, there is a bit of a knack,’ Jazz says He pulls the handle and puts one foot up on the side of the car for leverage, and yanks hard

A if this is a good idea

‘Where’s the seat belt?’

‘There isn’t one; it broke Just hold on tight,’ he says

Good advice, as Jazz screeches off up the road, then brakes hard at a corner I lurch forward and grab at A I haven’t been in many cars, so maybe this isn’t fair But Slater Haters aside, I think I’d rather take the bus

Jazz turns off the road and goes doinding back lane, then pulls in front of a lone house down a long drive

‘We’ve got to get Kyla home soon,’ Amy says ‘Mum isn’t back at work until tomorrow’

‘Just a quick one, then,’ he says ‘We’ll beat the bus’

Jazz yanks the car door open again; A my cuz,’ he says to me

‘Cousin,’ Amy translates

He knocks once and opens the door

‘Mac, you hoh, us behind, and opens the back door

‘Yeah Grab yourselves a drink, come out,’ a voice answers

Jazz turns back, opens a cupboard and takes out brown bottles ‘Coarden At least, I know that is what is out rass, no trees, no flowers There are bits of cars everywhere Mac pulls himself out from underneath one, and Jazz introduces us

‘Mac built my car from bits of other cars,’ Jazz says ‘Drink?’ He holds a bottle towards me No label

‘Have you ever had beer?’ A one

‘No’

‘Want to try it?’ Jazz says ‘Mac makes the stuff; it’s brilliant’