Read Online A House Called Askival by Merryn Glover - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Merryn Glover
Ads: Link
and the seeping of tears.
In her dream, the bell was ringing and Ruth was supposed to line up for school, but was far away on a narrow path of the hillside. Dad was in front, carrying her bag, and Mom was behind and they were all going to Kanpur. But then Ruth realised she was alone and knew she had done something wrong but didnât know what and wanted to say sorry, but couldnât go fast enough with her bumping, dragging bag. She had to get to the road before they got on the bus! The faster she ran, the more her things fell out and that was another wrong thing so she had to keep finding them â jeans, a teddy bear, baby clothes â but some tumbled down the khud and were out of reach and Iqbal came by singing. Then she was at school with everyone standing in line but she was naked and Hannah was the teacher and Ruth had forgotten her bag and forgotten Mom and Dad. So she ran again, and finally, she was on the chakkar walking to the house. The house at the end of the longest walk in the world, round so many twists and bends in the mountain that you thought you would never reach it. But it was always there, reeking with grief. And she knew Manveer was there and tried to run but her legs would not move at all, like the air had turned to gur , and she tried to call,but the sound would not come till she pushed so hard it was like a groan from the grave but it was too late. He had gone.
She woke up drenched in sweat and tears, her chest heaving with sobs, hands gripping the razai that was pulled up around her head. Then she realised that her bed was completely soaked, her nightie clinging to her, the wetness still warm on her legs. She lay in the dark for the longest time. The dorm was quiet, except for the breathing from the bunk nearest her. Then someone rolled over and made lip-smacking noises. It was Sita. Somewhere else a snort, a cough. Way off, she could hear the faint ticking of the Kozy Korner clock that hung just outside Miss Joshiâs door.
She could try to change the sheets in the dark, but then she remembered that her clean ones werenât back from the dhobi yet and the mattress was wet. Perhaps she could lay her towel over the wet spot? But then it would still soak through and sheâd have to dry her face with a sour towel in the morning. She wished for Hannah, but Hannah was in the Dispensary with a tummy bug. Even more, she wished for Mom, but Mom was in Kanpur, asleep in the dusty house in the corner of the hospital compound, far, far away.
Carefully, quietly, Ruth peeled back the razai and climbed down the bunk, her wet nightie clinging to her legs. In the dark she couldnât find her slippers, so walked barefoot on the cold concrete floor, out of the Grade 1-2 cubicle and down the dorm to Kozy Korner. She stood for a while outside Miss Joshiâs door, once again going over her options, but there didnât seem to be any.
She knocked, very softly. There was no sound from within. Her feet were going numb on the floor, her legs stinging and itchy now where the urine was drying. She knocked again, a little louder. Still nothing. Finally, taking a big breath, she rapped firmly, several times.
At last, a sound from within. A rustling.
âWhoâs there?â Miss Joshiâs voice was muffled by sleep and doors.
âRuth.â She was trying not to be too loud as the Grade 1-2 cubicle was just feet away and like all the cubes, only had cupboards for walls.The whole dorm was one long room and you could hear everything from Kozy Korner at one end to the Grade 6 cube at the other.
âWhat is it?â The voice was irritated now and no longer muffled.
âI⦠um,â Ruth imagined the whole dorm awake now and lying with their ears pricked. âIâve got a problem.â
There was a huff, a creaking of the bed and a rummaging around. Ruth heard the inner door of Miss Joshiâs apartment opening and a switch snapping on. Light shot under the main door
In her dream, the bell was ringing and Ruth was supposed to line up for school, but was far away on a narrow path of the hillside. Dad was in front, carrying her bag, and Mom was behind and they were all going to Kanpur. But then Ruth realised she was alone and knew she had done something wrong but didnât know what and wanted to say sorry, but couldnât go fast enough with her bumping, dragging bag. She had to get to the road before they got on the bus! The faster she ran, the more her things fell out and that was another wrong thing so she had to keep finding them â jeans, a teddy bear, baby clothes â but some tumbled down the khud and were out of reach and Iqbal came by singing. Then she was at school with everyone standing in line but she was naked and Hannah was the teacher and Ruth had forgotten her bag and forgotten Mom and Dad. So she ran again, and finally, she was on the chakkar walking to the house. The house at the end of the longest walk in the world, round so many twists and bends in the mountain that you thought you would never reach it. But it was always there, reeking with grief. And she knew Manveer was there and tried to run but her legs would not move at all, like the air had turned to gur , and she tried to call,but the sound would not come till she pushed so hard it was like a groan from the grave but it was too late. He had gone.
She woke up drenched in sweat and tears, her chest heaving with sobs, hands gripping the razai that was pulled up around her head. Then she realised that her bed was completely soaked, her nightie clinging to her, the wetness still warm on her legs. She lay in the dark for the longest time. The dorm was quiet, except for the breathing from the bunk nearest her. Then someone rolled over and made lip-smacking noises. It was Sita. Somewhere else a snort, a cough. Way off, she could hear the faint ticking of the Kozy Korner clock that hung just outside Miss Joshiâs door.
She could try to change the sheets in the dark, but then she remembered that her clean ones werenât back from the dhobi yet and the mattress was wet. Perhaps she could lay her towel over the wet spot? But then it would still soak through and sheâd have to dry her face with a sour towel in the morning. She wished for Hannah, but Hannah was in the Dispensary with a tummy bug. Even more, she wished for Mom, but Mom was in Kanpur, asleep in the dusty house in the corner of the hospital compound, far, far away.
Carefully, quietly, Ruth peeled back the razai and climbed down the bunk, her wet nightie clinging to her legs. In the dark she couldnât find her slippers, so walked barefoot on the cold concrete floor, out of the Grade 1-2 cubicle and down the dorm to Kozy Korner. She stood for a while outside Miss Joshiâs door, once again going over her options, but there didnât seem to be any.
She knocked, very softly. There was no sound from within. Her feet were going numb on the floor, her legs stinging and itchy now where the urine was drying. She knocked again, a little louder. Still nothing. Finally, taking a big breath, she rapped firmly, several times.
At last, a sound from within. A rustling.
âWhoâs there?â Miss Joshiâs voice was muffled by sleep and doors.
âRuth.â She was trying not to be too loud as the Grade 1-2 cubicle was just feet away and like all the cubes, only had cupboards for walls.The whole dorm was one long room and you could hear everything from Kozy Korner at one end to the Grade 6 cube at the other.
âWhat is it?â The voice was irritated now and no longer muffled.
âI⦠um,â Ruth imagined the whole dorm awake now and lying with their ears pricked. âIâve got a problem.â
There was a huff, a creaking of the bed and a rummaging around. Ruth heard the inner door of Miss Joshiâs apartment opening and a switch snapping on. Light shot under the main door
Similar Books
