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interested in aeroplanes.’
    I should’ve known he’d say something like that. I shook my head. ‘She’s not my girlfriend or anything, Dad. We’re just friends, and I . . .’
    ‘Oooh ah!’ He looked across at Mum. ‘Heard that one before, haven’t we, love – just good friends?’ Mum chuckled.
    ‘Well, it’s true.’ They were getting to me, probably because I wasn’t sure myself that Martha was just a friend. I certainly spent more time thinking about her than any friend I’d had before. I tried again. ‘The thing is, she’s the only kid in Year Eight who’s not off to Hanglands and I don’t think it’s fair, just because her parents won’t give her the money, and I was wondering if we . . . if you could pay for her, Dad.’
    Dad’s grin faded. He folded his paper, slid it on to the coffee table and looked at me. ‘Son,’ he said, ‘that’s not the way it works. People have reasons for the decisions they take, and they have their pride, too. This girl’s parents might have a perfectly good reason for not wanting her to go to Hanglands.’ He shrugged. ‘Maybe they’re frightened she’ll have an accident, canoeing or abseiling or something. It might have nothing to do with the money and even if it has, imagine how they’d feel if some other kid’s parents offered to pay. If they couldn’t afford it they’d feel ashamed, and if they were just being stingy they’d feel angry.’ He shook his head. ‘There’s an old saying, Scott. Fools rush in where angels fear to tread , and I’m afraid this is a case in point. It doesn’t do to rush in, interfering in other people’s lives. They won’t like you for it, and you may end up doing more harm than good.’
    I could have given him an argument. I could have said, I thought we were supposed to help one another , but I didn’t. I know my dad. Once he’s made his mind up, that’s it. I was just glad I hadn’t told Martha beforehand. That’d have been an even bigger bummer.

31. Martha
     
    A favourite saying of Mother’s is Ask, and ye shall receive , so I decided to try it out. I wouldn’t have done it a few weeks ago but this was the new Martha. Martha, the sister of Mary and the special friend of Scott. Even so, I waited till Father had gone.
    ‘Mother?’
    ‘What is it, Martha?’ She was getting ready for work.
    ‘It’s the Hanglands Expedition soon, and Mr Wheelwright wants the money in by the first of May.’ I said it as though I fully expected to go.
    She stopped in the middle of buttoning her cardigan. ‘Why are you telling me about the Hanglands Expedition when you know full well we can’t allow you to go? Who do you think would look after the house, see to Abomination, while your father and I were at work?’
    ‘It’s only three days, Mother.’
    ‘ Only three?’ She snorted. ‘I suppose you wouldn’t care to ask your father to take only three days off work so you can go, would you?’
    ‘I thought . . . you might stay home, Mother. Just this once.’
    ‘Oh you did, did you? You thought I might not mind losing twenty-four pounds in wages and forking out whatever ridiculous sum they’d want for teaching you how to paddle a canoe? It’s going to be really useful to you in your adult life isn’t it, knowing how to slide down a cliff? People will be queueing up to employ you.’
    I shook my head. ‘It doesn’t matter, Mother. I didn’t really expect to be allowed to go, even though you’ve often said to me, Ask, and ye shall receive . At least I know that’s a nonstarter, don’t I?’
    She turned drip-white. Screamed at me. ‘ Don’t you dare quote scripture at me, young woman. Wait till your father gets home – you’ll receive what you’ve asked for then all right .’
    I didn’t though. I didn’t receive. Oh, he came stamping up the stairs, muttering. Working himself into a temper, but I’d shoved my chest of drawers across the door. You should’ve heard the language. Satan would’ve