Read Online Angel Creek by Sally Rippin - Free Book Online Page B

then!’
    Jelly stormed out of the shed, pulling the door firmly behind her. She could hear the angel shrieking but she ran across the courtyard without stopping. Sliding under the fence she sheared off one of the new scabs on her knee and gasped. As she ran down the street, she let herself cry, but only for her knee.
    Jelly turned away from the prying windows of an early morning tram as it clattered past. When she reached the bike path she slowed. Tears were running down her face and blood down her shin. She wiped her nose on the back of her hand. She didn’t care what Gino said. She hated him. And his stupid family. Especially Zio Mario. She wished they’d go home and let her have her house back. She wished Nonna hadn’t got sick and messed up Christmas and that they could just start all over again. She wished that Gino would let the angel go.

13
    that boy again
    Jelly climbed the back fence, her face still wet with tears. She swung herself up into the wide branches of the apricot tree and found the little hollow that was her perfect armchair. It was the only place she could bear to be. She rubbed at the smear of dried blood down her shin, and told herself she was better off without the angel. She didn’t care what happened to it anymore. It was no longer her responsibility. If it died it would be Gino’s fault. Not hers.
    Someone at the creek caught her eye. It was that boy, walking along by the rushing water. Jelly watched him trail a long stick in the mud, swirling lines and jabbing holes. He stopped to lift up rubbish with his stick, found an old frisbee caught in the reeds, inspected it, and tucked it under his arm. Jelly liked watching him from up there. He walked slow and smooth, like someone with all the time in the world. Like someone who might have a tune in their head or a thought in their mind. Not like most people who followed the creek—joggers and cyclists and people with somewhere to go, rushing along, like the creek was only a path to follow, not a world to discover.
    The boy suddenly looked up, shading his eyes with his hand. He was staring straight at her and for a moment she panicked that he might see her watching him, but his arm fell and he kept walking. There was something about looking at that boy that turned Jelly’s stomach inside out. Where only moments before it was shrivelled like a dark black prune, it now fluttered with butterflies.
    The good feeling disappeared when she saw Maureen at the back door. What was she doing here again? Didn’t she have her own home? Little black thoughts came up easily and Jelly didn’t try to stop them. They shot out of her like bullets.
    â€˜Jelly,’ Maureen called. ‘Gino, Pik.’
    Jelly swung down from the tree.
    â€˜Thank goodness,’ Maureen said. ‘You gave me a fright. Your mum asked me to come over and keep an eye on you kids while she’s gone. Where are Gino and Pik?’
    â€˜Gino’s, er, gone for a walk.’ Jelly limped up the back steps. ‘Gone to pick some more flowers for Nonna, I think.’
    â€˜With Pik? He didn’t take Pik down to the creek, did he?’
    â€˜No, Maureen,’ Jelly said rudely. ‘Pik’s still in bed.’
    Maureen put a hand on her shoulder. ‘Pik is not in bed, Jelly.’
    Jelly heard the words but it took a minute to understand what they meant. The realisation flooded through her, turning her blood cold. Jelly knew instantly what had happened.
    Pik had woken and decided to follow them.
    He knew where they were heading.
    Down to the creek.
    Jelly knew that she would be blamed. The oldest. The girl. It was always the way. So she did the only thing she could think of to save herself. She lied.
    â€˜Oh, he must have gone with Gino. They left after me. We were going to the playground. But then I, um, fell over so I came back to get a bandaid.’ She pointed to her crusty knee. ‘They’re probably still waiting for