Read Online Checkmate by Malorie Blackman - Free Book Online
Authors: Malorie Blackman
Tags: Ages 9 & Up
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well?'
'Meaning?' asked Nana Meggie.
'You know what it means,' said Mum. 'You think I don't see the way you watch me when I'm with Rose? You think I don't know what you're thinking?'
I didn't understand what Mum and Nana Meggie were talking about. Why was Nana Meggie watching Mum when she was with me? And what did Mum need to tell me about my dad? What was the 'whole truth'? Had she fibbed when she said that my daddy's death was an accident? But Mum wouldn't lie to me. She just wouldn't.
I was just about to go back indoors to ask Mum about the whole truth when a cream-coloured butterfly, the colour of Mum's music sheets, fluttered in front of me. Holding my breath, I slowly held out my hand. The butterfly settled on my palm, its wings soft and gentle as a blink against my skin. It was so beautiful, so peaceful. Just watching it made me feel smiley inside. Then with a shake of its wings it lifted up and fluttered away. I watched it disappear against the sky – it seemed to just melt into the air. And although Mum and Nana Meggie were still talking, I didn't hear any more. I wheeled my bike down the side path and out onto the pavement. Today I'd be . . . a star fighter, flying my spaceship around the universe and fighting evil. Lots of evil.
When Nana Meggie comes back from church each Sunday, I always ask her what happened there. And Nana Meggie always says, 'We discussed evil. Lots of evil.'
I'd like to go to church to see what they all talk about but Mum won't let me. Mum says church is a waste of time. Mum says God is a waste of time. Mum says that in front of Nana Meggie sometimes and then Nana Meggie gets upset. Sometimes I wonder if Mum says it just to wind Nana Meggie up. Sometimes Mum looks at Nana Meggie like she doesn't like her very much. And sometimes Nana Meggie looks at Mum like she's almost afraid of her.
Grown-ups are very strange.
fourteen. Sephy
'I wish he'd hurry up or I won't get to see him,' Rose complained.
The early afternoon sun was making Rose squint but she refused to budge from the living-room window. I glanced down at my watch. Sonny was late arriving and Meggie was late leaving. And the social forecast for today? Frost, as always.
'He's here!' Rose sprinted out of the room. I'd barely made it out of the living room before Rose had the front door wide open.
'Sonny!'
'Hello, pumpkin!'
Rose leaped straight up into his arms, scarcely giving him time to brace himself first.
'Ooof!' Sonny grinned at my daughter as her flying tackle knocked the wind out of him.
'Rose, don't do that,' I admonished. 'You're too big for that sort of thing.'
'Nonsense! My girl will never be too big. Will you, pumpkin?' said Sonny.
He tried to ruffle Rose's hair whilst her head dipped and ducked away from his hand. Sonny treated Rose like . . . like she was his own. Which was the way Rose had always treated Sonny – like one of the family.
But he wasn't.
My heart tipped as I watched them, totally lost in each other's company, oblivious to everything else around them. Including me.
'Come on, Rose. Down you get.'
Rose took her cue from my tone of voice and jumped down from Sonny's grasp.
'Ready to work, Sonny?' I asked.
'Willing and able,' said Sonny. Which was what he always said.
Meggie appeared from the living room, already wearing her coat and carrying Rose's.
'Hello, Mrs McGregor. How are you?'
'Fine, Sonny,' said Meggie without once looking at him.
'You're looking lovely today,' Sonny smiled.
'Maybe you need to get out more,' Meggie said sourly before turning to me. 'We're off to my sister's. We'll be back after dinner.'
'OK,' I said, careful to keep my tone neutral.
Meggie and I did our usual dance; her eyes on me, my eyes on her, an absence of trust, the absolute presence of suspicion. Meggie looked away first.
'Bye,' said Meggie, the front door already open.
'Bye, Mum.' Rose hugged me round my waist, her head against my shoulder. I could still remember when I was able to hold her to me
'Meaning?' asked Nana Meggie.
'You know what it means,' said Mum. 'You think I don't see the way you watch me when I'm with Rose? You think I don't know what you're thinking?'
I didn't understand what Mum and Nana Meggie were talking about. Why was Nana Meggie watching Mum when she was with me? And what did Mum need to tell me about my dad? What was the 'whole truth'? Had she fibbed when she said that my daddy's death was an accident? But Mum wouldn't lie to me. She just wouldn't.
I was just about to go back indoors to ask Mum about the whole truth when a cream-coloured butterfly, the colour of Mum's music sheets, fluttered in front of me. Holding my breath, I slowly held out my hand. The butterfly settled on my palm, its wings soft and gentle as a blink against my skin. It was so beautiful, so peaceful. Just watching it made me feel smiley inside. Then with a shake of its wings it lifted up and fluttered away. I watched it disappear against the sky – it seemed to just melt into the air. And although Mum and Nana Meggie were still talking, I didn't hear any more. I wheeled my bike down the side path and out onto the pavement. Today I'd be . . . a star fighter, flying my spaceship around the universe and fighting evil. Lots of evil.
When Nana Meggie comes back from church each Sunday, I always ask her what happened there. And Nana Meggie always says, 'We discussed evil. Lots of evil.'
I'd like to go to church to see what they all talk about but Mum won't let me. Mum says church is a waste of time. Mum says God is a waste of time. Mum says that in front of Nana Meggie sometimes and then Nana Meggie gets upset. Sometimes I wonder if Mum says it just to wind Nana Meggie up. Sometimes Mum looks at Nana Meggie like she doesn't like her very much. And sometimes Nana Meggie looks at Mum like she's almost afraid of her.
Grown-ups are very strange.
fourteen. Sephy
'I wish he'd hurry up or I won't get to see him,' Rose complained.
The early afternoon sun was making Rose squint but she refused to budge from the living-room window. I glanced down at my watch. Sonny was late arriving and Meggie was late leaving. And the social forecast for today? Frost, as always.
'He's here!' Rose sprinted out of the room. I'd barely made it out of the living room before Rose had the front door wide open.
'Sonny!'
'Hello, pumpkin!'
Rose leaped straight up into his arms, scarcely giving him time to brace himself first.
'Ooof!' Sonny grinned at my daughter as her flying tackle knocked the wind out of him.
'Rose, don't do that,' I admonished. 'You're too big for that sort of thing.'
'Nonsense! My girl will never be too big. Will you, pumpkin?' said Sonny.
He tried to ruffle Rose's hair whilst her head dipped and ducked away from his hand. Sonny treated Rose like . . . like she was his own. Which was the way Rose had always treated Sonny – like one of the family.
But he wasn't.
My heart tipped as I watched them, totally lost in each other's company, oblivious to everything else around them. Including me.
'Come on, Rose. Down you get.'
Rose took her cue from my tone of voice and jumped down from Sonny's grasp.
'Ready to work, Sonny?' I asked.
'Willing and able,' said Sonny. Which was what he always said.
Meggie appeared from the living room, already wearing her coat and carrying Rose's.
'Hello, Mrs McGregor. How are you?'
'Fine, Sonny,' said Meggie without once looking at him.
'You're looking lovely today,' Sonny smiled.
'Maybe you need to get out more,' Meggie said sourly before turning to me. 'We're off to my sister's. We'll be back after dinner.'
'OK,' I said, careful to keep my tone neutral.
Meggie and I did our usual dance; her eyes on me, my eyes on her, an absence of trust, the absolute presence of suspicion. Meggie looked away first.
'Bye,' said Meggie, the front door already open.
'Bye, Mum.' Rose hugged me round my waist, her head against my shoulder. I could still remember when I was able to hold her to me
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