Read Online Eva's Journey by Judi Curtin - Free Book Online Page A

butterfly hadn’t flown out.
    Now what was I going to do?
    Why wasn’t the phone inside the house ringing?
    â€˜I’m sorry, Eva,’ said Dawn, starting to get up. ‘We must have missed it. It must have flown away while you were knocking on the door.’
    I grabbed her arm and pulled her down again.
    Was I going to have to sit on her to get her to stay there?
    â€˜Please,’ I whispered. ‘Wait another few minutes. Maybe the butterfly will come back.’
    I knew this was really pathetic, and probably Dawn did too, but she smiled kindly.
    â€˜OK,’ she said. ‘Since it seems to mean so much to you, I’ll wait another few minutes.’
    Just then the phone inside the house rang. I could hear footsteps as Dawn’s mother went to answer it.
    â€˜We need to be very quiet,’ I whispered to Dawn. ‘Or the butterfly won’t come back.’
    Then I sat there and listened to one half of Dawn’s mother’s telephone conversation.
    â€˜Hi, Mary. Thanks for ringing me. And thanks for inviting me to live with you and Hannah, but I have to say no …………………… Yes, I know I’m throwing away a great opportunity………………….’
    Then there was a long gap. I sneaked a quick look at Dawn. She didn’t say anything, but I knewthat she was listening to her mother too.
    Her mother spoke again, sounding really sad.
    â€˜Yes, Mary, I know all of that. I’ve been over and over it with Hannah already. It would be absolutely perfect for me. But the problem is Dawn. She has no one else to take care of her. What would she do if I suddenly announced that I was going to live with you and Hannah? I’m sorry, but I just couldn’t do that to the child.’
    Child! Dawn had to be at least twenty-five years old.
    Beside me, I could hear Dawn’s breathing change, like she was really tense or afraid …… or excited.
    The phone conversation was over seconds later.
    â€˜Goodbye, Mary, and thanks anyway,’ said Dawn’s mother sadly. ‘I hope you and Hannah have fun when you go apartment-hunting tomorrow.’
    Then I heard a dull click as the phone was put down.
    Dawn jumped up, looking all flushed andhappy.
    â€˜I’m sorry, Eva,’ she said. ‘I’ve got to go inside to talk to my mother. It’s an emergency.’
    â€˜Whatever,’ I said, trying not to look as happy as I felt.
    Dawn ran to the front door, and then ran back to me.
    â€˜I’m sorry about your butterfly,’ she said. ‘I’ll look for some pictures on the internet later on if you like.’
    I shook my head.
    â€˜It’s OK, thanks. I’ve changed my mind. I think I’ll do my project on worms instead. They’re easier to take pictures of. Now you go ahead and talk to your mother. I’m sure you’ve got lots to say to her.’
    Dawn gave me a funny look, and then ran inside.
    I stood up, brushed the grass off my ugly green uniform and set off for home.
    Result.

    The next morning, Dawn practically skipped intothe classroom. She was smiling so much that she looked like her face was going to crack in two. Several times I could hear her humming happily.
    At break time, I overheard her talking to one of the other classroom assistants. Dawn was so excited she could hardly get the words out properly.
    â€˜â€¦ and everything is slipping perfectly into place,’ she said. ‘By the time we get back from South America, Mum will have moved in with her sisters and my two friends and I are going to move into Mum’s house. Mum said we can redecorate if we want. We’re going to …….’
    I didn’t wait to hear any more, and I walked away to look for Ella and Amy and Chloe.
    I was very glad for Dawn, but I couldn’t help feeling sorry for myself.
    When was my life going to change?
    When was I going to get my happy