Read Online Fizzypop by Jean Ure - Free Book Online Page B

did.”
    â€œThat’s a very young age to strike out on your own.”
    â€œI just felt like I had no alternative. Something happened… I got into a bit of trouble. I knew I couldn’t turn to my foster parents. I was desperate! I had to get away.”
    â€œCan I ask where you went?”
    â€œI didn’t really go anywhere, in the sense of heading for any particular place. To start off with, I just drifted, until in the end I found my way to London. Inevitable, really.” She pulls a face. “Where else does a runaway go? We all think the streets there are paved with gold.”
    â€œBut you survived.”
    â€œI think I had a certain toughness which made me grit my teeth and just get on with things. I scraped a living. I worked in clubs, I worked in shops… One thing I was determined not to do, and that was to give up and go crawling back home with my tail between my legs. Little did I think…” She laughs, a rich gurgle of amusement. “Little did I think that one day I’d be returning as a minor celeb!”
    I say, “Not so minor,” and she shrugs a shoulder.
    I ask her if she had always wanted to be a singer. She says that she always made a lot of noise. “I don’t know if you’d call it singing!” But then she stops, and thinks about it, and says that is not quite true.
    â€œI did used to sing. All the time. Just not in the school choir, you know? I’m not sure I ever consciously thought about the future, but I guess I always knew I was destined for show business in one form or another. I used to get into a whole load of trouble with my foster parents for what they called showing off. Making myself obvious. They didn’t approve. I remember my foster mother once complaining that I never stopped fizzing and bubbling. I guess I still don’t. The difference is that now I get paid for it!”
    Reflecting on her path to fame Mia says that the most important thing for her was that she never gave up.
    â€œNo matter what happened, I never lost sight of my goal. I was at my lowest ebb when I ran away, I thought my life was over, but in fact it was just beginning. Sheer determination carried me through.”
    Omigod! I could hardly contain myself. I felt like rushing round to Jem’s straight away, but remembered just in time that she wouldn’t be there. They were all going off for the weekend to stay with her nan and granddad. They wouldn’t be back, Jem had said, till late on Sunday evening. Oh bother, bother, bother, bother ! I would burst if I didn’t tell someone.
    Maybe I could ring Skye? But that wouldn’t be fair; Jem ought to be the one to hear first. I banged my fist down on the floor.
    â€œDamnation and curses and picture skew oaths!”
    â€œI think you’ll find that word is pronounced picturesque ,” said Dad, coming out of the front room. “ Picture-esk. ”
    Rather huffily I said, “Whatever.”
    â€œVery colourful language, coming from you!”
    â€œIt’s instead of swearing,” I said. “I didn’t think you’d like it if I used swear words.”
    â€œI’d be shocked if you knew any.”
    â€œI know plenty!” I shouted, as he went past me up the stairs.
    â€œPlease,” said Dad, “don’t ruin my illusions. What’s to swear about, anyway?”
    â€œI’ve just discovered something totally earth-shattering and I can’t tell anybody!”
    â€œWhy can’t you? Is it a state secret?”
    â€œNo! It’s cos Jem’s gone away and she’s the one that has to know first and I won’t see her until Monday!”
    â€œWell, just remember,” said Dad, “patience is a virtue.”
    I have lots of virtues. I do! I really do. Not boasting, but I am very loyal to my friends and hardly ever lose my temper and am extremely tolerant of other people’s annoying faults and failings. I just