Read Online Katy Parker and the House that Cried by Margaret Mulligan - Free Book Online

plug back in. “Warm water is a valuable resource – you can’t just waste it! Don’t you know that? Now hurry up, Susie needs to get in next.”
    Katy locked the bathroom door and reluctantly climbed into the now tepid bath. As she suspected, the water didn’t even cover her knees and the carbolic soap smelled terrible too – just like tar! To top it all off, the bathroom felt cold and there didn’t appear to be any form of heating. After the quickest bath in the history of baths, she returned to her room to find Mrs Graham waiting, her arms full of an assortment of old clothing.
    â€œLet’s try these on for size. You first, Patrick.”
    Patrick had to wear short grey trousers with grey knee length socks, a white shirt with a school tie and a green, hand knitted jumper, all topped off with a green school cap.
    Patrick tried on everything enthusiastically. “Thanks, Mrs Graham, this is great.”
    Mrs Graham patted him affectionately on the head, ruffling his hair and smiling at him. Katy, on the other hand, shot him a scathing look.
    â€œYour turn, Katy. Stand up and let’s see if this fits.”
    Katy stared in absolute horror at the outfit Mrs Graham held up to her.
    â€œYou’ve got to be joking!” she exclaimed. “That’s my new uniform? I can’t wear that!”
    Her new uniform had the same pea-green colour as her modern day one, but now consisted of a pleated, knee-length pinafore dress, accompanied by a white blouse with a large, round collar and knee length dark green socks. A straw boater with a green ribbon tied around it completed the look.
    â€œDon’t be silly, Katy, it’s a lovely uniform and quite modern too. The green will suit your colouring.Besides, lots of children would be grateful for good, clean clothes like these.”
    Patrick laughed and Katy stuck her tongue out at him. Mrs Graham tutted at them both.
    â€œThat’s you two sorted. Here are your nightclothes. Lights out in twenty minutes. I’ll be back to say goodnight shortly.”
    Patrick seemed happy enough in a pair of old-fashioned looking blue and white striped pyjamas. Katy gingerly picked up a long, white, cotton nightie with capped sleeves. Hiding from Patrick behind the wardrobe door, she quickly pulled it on.
    â€œI look like someone’s gran in this!” whined Katy miserably, as she looked in the mirror, longing for her usual fleecy pyjamas.
    Patrick looked up from a pile of comics the twins had lent him and sniggered. “It’s not like anyone you know is going to see you. I don’t know why you’re bothered,” he replied.
    Katy glowered at him and resentfully got into bed, picking up the copy of
The Twins at St Clare’s
by Enid Blyton that Mrs Graham had given her to read. It looked a bit childish but she might as well give it a go. If nothing else, it might give her an idea ofwhat to expect at school in the morning. Katy opened the book and was touched to see Mrs Graham had written in the front:
    To Katy, I hope you enjoy this and your time at Willow Dene. Best wishes, Mrs Graham.
    Katy tried to concentrate but found it impossible. She still felt worried about the whole situation and she missed her mum and dad. She wasn’t surprised at missing her dad – he was always travelling for work and she was almost used to missing him now. But missing her mum surprised her somewhat, as all they seemed to do lately was argue. If she ever got back home she vowed she’d try harder to be a better daughter.
Please don’t leave me stranded in 1942
, thought Katy to herself.
    Deep in thought, the next twenty minutes flew by and, in what seemed like seconds, Mrs Graham had returned to say goodnight. She leant over and kissed them both on the cheek, stopping to give Katy an affectionate squeeze on the shoulder. At once, Katy felt tearful. It had been years since she’dhad a goodnight