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

lovely this morning, Susie. But aren’t you a bit overdressed for breakfast?”
    Susie threw her a comical look, replying in a haughty tone, “Mummy says a lady must always look her best.”
    Katy burst out laughing as she pulled herself out of bed, casting an eye over her uniform hanging up on the wardrobe door. “That’ll be hard for me in this outfit. It’s horrible.”
    â€œI think it’s lovely,” sighed Susie, trying on the hat and doing a twirl. “I wish I could go to school with you.”
    Looking over at Patrick’s empty bed, Katy began wondering where he was and why he hadn’t bothered to wake her up. “Have you seen Patrick this morning?”
    â€œYes, he’s playing soldiers with the twins; they wouldn’t let me join in. I hate boys,” she replied, frowning and stamping her foot.
    Katy smiled, “Don’t worry, I’ll play dolls with you later if you like.”
    Susie’s face lit up into a huge smile as she lunged forward, giving Katy a big hug, then skipping out of the room, humming yet another nursery rhyme.
    â€œWhat was all that about?” asked Patrick, appearing in the doorway, already dressed in his new school uniform and looking every bit the 1940s schoolboy.
    â€œOh, nothing. Susie is just feeling a bit left out. Why didn’t you wake me up?”
    â€œI tried but you just pushed me away and pulled the covers up over your head. I could hear the twins, so decided to see what they were up to. They’re a great laugh.”
    Suddenly, Mrs Graham’s voice called out to them from the kitchen,
“Katy, Patrick, hurry up! Breakfast is nearly ready.”
    Katy groaned. Some things never changed it seemed, whatever decade you found yourself in!
    After a quick wash in the freezing cold bathroom, Katy returned to her bedroom to find the uniform laid out for her, with the addition of what looked like a pair of absolutely enormous navy-blue knickers. They were so big they actually had a pocket on one of the legs! Reluctantly, Katy got dressed and was horrified to discover that the legs of the knickers almost reached down to her knees. Her heart plummeted as she looked at herself in the mirror. She was unrecognisable. Picking up the old, brown, leather satchel Mrs Graham had given her for school, she headed downstairs to join Patrick and the others for breakfast.
    Everyone else was already sitting around the kitchen table, waiting for Mrs Graham to ladle porridge from an enormous saucepan into their bowls.
    â€œMorning Katy, I hope you slept well.” Mrs Graham greeted her warmly.
    Susie looked up at Katy with a smile and pulled out the seat for her. Katy took a bowl of porridge. “Is there any sugar?” she asked.
    â€œWe haven’t had any sugar for weeks now,” moaned Harry. “Use this instead,” he said, pushing a sticky jar of honey across the table towards her. After the porridge they ate homemade brown bread, with margarine and marmalade. Mrs Graham picked up a jug of milk and poured a glass for Katy, who immediately took a large gulp and then gagged. The taste was unexpected – warm, sour and slightly cheesy.
    â€œThat’s horrible,” she choked, promptly spitting the milk back into her glass.
    The twins laughed. “Don’t you like our Emily’s milk, then? Frank got up extra early to milk her so you’d have some fresh for breakfast,” laughed Harry.
    Katy was wondering who Emily could be and why they were drinking her horrible milk, when Mrs Graham chipped in. “Leave her alone, she’s just not used to goat’s milk that’s all. She’ll soon get used to it or go without. No one can afford to be fussy when there’s a war on.”
    Breakfast continued at a much slower pace than either Katy or Patrick was used to. The twins kept everyone entertained with an endless stream of stories about school, all of which seemed