wrong. Besides, Iâm now eighty-one pounds richer thanks to the charity fund. I figure that will give me enough money to live on for at least a month if Iâm super careful. Last night I walked to Sainsburyâs and stocked up on Pot Noodle, milk, apples, and cereal. Having a full stomach makes me feel stronger and more able to face things.
On the way to class I run into Keisha coming out of the one of the shops on the main street near school. A sign taped to the door reads: no more than three schoolchildren at any time. Thereâs at least a dozen students from Windrush crammed in there, though, some of them rummaging through magazines, others hanging around the chocolate bar racks.
âAll right, Edie?â Keisha asks, grinning widely as the falls into step with me. âFancy some?â She offers up part of a Jamaican patty.
I wonder if she can tell something is wrong with me.
âNo thanks. I had a huge breakfast.â
âGod! Arenât you bloody lucky! I never have time to eat at home.â She stuffs a corner of the yellow pastry into her mouth. âIâve got four little brothers and sisters to get ready for school and then I have to walk them there before I even get to think about me.â
âWhy do you have to get your brothers and sisters ready?â I ask. âDoes your Mom go to work early?â Though Iâm afraid Keisha will think Iâm being too nosy, I ache to confide in someone about my own situation. Maybe if sheâs being left alone and responsible for her younger siblings, she might not think itâs all that bad that Mom leaves me alone all night to go to work.
Keisha snorts through a mouthful of yellow pastry. âEdie, my mum would get sacked the first day she even tried to be at a real job!â She rolls her eyes. âI left her on the sofa this morning with her second favourite thing in the world â an empty bottle of Appletonâs.â
âWhatâs her first?â I ask.
Keisha laughs. âA full bottle of Appletonâs rum!â
I decide not to tell Keisha about Mom. Suddenly I feel sick and desperately want to change the subject. Mom is a great parent. Sheâs taken care of me during the worst situations. I always came first. I donât want Keisha thinking my mom is anything like hers.
As we approach the school gates, Imogen comes running up to us.
âHave you heard?â she asks breathlessly. âMs. Bryans and Mr. Middleton are raging mad! Somebody nicked the charity money yesterday!â
Itâs the first time Iâve seen any colour in her pale cheeks. Imogen finishes speaking and begins scratching distractedly at a line of raw, sore-looking pimples that run in a crooked ridge across her forehead.
âYouâre joking!â I say, hoping I sound sincerely shocked.
âGod, Iâm not surprised,â Keisha snorts. âThat money was practically asking to be nicked. I wouldâve taken it myself except I donât need to. My mum gives me loads of pocket money every week.â
âOur class is never going to be allowed to go to the disco now for sure!â Imogen sighs.
âWere you planning on going then?â Keisha asks, a smirk dancing on her lips. âDid you have a date all lined up?â
Imogen scratches at her forehead again. She lowers her eyes away from Keishaâs gaze. âI dunno. But even if I wasnât, I still donât want our whole class to be banned from everything nice.â
âI agree,â I say. I donât like Keishaâs attitude. Despite her weirdness, Imogen is harmless and I hate seeing people get bullied. Bullies remind me too much of him . âWeâve had nothing but lectures for days now and I bet you todayâs going to be the worst. If Iâd known England was going to be like this, Iâd have stayed away.â
âBloody hell, Edie!â Keisha laughs. âThis place is absolute rubbish! You
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