Read Online Since You've Been Gone by Mary Jennifer Payne - Free Book Online

wrong. Besides, I’m 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 I’m super careful. Last night I walked to Sainsbury’s 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. There’s at least a dozen students from Windrush crammed in there, though, some of them rummaging through magazines, others hanging around the chocolate bar racks.
    â€œAll right, Edie?” Keisha asks, grinning widely as the falls into step with me. “Fancy some?” She offers up part of a Jamaican patty.
    I wonder if she can tell something is wrong with me.
    â€œNo thanks. I had a huge breakfast.”
    â€œGod! Aren’t you bloody lucky! I never have time to eat at home.” She stuffs a corner of the yellow pastry into her mouth. “I’ve 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€œWhy do you have to get your brothers and sisters ready?” I ask. “Does your Mom go to work early?” Though I’m afraid Keisha will think I’m being too nosy, I ache to confide in someone about my own situation. Maybe if she’s being left alone and responsible for her younger siblings, she might not think it’s all that bad that Mom leaves me alone all night to go to work.
    Keisha snorts through a mouthful of yellow pastry. “Edie, my mum would get sacked the first day she even tried to be at a real job!” She rolls her eyes. “I left her on the sofa this morning with her second favourite thing in the world — an empty bottle of Appleton’s.”
    â€œWhat’s her first?” I ask.
    Keisha laughs. “A full bottle of Appleton’s rum!”
    I decide not to tell Keisha about Mom. Suddenly I feel sick and desperately want to change the subject. Mom is a great parent. She’s taken care of me during the worst situations. I always came first. I don’t want Keisha thinking my mom is anything like hers.
    As we approach the school gates, Imogen comes running up to us.
    â€œHave you heard?” she asks breathlessly. “Ms. Bryans and Mr. Middleton are raging mad! Somebody nicked the charity money yesterday!”
    It’s the first time I’ve 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.
    â€œYou’re joking!” I say, hoping I sound sincerely shocked.
    â€œGod, I’m not surprised,” Keisha snorts. “That money was practically asking to be nicked. I would’ve taken it myself except I don’t need to. My mum gives me loads of pocket money every week.”
    â€œOur class is never going to be allowed to go to the disco now for sure!” Imogen sighs.
    â€œWere you planning on going then?” Keisha asks, a smirk dancing on her lips. “Did you have a date all lined up?”
    Imogen scratches at her forehead again. She lowers her eyes away from Keisha’s gaze. “I dunno. But even if I wasn’t, I still don’t want our whole class to be banned from everything nice.”
    â€œI agree,” I say. I don’t like Keisha’s attitude. Despite her weirdness, Imogen is harmless and I hate seeing people get bullied. Bullies remind me too much of him . “We’ve had nothing but lectures for days now and I bet you today’s going to be the worst. If I’d known England was going to be like this, I’d have stayed away.”
    â€œBloody hell, Edie!” Keisha laughs. “This place is absolute rubbish! You