Read Online The Betrayer by Kimberley Chambers - Free Book Online Page B

leaving.’
    Tommy nodded and did as he was told.
    Susan and Tracey stood outside the run-down, filthy old house, awaiting their latest victim. Silly Billy Barnard went to band practice on a Tuesday. His family was skint, so they knew he’d have no money. They just wanted to torment him, terrorise him, like they usually did. Seeing his fat figure waddling their way, they ran towards him. Tracey was the first to reach him. Desperate to impress her friend, she grabbed his thick rimmed glasses and threw them in a nearby bush.
    ‘Please can I have my glasses back? I can’t see properly. Please don’t hurt me.’ Billy was a softie and couldn’t help his tears.
    Susan smiled at Billy’s anguish. She scared the absolute living daylights out of him and she knew it. Each time she confronted him she’d force him to do a little task. These had included pulling his trousers down and showing his willy, crawling along the pavement while meowing like a cat, and digging up his neighbour’s plants and eating them. Today, she wanted to teach him the art of movement.
    ‘Dance,’ she said, laughing at him.
    ‘I can’t dance. I don’t know how to,’ Billy stammered.
    Tracey aimed a kick at his ankle. ‘Do as you’re told. Now, fucking dance.’
    Billy tried to jig up and down to the best of his ability. Both girls were now in hysterics and their uncontrollable laughter made him cry all the more.
    ‘Can I go home now?’ he sobbed.
    Susan could barely speak for laughing. ‘You can’t go home until you’ve done the teapot.’
    ‘What’s that?’ Billy whimpered.
    Susan put her left hand on her hip and positioned her right in the shape of a spout.
    Billy understood now. Desperate to get home, he copied his tormentor and stood for five minutes rocking side to side. The girls were enjoying themselves so much that they didn’t notice Old Mother Kelly and her sister walking towards them.
    ‘Leave him alone, yer wicked little cows,’ screamed the sisters.
    As Susan and Tracey legged it into the distance, they could hear Old Mother Kelly cursing them. ‘God’s watching down on you, you know. What goes around comes around and he’s bound to have a plan for evil little girls like you.’
    On reaching the corner shop, Susan and Tracey stopped for a breather. Seeing Old Mother Kelly waving her fist at them, both girls lifted their skirts and flashed their bums. Giggling, they continued their journey.
    Maureen and Ethel were amused as they sat watching James devour his fish fingers and chips. All of a sudden he had the appetite of a horse and between every mouthful was telling them something else about Maria.
    ‘She’s not like other girls, yer know. She can run as fast as me and she can climb trees.’
    Maureen smiled. ‘Why don’t you invite her in for her tea tomorrow, James? We’d love to meet her and I’ll check it’s OK with her mum.’
    James put his empty plate on the table and jumped up and down excitedly. ‘Can I, Mum? Can I ask her now?’
    Ethel grabbed both his hands. ‘Don’t ask her yet. You’ve gotta play it cool, yer don’t wanna act too keen.’
    James was bemused. ‘What do yer mean, Nanny?’
    Ethel winked at him. ‘You’ll know exactly what I mean in a few years’ time, won’t he, Maur? You tell him.’
    Maureen decided to carry on with the wind-up. ‘Yer sure will, James. Anyway, it was only last week that you told me you didn’t like girls.’
    James giggled. ‘I don’t, but I do like Maria.’
    Ethel ruffled his hair. ‘Is she your girlfriend, James? Go on, you can tell yer old Nan.’
    James put both hands over his face. His mum and nan were so embarrassing sometimes.
    Maureen nudged Ethel as she goaded him. ‘Come on, James, you can tell us. Girls don’t like shy boys, so you’ve gotta be honest.’
    James took his hands away from his eyes. He stood up and put his hands on his little hips. ‘OK, I’ll tell yer, but you musn’t tell anyone. I love Maria and one day I’m gonna