Read Online The Suitcase Kid by Jacqueline Wilson - Free Book Online

they’re no use. They’re Dad’s mum and dad. Mum’s mum and dad are dead so they’re no use either. It’s not fair, because Paula and Graham and Katie have got two full sets of grandparents and they’re always coming to see them, and Zen and Crystal have a granny and grandpa too.
They
aren’t too bad, because they took me to the zoo with them, and we all got icecream and an animal colouring book. Paula and Graham and Katie’s lotare awful. The baboon’s parents are squat and hairy like him, even the granny. I’d hate to kiss her because she has a moustache. But the worst ones of all are the other gran and grandad. They used to help look after Paula and Graham and Katie after their mum died. They still come and visit a lot. They don’t think much of my mum. They keep going on about the past, and how devoted Bill was to his first wife, and Mum gets very pink in the face. They practically ignore her. And me. You will never believe this but when they come on a visit they always bring presents for Paula and Graham and Katie. Sometimes they’re really big presents, new clothes or books or records. Sometimes it’s just boxes of chocolates. But whatever it is, I don’t get anything at all. Not a sausage.
    Mum got pinker than ever, pinker than my spoiled school shirts, and eventually I heard her ask the gran and grandad if they could include me in the present-giving so that I wouldn’t feel left out.
    â€˜But Paula and Graham and Katie are our grandchildren,’ they said. ‘Andrea’s nothing to do with us.’
    Well, good. Catch
me
wanting anything to do with
them
.

DAD’S GOT A camera. We’re back to the old routine now. One week at Mum’s. One week at Dad’s. You know. As easy as A B C. Carrie was a bit huffy at first because she’d had a social worker round to check up on things.
    â€˜And she said everywhere is spotless,’ said Carrie. ‘You tell your mother that. We might be a bit untidy, but the flat is perfectly clean and she said that Zen and Crystal are delightfulintelligent children who have obviously had a lot of loving care and stimulation.’
    The delightful and intelligent twins were having a fierce pillowfight as she spoke, lovingly and carefully stimulating the pillows until they both burst simultaneously and scattered a snow of feathers.
    Carrie just laughed. Even Dad didn’t get cross. He got his camera and took lots of photos.
    â€˜You’ll wear that camera out before the baby’s even born,’ said Carrie, still laughing. She turned to me. ‘I bought your dad this second-hand camera so he can take lots of photos when the baby’s being born. Won’t that be lovely?’
    I stared at her. I know how babies are born of course. I didn’t think they were going to be the sort of photos you could put in a silver frame and prop on top of the television set.
    Dad saw me looking doubtful.
    â€˜I want to take lots of photos of my number one daughter too,’ he said. ‘Come on, Andy, give us a smile.’
    I gave him a smile. And then another. And then I put my hand on my hip and gave him a little wave. Then I pointed a toe. Then I pirouetted round the room, Dad going
snap snap snap
.
    â€˜That’s the girl, Andy. Hey, that’s great. You’ve really got the idea, haven’t you?’
    It was wonderful. I felt like a film star. Crystal came and joined in and she smiled and waved and pointed too, but she didn’t do it as naturally as me. And Zen was hopeless, galumphing about and pulling hideous faces at the camera.
    â€˜No, Andy’s the star model,’ said Carrie. ‘Here, let’s dress her up like a real model, eh? Come and help me choose some clothes, Crystal. And we’ll make her up and give her a posh hair-do. Would you like that, Andy?’
    I liked it enormously. Carrie dressed me up in one of her long droopy fancy frocks and Crystal