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

draped a shawl round my shoulders and stuck a ring on every finger. Carrie stroked dark shadow on my eyelids and purple lipstick round my mouth and then brushed my hair up into a crazy kind of bun. Crystal squirted me all over with scent even though it wouldn’t show in a photograph.
    Then we had a long, long, posing session, Dad snapping away until he eventually ran out of film. He developed the photographs himself, blundering round the bathroom in the pitch dark. I couldn’t wait to see the finishedphotographs. I felt as if I’d been transformed into this new grown-up magical pretty person. I looked for her in the photographs – but I just saw myself, looking a bit funny in a long frock with stuff smeared all over my face.
    â€˜I don’t like them. Tear them up, Dad. Ugh, I look awful,’ I said hastily.
    â€˜No, they’re very good. The lighting’s a bit haywire and you’re out of focus here and there, but on the whole they’re great,’ said Dad.
    â€˜
You
look great, Andy,’ said Carrie. ‘You know what? You’ll have to be a fashion model when you grow up. You’re nice and tall already. Fashion models have to be very tall.’
    I didn’t know that. I thought about the idea. Maybe the photographs weren’t too bad after all.
    Dad gave me some copies to show to Mum when it was her turn to have me.
    â€˜Oh for Heaven’s sake!’ said Mum. ‘Look at the way they’ve got you up! You look awful, Andy. All that dreadful make-up. And you’re wearing that Carrie’s clothes. Why on earth couldn’t your father take some proper photos of you in your own clothes, instead of all dolled up like a dog’s dinner.’
    â€˜I was being a fashion model, Mum. Carriesaid I could be a model when I grow up, she did, Mum, honestly.’
    â€˜She would,’ said Mum, shuddering.
    â€˜Fashion models aren’t
fat
,’ said Katie, poking me in the tummy.
    â€˜I can go on a diet when I grow up,’ I said, but I was starting to wish I hadn’t taken the photos with me.
    But then Paula came and had a look.
    â€˜Don’t you look grown-up, Andy? No-one would ever think you were only ten. You look almost as old as me.’
    That pleased me quite a lot.
    And then Graham had a quick shuffle through the photos too.
    â€˜Don’t, Graham. I look such a twit,’ I said, going hot.
    â€˜Yeah, you said it, Andy Pandy,’ said Katie.
    â€˜I think you look pretty,’ said Graham.
    That pleased me even more.

‘ WHAT’S MISS MAYNARD on about in this letter, Andy? She’s moaning about all your dental appointments, saying it would be better if you could go after school. But you haven’t
had
any dental appointments, have you? You went for a check-up in the summer and you didn’t even need any fillings. So what’s going on, Andy?
Andy??
’
    â€˜How did you do in your English test, Andy? And how’s the old arithmetic getting on? Why won’t you let me see your schoolbooks nowadays? You are still top of the class, aren’t you? Andy, what’s the matter?’
    â€˜Come along, Andrea, answer the question. It’s no use looking at Aileen, she’s not going to tell you. You weren’t paying attention, were you? It’s simply not good enough. Do you want to end up a complete dunce, is that it?’
    â€˜Who’s been mucking around with my tights? They’re all wet and soapy. You’ve been messing about with your little rabbit again, haven’t you?’
    â€˜How are things working out for you and Radish, Andrea? Do you mind going from House A to House B and back again?’
    â€˜Do you know what time it is, Andy Pandy? Time to go home. Only you haven’t got a home any more, have you?’

I DIDN’T DARE stay off school for a bit because Mum went to see Miss Maynard and they had a Long Talk. I’m not ever going to be able to make out