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| | From a short story by Sarah Rookledge |
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1 | | My mother cornered | | | | a kind of messy, glowing | | | | are. I don't think the |
| | me one wet | | | | feeling, and when, at the | | | | council makes places for |
| | Saturday for the | | | | last possible moment, I | | | | families our size." |
| | conversation she'd been | | | | put my jacket on, I felt as if | | 9 | | On the Campbells' last |
| | trying to have for weeks. If | | | | I was leaving home | | | | evening, they all lined up |
| | she'd been a second | | | | instead of going there. | | | | to say goodbye to me in |
| | slower down the stairs, I | | | | "And don't wait for an | | | | turn. When Ramona and |
| | would have been able to | | | | invitation, come back | | | | David walked me to the |
| | escape. I stood in my red | | | | soon," said Mrs Campbell. | | | | bus stop afterwards, I tried |
| | denim jacket with my hand | | | | I took her at her word. In | | | | to break away from them. |
| | on the latch of the open | | | | fact, it wasn't long before I | | | | "What's up, Lizzie?" said |
| | door, and the rain blew in | | | | only went to Mum and | | | | Ramona, like she really |
| | onto the mat. | | | | Dad's to sleep. | | | | didn't know. I told them |
2 | | "Elizabeth!" she called. | | 6 | | My mum and dad are | | | | they were both complete |
| | "It'd be nice if you could | | | | both anxious types. They | | | | hypocrites. "Why did you |
| | manage to spend just one | | | | ask me about myself, they | | | | ever pretend you liked |
| | day at home." Elizabeth | | | | go to parents' evenings, | | | | me?" I said. They looked |
| | meant trouble - no one | | | | they behave like I'm a | | | | puzzled. "If I'm really, well, |
| | calls me Elizabeth. "I'm | | | | demanding job they're | | | | you know, like part of your |
| | glad you've got a good | | | | determined to do their | | | | family, like you always |
| | friend like Ramona, but | | | | best at. But Mr and Mrs | | | | said, how can you just go |
| | why can't she come here | | | | Campbell couldn't be like | | | | and not even care?" "Of |
| | for a change?" | | | | that if they wanted to. | | | | course we like you, Lizzie," |
3 | | I loved it at the | | 7 | | Ramona loved to draw. | | | | said David. "It's just that |
| | Campbells'. From the first | | | | "Where's this house with | | | | we always know we're |
| | time I went there, I was | | | | the balcony?" I said, | | | | going to leave." Meaning, I |
| | hooked, though I'd only | | | | looking at a picture in her | | | | suppose, they never let |
| | accepted Ramona's invita- | | | | sketchbook. She peered at | | | | themselves get too fond of |
| | tion out of nosiness. She | | | | it. “Oh, that was in Dorset. | | | | anyone. |
| | was new in our school, | | | | near the last place we | | 10 | | Well, the Campbells |
| | and seemed, well, | | | | lived at." "I bet you hated | | | | have been gone for ages |
| | different from the rest of | | | | changing schools," I said. | | | | now. Yesterday, when I got |
| | us. | | | | "It must feel so strange." | | | | home, there was a letter |
4 | | Ramona's older brother, | | | | She laughed and shook her | | | | from Ramona. She said |
| | David, let me into the | | | | head. "Not really, I've done | | | | her mum had had another |
| | house on that first visit. He | | | | it eleven times." Ramona | | | | baby, a little girl. They'd |
| | nodded at the open door of | | | | said that her parents loved | | | | called her Lizzie after me. |
| | the front room, “She's in | | | | to move. | | | | "Come and see her," said |
| | there.” They all were, all the | | 8 | | The next Monday | | | | the letter. “We're in |
| | other Campbell children. I | | | | morning, Ramona slid into | | | | Brighton now. It isn't far |
| | stood with him and looked | | | | her half of my double desk | | | | on the train.” Squashed up |
| | round a room of faces, all | | | | a second before classes | | | | at the bottom. Ramona |
| | with the same short pale | | | | started. "It's chaos at | | | | had put a PS. “I've never |
| | lashes and wide-mouthed | | | | home," she complained. | | | | kept in touch with anyone |
| | smiles. I silently counted. | | | | "We're off again. Cam- | | | | before. Please write back." |
| | There really were eight of | | | | bridge this time. Mum | | | | I jumped down the last |
| | them. | | | | says the house'll be | | | | step of the stairs with a |
5 | | I don't remember much | | | | bigger, but she always | | | | little skip, and had tea with |
| | of the evening, except for | | | | says that and they never | | | | Mum in the kitchen. |
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| | | | | | | | | | 'Just Seventeen', June 28, 1995 |