Katy Read online

  I read, and that was absolutely fine, but it did feel a bit lonely. I was wildly excited at the thought of going into town with Cecy and wandering round the shops just like a normal person. I phoned her up on my mobile and asked her if she’d like to go with me straight after her dancing lesson.

  ‘We could have lunch in McDonald’s. On me. I’ve got heaps of pocket money because I haven’t been able to go out to spend any of it. Oh God, my mouth’s watering just at the thought of a Big Mac and fries!’ I said excitedly.

  ‘Yes, that would be great,’ said Cecy, but she sounded uncertain. ‘So is your dad taking us?’

  ‘No, of course not. We’ll go on our own. We’re allowed now,’ I said.

  We’d been into town twice on our own during the summer term. Izzie and Mrs Hall had reluctantly agreed, although they’d fussed terribly and made us promise not to talk to any strangers and only cross the road at the traffic lights, as if we were tiny tots.

  ‘Yes, I know we’re allowed – but that was before,’ said Cecy.

  ‘Before what?’ I said sharply, though of course I knew what she meant.

  ‘Well, you know,’ Cecy said awkwardly. ‘But hey, yes, let’s. It’ll be such fun. We could walk there and I could push your wheelchair if you get tired.’

  ‘We can get the bus,’ I said.

  ‘Yeah. Fine. Right. It’s a date,’ said Cecy.

  But ten minutes later I heard Izzie’s mobile ringing in the kitchen and a long conversation. Then she came into my room. She looked at me worriedly.

  ‘I’m going,’ I said fiercely. ‘You mustn’t fuss. I’ll be all right.’

  ‘I know,’ said Izzie. ‘But Cecy’s mum isn’t at all happy about it. She says no.’

  ‘Oh, for goodness’ sake!’

  ‘She thinks it might be too much responsibility for Cecy. And, to be fair, I can see her point,’ said Izzie. ‘I’m sorry, Katy. I can see how much you were looking forward to it.’

  I bent my head so she couldn’t see my teary eyes. I clenched my fists. I wanted to howl and lash out. I waited, fighting for control. Izzie came and stood beside me and gently rubbed the back of my wrist.

  I sniffed hard. ‘Could you come too then, Izzie? That’ll reassure Mrs Fusspot Hall.’

  ‘Well, she said that they had plans for Saturday afternoon anyway, some visit to a friend or an aunt or someone,’ Izzie said uncomfortably.

  ‘A fictitious friend or aunt?’ I said.

  ‘Perhaps. How do we know?’

  ‘Izzie, could I go with Clover? I’d sooner go with Clover.’

  ‘I think I’m going to do a Mrs Hall on you, Katy. Clover would love it, of course she would, but she’s only ten, and quite young for her age. I think she’d panic a bit if there was any slight hitch. But I could accompany both of you. I’ll walk way behind so that no one will know I’m keeping an eye on you,’ said Izzie.

  ‘Oh, you’re a darling,’ I said, and I really meant it.

  We set off on Saturday, Izzie and Clover and me – and Elsie. I decided we might as well ask her along too.

  ‘Oh Katy, yes please! I’d love to come! I’ll bring all my pocket money and I’ll buy you the bestest present ever, Katy. This means I’m one of the big girls, doesn’t it? I’m not one of the littlies any more, am I? I’m truly big, aren’t I, Katy?’

  ‘You’re almost as big as me,’ I said. ‘In fact, you’re bigger now I’m stuck in my wheelchair. You tower over me. You’re the big girl and I’m the littlie.’

  ‘You’ll always be the biggest, Katy,’ said Clover. ‘You’re still the boss of all of us.’

  ‘Even me,’ said Izzie.

  So on Saturday we went shopping while Dad stayed at home looking after Dorry, Jonnie and Phil. He did offer to drive us into the town centre – we could just about all squash in if I transferred into the front seat and we collapsed the wheelchair and stowed it in the boot.

  ‘It’s sweet of you, darling, but I think we’ll have a girls-only trip,’ said Izzie. ‘We’re going to shop until we drop.’

  ‘Do you want to go with them then, Jonnie?’ Dad asked.

  ‘No fear! I hate shopping,’ said Jonnie.

  ‘I like it. I especially like that food court at the Flowerfields shopping centre,’ said Dorry. ‘You lot could go shopping and leave me in the food court if you like.’

  ‘I think not, chubby chops,’ said Izzie, fondly squeezing his cheeks.

  Dad suggested that the littlies might like to go for a special hike in Oxshott Woods.

  ‘I don’t think I like hiking,’ Dorry whined.

  ‘But you will like a little picnic in the sandpit when we’ve had our exercise,’ said Dad. ‘In fact, you can be in charge of making the picnic, Dorry. I bet you’d like that.’

  We left them preparing a mound of exotic sandwiches invented by Dorry: traffic light ones of strawberry, lemon curd and greengage jam; cream cheese and banana and honey; and ham and apricot jam.

  Izzie, Clover, Elsie and I set off down the road for the bus stop. It felt so strange to be going along the pavement again. The curtains twitched next door and I saw Mrs Burton’s pale moon face peering out. I waved to her. She shut the curtains quickly, but when we were down the road a bit we heard her calling.

  ‘Mrs Carr! Katy! Little girls!’ Her voice was squeaky, as if it needed oiling. Perhaps she wasn’t used to talking to anyone.

  We stopped politely and went back to say hello.

  ‘Oh my goodness, it’s good to see you up and about,’ she said, patting my knee with her little claw hands.

  ‘Well. I’m not up. But I am about,’ I said.

  ‘I’ve been so worried about you. Dr Carr came round to reassure me. He said you’ve made splendid progress, but oh dear, oh dear, you’re still having to use a wheelchair! Does he have any idea when you’ll be able to walk again?’ she asked anxiously.

  There was an awkward pause. Clover and Elsie exchanged glances, looking agonized. Izzie cleared her throat, ready to say something, but couldn’t seem to get any words out. It was up to me.

  ‘It doesn’t look as if I’ll ever be able to walk again,’ I said flatly.

  ‘Oh my Lord, you poor little lamb,’ Mrs Burton gasped. ‘Crippled at such a young age!’

  ‘Still, Katy’s managing wonderfully,’ said Izzie. ‘We’re very proud of her. Well, we’d better be off. We have a bus to catch.’

  We set off again. Clover and Elsie were still looking at me worriedly. I was smarting, but I knew old Mrs Burton didn’t mean to be offensive.

  ‘Baa!’ I said. ‘Baa, baa, baa.’

  They looked at me as if I’d gone mad. Then Clover chuckled.

  ‘You’re being a poor little lamb!’ she said.

  It was a silly joke but they all laughed heartily with relief. It was awkward waiting at the bus stop. Several other old ladies looked at me pityingly, shaking their heads and tutting to themselves, and a little kid Philly’s age said loudly to his mum, ‘Why is that great big girl in a buggy?’

  She hissed at him to be quiet, which made him ask it even louder. Then a girl in Clover’s class at school joined the queue with her nan and stared at me, open-mouthed.

  ‘What’s up with your sister, Clover?’ she asked right in front of me, as if I couldn’t hear what she was saying.

  ‘Nothing’s up with her,’ said Clover, going pink. ‘She’s just had an accident, that’s all.’

  I was getting a bit sick of all this attention. When the nan wasn’t looking I pulled a ferocious face at the Year Six girl, crossing my eyes and lolling my tongue. She veered away from me, panicking. It cheered me up a little.

  ‘Here’s the bus coming at last,’ said Izzie, sounding relieved. ‘I’d better go first, girls, and ask the driver to let down the ramp thing.’

  But the driver sucked his teeth at her. ‘Hmm, don’t think it’s possible, love,’ he said.

  ‘What? You must have a ramp,’ said Izzie.

  ‘Oh yes, I’ve got one all right, but I’ve