Bad Girls Read online

  ‘He tickles,’ said Tanya.

  I decided not to bother explaining that Gertrude was a she. I was getting giddy watching Tanya whizzing round and round my room. I sat shyly on the edge of my bed as if I were the guest.

  Tanya still had hold of Olivia.

  ‘This one’s still my favourite,’ she said.

  ‘She’s mine too,’ I said, pleased. ‘Her name’s Olivia.’ I blushed, scared Tanya would think me stupid giving my monkeys names.

  ‘Hello, Olivia. Haven’t you got a posh name?’ said Tanya. She made Olivia’s head waggle. ‘Oooh yes, I should jolly well say so,’ she said, pretending to be Olivia. She had her voice all wrong, but it didn’t really matter.

  ‘She’s got the same colour hair as me!’ said Tanya, and she screwed up her face into a funny monkey expression to match. ‘Do you like it this colour, eh, Mandy?’

  ‘I think it’s lovely,’ I said.

  ‘Of course, it’s not really this colour. It’s sort of mouse naturally. Only that’s boring, isn’t it?’

  ‘Oh, yes.’

  ‘I thought I might try it black some time. Go all Gothic and witchy. What do you think?’

  I didn’t know what to say. I was amazed she was asking my opinion. I still couldn’t believe she was actually in my bedroom, chatting away to me.

  ‘Or I could go blonde, like you,’ said Tanya ‘You’ve got lovely hair.’

  ‘Me?’ I said, astonished.

  ‘My little sister’s got long hair too. Just like yours. You look like her. I thought just for a minute you were her when I saw you up at the window. Mad, eh?’

  I smiled nervously.

  ‘I used to do our Carmel’s hair every day. I’m good at long hair. I’ll style yours for you, if you like.’

  ‘Would you?’

  ‘Sure,’ said Tanya.

  She sat me down in front of my dressing table and undid my stupid plaits. She brushed out my hair really carefully, not pulling anywhere near as much as Mum does.

  ‘I’m ever so gentle, aren’t I?’ said Tanya. ‘That’s because Carmel yells her head off if you tug her tangles. And she wiggles around something awful. You’re much better behaved than Carmel.’

  ‘Is Carmel at Mrs Williams’ too?’ I asked.

  Tanya stood still. Her face screwed up. I got scared. She went on brushing my hair after a moment, but she didn’t answer. I didn’t dare try asking her again.

  She swept my hair up and wound it round her fingers and then with one deft twiddle turned it into a top knot. She secured it with the bands from my plaits.

  ‘Like it?’

  ‘Oh, wow!’ I said.

  ‘And we’ll soften it up here at the front,’ said Tanya, pulling a wisp over my forehead and doing little curly bits in front of my ears. ‘Yeah?’

  ‘Yeah!’ I said, trying to say it just the way she did.

  I looked so different. Grown up. Almost Miranda Rainbow.

  ‘Got any spray?’ said Tanya.

  I shook my head.

  ‘You need it, to keep it in place. And you can get all sorts of special slides and bands if you want to wear it up. Carmel used to have heaps.’

  Tanya paused. ‘I did my little brothers’ hair too, cut it once a month and everything. I kept them looking really nice. I’ve got two little brothers, Sean and Matty. And my Carmel. I looked after them just like I was their mum. That’s why they’re trying me out at Pat’s place. Because I’m good with little kids. But I hoped she’d have girls. Huh! Pat’s got little Simon and that gormless Charlie and baby Ricky and they all yell and muck around and get messy and play with their willies. I’m sick of little boys. And big boys. Me and my boyfriend broke up three weeks ago, and do you know something, it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me, because he is a pig.’

  She didn’t just say he was a pig. She swore and I felt my cheeks go red and I hoped she wouldn’t notice. I was ever so glad I’d shut the bedroom door so Mum couldn’t hear.

  ‘Yeah, all boys give me the creeps,’ Tanya insisted. ‘So that’s why I thought I’d find a little girl to play with.’ She smiled at me kindly. I smiled back, but I couldn’t help fidgeting.

  ‘I’m not actually a little girl,’ I said. ‘I’m ten.’

  Tanya blinked at me. ‘You’re never! I thought you were only about eight. Aren’t you tiny!’

  I blushed even more.

  ‘Still, I’m tiny too. Without my heels,’ said Tanya. She saw me looking at them admiringly. ‘You can try them on if you want.’

  ‘Can I?’ I kicked off my slippers and edged my feet inside the black suede straps. They looked wonderful.

  The bedroom door suddenly opened and I fell off one shoe in shock.

  ‘Mandy! Watch your ankles,’ said Mum, coming in with a tray. She frowned. ‘It’s not very nice to try on other people’s shoes,’ she said.

  I took the other high heel off, sighing. ‘Whatever have you done with your hair?’ said Mum.

  ‘Tanya did it. I think it looks fantastic,’ I said.

  ‘Hm,’ said Mum putting the tray on my bedside table. She looked at Tanya. ‘I thought you might like a drink and a snack. Before you go home,’ she said. ‘Though you’ll still be full up with cake.’

  ‘Ooh, no, I’m always starving – even though I stay so skinny,’ said Tanya. ‘Is that Coke?’

  ‘No, it’s Ribena actually,’ said Mum. ‘And some gingerbread men. Home-made.’

  ‘Gingerbread folk,’ said Tanya. ‘We made them at this home I was in, and it was sexist to call them men, because women wear trousers too, don’t they?’ She picked up a gingerbread person, examining it carefully. ‘We’ll make this one definitely a woman, eh, Mandy?’ She nibbled along the stumpy legs with her sharp little teeth. ‘There, she’s wearing leggings now!’ Tanya laughed and I laughed too. I took a gingerbread person even though I was far too excited to be hungry. I nibbled as well.

  ‘There, I’ve got a woman too,’ I said, spraying crumbs.

  ‘Don’t talk with your mouth full, Mandy,’ said Mum. She walked over to my bed, tidying the duvet and pillow. She looked like she might be intending to sit on it herself.

  ‘You can go now, Mum,’ I blurted out quickly.

  Mum looked surprised and hurt, but she didn’t say anything.

  She went. My heart started thudding in case I’d hurt her feelings but I couldn’t bother about it too much. Not now. With Tanya.

  She slurped her Ribena. ‘New lipstick, eh, Mandy?’ she said, smacking stained lips. ‘It’ll match my nails a treat.’

  She ate her gingerbread woman, and pretended to feed Olivia and Gertrude too, kidding around as if she still thought me a baby. But it didn’t matter. Nothing mattered in the whole world because I was friends with Tanya.

  She pretended to feed the man’s face on her T-shirt too.

  ‘Here, Kurt, you can have a mouthful,’ she said.

  ‘Who?’

  ‘You don’t know who Kurt is?’ Tanya rolled her eyes and sighed. She reverently stroked his tousled fringe. ‘Only the greatest rock star ever, and I just love him.’

  ‘I thought you said all boys gave you the creeps?’ I said boldly.

  She gave me a little nudge.

  ‘You’re not so shy now, are you? And anyway, Miss Clever-Clogs, he’s not a boy.’

  ‘Well, a man, then.’

  ‘He’s not a man either. He’s an angel, because he’s dead. Or a devil.’

  ‘He’s dead?’ I said, surprised, because he looked so young.

  ‘He committed suicide,’ said Tanya. She got up off Gertrude and wandered round my room, opening the drawers in my play cupboard.

  I didn’t mind her fiddling with my things at all. She got out my big tin of rainbow felt-tips.

  ‘Wow! Do they all work still?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Let’s draw, eh? I love colouring.’

  I found us both some drawing paper. I took my arm out of my sling and waggled my fingers. Yes, I thought