SOMEONE DIFFERENT (33 page)

The breeze blew a piece of my hair across my face and I pushed it back with my fingers.

‘That’s a pretty bracelet,’ Dad said. ‘Where did that come from?’

I looked at the shiny black plaits as I brought my hand down. ‘Jay,’ I said.

‘Oh ... just now?’

‘A while ago.’

He smiled. ‘It’s nice; I never noticed it before.’

‘No; you wouldn’t have.’

The house martins reappeared and sailed through the clouds then over the hills. My finger tips scraped softly against the stone I was sitting on, and my eyes settled on the grass.

‘Would you like us to take you to see him?’

‘What?’

‘Your mother and I
... in a few weeks’ time. If you’d like to, we could take you over to spend some time with him – Jay, I mean?’

Christ, I did not see that one coming. I kept as much shock off my face as possible, but probably didn’t do so well with the anger.

Why couldn’t he have been like that four months ago – or actually, fifteen years ago ...

Why had it taken him until now, when Jay had actually left, to finally open up his narrow, blinkered, eyes and see what was happening all around him?

But I suppose stressing about it now was pretty damn useless. I guess this was him doing his best – even if it was a bit late – and, as Grandad would’ve said, there’s no point cutting your nose off to spite your face.

‘Yes. I would like that,’ I said. ‘I’ll ask him when he’s going to have some free time and let you know.’

Dad nodded, just as someone else came to join us – so much for wanting to be on my own. Tia had snuck up the field and she stood a couple of yards away, weighing us up carefully.

Dad looked at her, obviously grateful for the distraction. ‘Well, aren’t you just getting brave?’ he said. ‘And looking stronger and more beautiful than ever.’ He hesitated, then glanced at me. ‘You know, there’s a show up at Harleydale next month.’

‘Dad, are you kidding? The last thing I feel like is parading around in some bloody show ring.’

‘Oh, yes, sorry; I just thought I’d mention it. But it’s entirely up to you of course; whatever you decide, that’s fine.’ He reached out to Tia. She took a sharp step back, but then cautiously allowed him to pat her neck.

‘Are you coming up to the house for lunch,’ he asked me a minute later.

‘No, not yet.’

‘OK, well I’ll see you up there whenever you’re ready.’

She never moved a muscle until he was completely out of the field, but then gingerly, Tia took the final few strides towards me. Her whiskers tickled the back of my hand as she stretched her head out, then gradually, she let her soft muzzle rest against it.

After stroking her face for a while, and ultra-carefully so I didn’t spook her, I pulled back my sleeve and checked my watch.

1.15. He’d be there by now: meeting the other students, unpacking his stuff, finding his way around. I could just see him; nervous as a fledgling, fretting about not being good enough.

But he was good, wasn’t he? Damn good; as good as anyone ... and a lot better than some people.

Perhaps doing that course was exactly what he needed to be able to realise it.

I looked into Tia’s dark eyes. ‘He’ll be alright,’ I said.

She noticed I’d stopped st
roking her and nudged my arm. Then, when I didn’t start again quickly enough, she stamped her foot as well.

I smiled. ‘Yes, I know; and so will we.’

And as I slipped down off the wall and headed back to the house for something to eat, Tia and I walked up the field together.

Also by Kate Hanney:

WATERMELON

How far would you go to belong?

Alone, rejected and living in a kids’s home, fifteen year old Mikey will do whatever it takes – even if it means running for a local drug dealer.

But as vilolent clashes with a rival gang escalate, loyalties get torn apart, and the cost of belonging spirals, what risks will Mike be prepared to take? How will he live with the desperate and dangerous choices he is forced into? And ultimately, can he survive the brutality and betrayal that surround him?

SAFE

Isolation at schhol, ro
ws at home, spending a night in the cells – Danny’s used to that kind of trouble; that’s normal.

But then he hits on a posh girl at a party, and life at home goes from bad to worse. And after that it’s not just normal trouble anymore.

And it’s not just Danny who’s in danger.