service. We have to talk to her, it’s getting out-of-hand.’
Mr Prevost shook his head, still smiling. ‘She’ll be back when she gets hungry, I don’t doubt.’ Then he rolled his eyes at Mr McCracken. ‘Kids, eh? It’s like we talk a different language. I’m surprised you can be bothered.’
Mr McCracken was smiling at Therese.
‘Well, I’m sure it’s all just a silly mistake.’
Mr Prevost nodded. ‘Bound to be. I owe you a drink.
If ever you fancy it, there’s a gang of us who meet up at the Royal Hotel. A lot of the chaps at the bank are English and have come over on contracts. We go there on Wednesdays and Fridays and sometimes at the weekend. Ha-ha! I should probably move in. But seriously, I bet you’d fit right in.’
‘That’s kind.’ Mr McCracken was already Mc-backing away. ‘I’ll bear that in mind, most definitely. Right now I must be off.’
‘Thanks again,’ I called. ‘I really appreciate it.’
Mr McCracken smiled at Therese with what I thought was sympathy. ‘I’m sure Nicolette will be back safe and sound, but if you’re at all worried do call me.’
Therese fiddled with a long gold necklace and looked all Lady Di.
‘You’re very kind.’
And with that, Super-Mac folded his long body into his car and started the engine without the slightest crunch or scream. He reversed down the drive and in a second he was gone. I couldn’t believe it. He hadn’t said anything about the state I’d been in or where I’d been or how illegal it all was. I was mystified. I stared up at Therese and Mr Prevost like they’d witnessed a minor miracle. But once the shock wore off I felt a bit confused. I didn’t want or need a miracle. I wanted a proper punishment. Or at least a proper parent.
I know Mr Mac wasn’t my dad, but he had a duty of care, or whatever you call it. As my form teacher he should’ve done something. Perhaps he didn’t want to get involved, or perhaps he didn’t want to make trouble. Either way, they made him a coward. And Mr Prevost was no better. He thought Nic was his little princess and therefore could do no wrong. This is serious black-and-white proof that the adults on this island are utterly useless. They think Guernsey’s so peaceful and perfect that their kids can come to no harm. Don’t they consider the harm kids can do to each other?
If you give someone an inch they take a mile – isn’t that what they say? Remember Guernsey’s small, in fact, it’s only three miles wide.
15TH DECEMBER 1985, 4.30 p.m.
[Kitchen, having eaten three ‘Lean Cuisines’. Therefore ‘Not Lean’.]
‘Traitor!’
It was Monday morning bright and early and Nic had just slammed her satchel on my desk. Her eyes bored into me.
‘I can’t believe you went off in a huff and left me like that. Have you forgotten who your friends are?’
The whole of the class went quiet and stared at us.
‘I’m sorry,’ I replied, ‘I should never have climbed up the tower with Michael Priaulx. I had no idea he was going to go all nutty like that.’
Nic folded her arms under her boobs. ‘How fucking dare you embarrass me like that! And what the hell were you thinking, going back to my house afterwards?’
(I’d waited in Nic’s bedroom for over two hours, and then Therese had driven me home.)
‘I was looking for you and I thought you’d be there. What else did you expect me to do?’
‘You could’ve gone anywhere. You had no right. And I know you went through my stuff. Where’s my silver locket, you little thief!’
(She’d definitely said I could borrow it.)
I dug my nails into the sides of the desk.
‘Look, I went there and waited for you because I wanted to say sorry. I thought you’d be back before too long.’
‘More like you were waiting for an excuse to suck up to my mum. I can’t trust you. I didn’t know what to tell the boys. And as if that wasn’t embarrassing enough, you do your little Second World War reenactment with Monobrow Michael and act like a total spaz. Jesus, you could’ve hit the car!’
‘We weren’t trying to hit anyone, it was just a laugh.’
‘Were you laughing?’
(I couldn’t remember.)
Nic shook her head and leaned in, lowering her voice a little but not quite enough.
‘I don’t know why I bother. Christ, I’d even set you up with Pagey, did you know that? I’d totally talked you up to him, told him