dog a bit of time, but knew it would make Oscar’s mum even angrier.
‘Can we get a bloody move on,’ said Oscar’s mum, only this time it seemed to be directed at her, and Abby knew she was an irritation, an inconvenience in this woman’s life.
Someone different had brought her home every day this week as Ellie was ill and off school. Susanna had been unable to leave the house, as Ellie was always being sick. If she’d had a dad, he would’ve been able to get her, but she hadn’t seen her dad since she was two – or at least that was the age her mother had told her she was when her dad had deserted them all for some ‘rich floozy’. Abby wasn’t really sure what a floozy was and, in fact, it sounded quite nice. The word had a sort of breezy, floating quality to it. But it was clear from her mother’s bitter look of disappointment that a floozy was not a good thing.
Abby hiked up her backpack and strode on after Oscar’s mum, the dog now having relieved itself. At least it was Friday, so she didn’t need to be palmed off on anyone tomorrow. And it had been a good Friday, thought Abby, smiling to herself. She had a special surprise that she couldn’t wait to share with her mum. This was a big one: something really cool that she was convinced would make her mum proud.
They turned the corner into her street and Abby ran on ahead until she got to her house. She lifted the door knocker and hammered it down loudly, both desperate to get away from Oscar’s mother and excited to be home and share her secret with her mum.
Her mother opened the door with a frown. ‘Abby, for heaven’s sake, Ellie’s just fallen asleep.’
Abby deflated – how was she supposed to know? – and she silently went into the house while her mother passed the obligatory small talk with Oscar’s mum.
As Abby went into the living room she saw her little sister lying on the sofa looking very tired and a bit yellow. A bucket was on the floor beside her. Ellie lifted her head when Abby came in, smiled at her.
‘Have you been sick?’ asked Abby.
‘Five times,’ said Ellie.
Abby’s eyes widened in awe. This was a new record. The last time Ellie was ill, back when it was snowing, she’d been sick a lot but the most was four times in one day.
‘Don’t disturb her, Abby.’
Her mother had come into the room and Abby was reminded of the secret she had. She excitedly shrugged her school bag off her shoulders so she could get out what was inside. Her mother went over to Ellie, laid a tender hand on her forehead.
‘Do you want Abby to leave the room?’ asked Susanna.
Abby halted a moment, hurt. Was she about to be thrown out? But Ellie shook her head. Now Abby had found what she was looking for and she thrust a piece of paper at her mother.
‘Mummy, look!’ she beamed. ‘I got a Head Teacher’s Award.’
Her mother glanced across at the certificate but didn’t take it. It was for working hard on her fractions in maths this week, and it was her third award that year, an exceptional milestone that was celebrated at school with a mention in assembly, and you had to stand up and all the other children clapped you.
The sound of retching interrupted them: Ellie was vomiting into the bucket.
‘Out of the way, Abby!’ snapped her mother and Abby found herself pushed aside. She watched as her mum held back Ellie’s hair and rubbed her back as she threw up nothing more than bile.
Abby waited for the episode to subside and, when it did, Ellie lay back on the sofa, exhausted. Now Mummy will look at my certificate, thought Abby, but her mother sat on the sofa next to Ellie, her back to her eldest daughter.
After a few moments it dawned on Abby that her mother wasn’t going to turn around – that she’d forgotten all about the certificate. Abby stood there for a moment, engulfed with shame, unsure of what to do. She quietly turned to leave the room. At the doorway she looked back again – just in case – but her mother hadn’t even noticed she’d left. Ellie saw her leave, though, and offered up a weak smile, but Abby cut her a look and walked out of the room.