Page 11 of The New Girl

Dad had just come in from driving the taxi all night. Ruby didn’t want him to have to go to the shops. ‘It’s OK, Dad, I’m not hungry,’ she lied. Her stomach rumbled.

Dad smiled at her. ‘You know what, love, why don’t you throw on your uniform and I’ll take you and your sister out for breakfast? I need something to eat before I go to sleep anyway.’

‘Really?’ Ruby couldn’t believe it. Dad never did this. Breakfast out with him would be so cool. She wished it was just her and not Orla too, but still, it would be so nice.

She ran upstairs. Orla was standing in front of the mirror in their bedroom, putting make-up on. She was crying. When she saw Ruby, Orla quickly wiped away her tears.

‘Hurry, Dad’s taking us out for breakfast. Quick, before he changes his mind or falls asleep.’ Ruby was panting from racing up the stairs.

Orla grabbed her uniform, threw it on and the two sisters were downstairs two minutes later.

As they walked down the road to the local café the knot in Ruby’s stomach faded away. The argument was over. Here she was with her dad, actually going out for breakfast. This was such a treat.

In the café, they sat down and Dad said they could order anything they wanted.

‘Really? Even pancakes with Nutella?’ Ruby asked.

Dad smiled, a tired smile. ‘Yes, pet, just for today.’

‘Cool, thanks.’

Ruby ordered her pancakes. Orla ordered scrambled eggs on gluten-free toast. She wasn’t allergic to gluten; she just thought it was cool. Ruby thought it was ridiculous, but she said nothing because she didn’t want to start an argument. Dad ordered decaf coffee and toast.

When the food came the girls tucked in. Dad sipped his coffee and then said, ‘Look, girls, I want to talk to you about Robbie.’

Ruby stopped chewing. Oh no, was Dad going to give out to Orla and ruin this lovely breakfast?

Dad rubbed his eyes. ‘I know it’s hard. I know that the last four years have changed a lot for all of us. But your mum and I are doing our best and we need you to help us out. Robbie is ... well, he’s a lot of work but he’s our Robbie. He’s my son and your brother and he tries, he really does. He just doesn’t understand things the way other kids do. And to be honest a lot of four-year-olds break things. But what I want to say is that Robbie is going to be with us for the rest of our lives and we have to try to make the best of it and work together as a team.’ Dad looked at Orla. ‘I need you to help your mum, Orla, not make things difficult for her. I know you’re frustrated but if we push against each other it’ll make things so much harder. I’m asking you both to be as helpful as you can.’

Orla looked down at her plate and sighed. ‘I’ll try, but it’s not easy, Dad.’

Dad reached over and patted her hand. ‘I know, pet, but try harder.’

He looked at Ruby and smiled. ‘I know you’re doing your best, Ruby. You’re always helping out. Keep it up.’

He squeezed her shoulder and Ruby beamed up at him. So he did notice how hard she tried to be nice to Robbie. He did know that it was hard, and he did see that she was doing her best. It made her feel all warm inside.

She was about to tell Dad about Safa, the new refugee in the class, and how she had been asked to look after her, but Dad’s eyes began to close. He stood up. ‘I’m sorry, girls, I have to get some sleep. That fifteen-hour shift has wiped me out. Be good in school. I’ll see you later.’

Dad paid the bill and waved goodbye from the door. Ruby finished up her pancakes.

Orla pushed her food around her plate. ‘I remember when Dad had loads of energy and used to take us to the park to play football and mess around on the trampoline with us and ... well, now he’s just knackered all the time.’

Ruby nodded. She remembered too.

Orla looked out the window. ‘Look, there’s your refugee friend. Are you looking after her today too?’

‘I have to mind her for the whole week,’ Ruby grumbled.

‘Is she weird?’

Ruby shrugged. ‘No, she seems OK.’

‘Well, you like weirdos. Clara’s a nerd and Denise is like a boy. All she does is play football.’

‘Thanks a lot. They’re actually my friends.’

‘You’re the Goon Squad. It’s embarrassing for me to have such a nerd as a sister. It’s bad for my image.’

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