Page 28 of The New Girl

‘Yep.’

‘I like that long skirt on you. It’s much nicer than those miniskirts you wear.’

‘Yeah, me too.’ Orla winked at Safa. ‘OK, see you later.’

‘Be home before eleven-thirty,’ Fiona told Orla as her eldest daughter rushed out the front door.

Orla waved and slammed the door behind her.

‘Now, it’s pork chops and mash tonight,’ Fiona said.

‘Muuuuuuuum,’ Ruby groaned.

‘What? You like pork!’

‘I know, but Safa can’t eat it, remember? She’s Muslim.’

‘Oh Safa, pet, I’m so sorry. I’m such an idiot. I didn’t think.’

Safa felt sorry for Fiona. She always seemed so stressed out. ‘It’s fine, honestly. I’m happy to eat the mashed potatoes and peas.’

Fiona went over to the fridge. ‘I have some ham – Oh no, that’s pork too. Rashers, pork ... God, I actually have no meat that isn’t pork.’

‘Please don’t worry.’ Safa tried to reassure her.

The woman was almost in tears. ‘I’m sorry,’ Fiona said. ‘And you are so good to come and help Ruby with her lines. Maybe I could –’

‘MMMMMMMMMMM!’ Robbie banged his juice cup down on the tray attached to his wheelchair.

‘More juice, Robbie?’ Fiona asked.

‘MMMMMMMMMMM!’ he wailed.

Fiona rushed over to refill his cup. But it wasn’t what he wanted. Robbie flung his cup across the room.

‘Oh dear, he’s been off-form all day.’ Fiona picked up the cup and the top that had come off and then proceeded to wipe up the juice that was now all over the kitchen floor.

‘He’s been off-form all week,’ Ruby muttered.

‘MMMMMMMMM!’

Safa looked around. There was a carton of milk on the countertop. Robbie seemed to be looking in that direction, but it was hard to tell because his eyes were darting about.

She got up and held up the milk. ‘Milk, Robbie?’

‘Es,’ he smiled.

Safa had got very good at guessing what people wanted in the camp in Greece. There were people there from all over the world speaking many languages and it was difficult to communicate. But Safa had learned to read people’s minds. Not like an actual mind reader or anything, but she had learned to observe and translate movement and gestures as well as words.

‘Oh, you clever girl.’ Fiona poured milk into Robbie’s cup and put the lid firmly on. ‘You really are a gem.’ She handed the cup to Robbie, who sucked noisily. ‘How are things going with you and your mum? Is she still going to her English lessons?’

‘Yes, she’s going more regularly now, which is great. It’s hard for her but she’s definitely getting better. Sometimes she has bad days and she doesn’t want to go, but mostly she goes.’

Fiona ran her hand through Robbie’s soft, blond curls. ‘We all have bad days, but as long as the good ones outweigh the bad ones, we’ll be OK.’

‘My father always says we have to look at the glass as half full – it’s the only way to have a happy life. Always look for the silver lining. But sometimes it’s hard, isn’t it?’

Fiona nodded; her eyes filled with tears. ‘Yes it is, pet. It certainly is.’

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