Page 31 of The New Girl

Ruby rolled her eyes. As if!

‘And don’t worry, I swear on my life that I will never, ever, ever drink again as long as I live.’

Ruby smiled in the dark. Her sister had learned her lesson.

Ruby, Denise and Clara were in Clara’s house, eating brownies that Mimi had made. Mimi was, as usual, watching TV shows in the lounge.

Ruby thought Clara’s mum should know that she was paying Mimi to do basically nothing. She cleaned the house, which wasn’t hard because Clara’s mum was, like, super neat and tidy, and then basically she watched TV all day.

But Clara said she pretended that Mimi was a brilliant minder because she liked being left alone. ‘Having my mum on my back all the time about schoolwork is enough. I like the fact that Mimi basically ignores me and leaves me in peace.’

Ruby thought it was a bit sad. At least when her mum and dad weren’t asleep or with Robbie, they chatted to her. It must be lonely for Clara in the house all the time on her own. Even though Orla could be a right pain, at least she was someone to talk to.

Clara’s phone rang. It was a Dublin number. They all froze.

‘OMG, this could be the minister. This is it! They found Safa’s dad!’ Denise squealed.

‘Answer it,’ Ruby hissed.

Hello?’ Clara tried to make her voice deep, trying to sound older. ‘Yes, this is she speaking.’

Denise covered her mouth to stop giggling.

‘Put it on loudspeaker,’ Ruby mouthed.

Clara put the phone down and pressed Speaker. ‘My name is David O’Neill,’ said a man’s voice. ‘I work in the Minister’s office. We received your letter. We would need further information to be able to look into this matter. For example, what is your friend Safa’s father’s name? Where in Greece is he? What date did he land in Greece? Do you have his date of birth? Where are Safa and her mother currently living? What date did they arrive in Ireland? What are their dates of birth? We would need copies of their refugee papers ...’

He went on and on and on about papers and documents and dates. Ruby grabbed a pen and tried to write down the things he was saying on the back of a paper napkin. There was such a long list of things they needed to find out. Her head was melted. How on earth were they going to get all this information?

Clara kept her cool. ‘Yes, well, that’s no problem at all. I will revert with all of those documents ASAP,’ Clara said, imitating her mother. She hung up.

They all squealed.

‘What are we going to do?’ Clara gasped.

‘We’re never going to find him,’ Denise said. ‘Forget it. It’s too complicated.’

‘No way!’ Ruby said, louder than she’d intended. ‘We are not giving up. Safa needs her dad.’

‘Not everyone needs a dad,’ Clara said, hands on hips.

Dammit. Ruby hadn’t meant it like that. She knew it bothered Clara that she had no dad and usually Ruby was way more sensitive. ‘I know, Clara, but Safa’s had such a bad time that I really want to help her.’

Denise backed her up. ‘Me too, and you’re right, we’re not giving up.’

‘OK, but how are we going to get all this information?’ Clara asked.

‘Maybe we should just tell Safa?’ Denise said.

‘No.’ Ruby was adamant. ‘Safa has had too many disappointments; we can’t get her hopes up.’

‘Maybe he’s dead,’ Denise blurted out.

Clara and Ruby stared at her.

‘What? I’m just saying it’s a possibility.’

‘He isn’t. I just know it,’ Ruby said. She was not going to believe for one second that Safa’s dad was dead. No way.

---