Page 43 of The New Girl

‘Yes, I know, we do.’

‘God, Mum, give Ruby a break, she’s a brilliant sister to Robbie and always helps her mum out,’ Clara snapped.

‘No need to snap, Clara. I’m just saying that mums do a lot and get very little thanks. Now, tell me all about your project.’

Ruby froze.

‘It’s, uhm ...’ Denise fumbled.

‘We were told not to discuss it at home and that no parents were allowed to help at all,’ Clara lied.

Wow, Clara was a really good liar. Even Ruby kind of believed her.

When Ruby got home, she heard her mum and dad talking in the kitchen. She peered into the TV room. Robbie was asleep on the couch, his mouth wide open.

Ruby was just going to open the kitchen door when she heard her Mum say, ‘We’ll stop Suzie’s speech therapy. It means you can work a few hours less. I’m worried about you, Frank. You look worn out.’

‘Sure we’re all tired, Fiona. I’m fine.’

‘No, you’re not. You’re going to fall asleep at the wheel and crash the taxi if you don’t get more sleep. It’ll be fine, Suzie can show me the exercises she does with Robbie and I’ll try to help him with his speech, and then he’ll get into Grangepark next year and then everything will be OK.’

‘He mightn’t get in,’ Dad said.

‘He will.’

‘When do they tell us if he’s got in or not?’

‘They didn’t say, but hopefully early December. It’ll be the best Christmas present. He’ll soon be in school, getting the help he needs, and I’ll have nine to five free to work parttime and cook proper meals and get my life and this family back to normal.’

‘Fiona, we can’t pin all our hopes on this. If he doesn’t get in, we need a plan B.’

‘There is no plan B, Frank. If he doesn’t get in, I’ll have a nervous breakdown. We can’t go on living like this. You can’t drive a taxi eighteen hours a day. I can’t look after Robbie twenty-four-seven and be a mother to the girls. They are being neglected. I never seem to have time for them. I feel terrible. I’m doing nothing right. He has to get into that school. He just has to.’ Mum’s voice cracked.

‘Ok, love, calm down. I’m sure he will. But just in case he doesn’t, we need to look at hiring someone to help you out.’

‘We don’t have any money, Frank. We’re barely surviving as it is.’

‘I could ask my mother for a loan?’

‘No, we already borrowed money from her. It’s not fair. She hasn’t much. Look, Robbie’s going to get into Grangepark and that’s it. We’re due a bit of luck; surely to God we’ll get this break.’

‘Yes, sure.’

Ruby’s dad didn’t sound very sure. She crossed her fingers.Please please please let Robbie get into Grangepark. Please don’t let Mum have a nervous breakdown. Please don’t let Dad fall asleep when he’s driving. Please let Robbie get into the school so we can get our family back.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Safa

Safa watched from the back of the class. Ruby hadn’t forgotten any of her lines. She was brilliant. It was as if shewasthe Scarecrow. But Amber kept adding ‘Oh my God’s and ‘Like, totally’s to her lines. Mr Parson was beginning to get annoyed.

‘Stick to the script please, Amber, no extra words.’

‘Dorothy’s such a boring dork and do I seriously have to wear this costume? I much prefer the one I brought in.’ The one Amber had brought in was so short you could almost see her underwear. Mr Parson had told her to take it off and that under no circumstances was she going to wear ‘that outfit’ in the play. ‘I look like an old granny in this stupid dress.’

‘You’d look amazing in anything,’ Chrissie gushed.

Denise made a vomit face at Safa and they laughed.

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