Page 36 of The Dead Ex
‘She’s brown,’ said Dawn.
‘Yeah. Right. I heard there was a new girl in the centre yesterday nicking stuff.’ The eyes narrowed. ‘Same colour as you. With red beads in her hair.’
‘I could belt you for that.’
‘Is that so, Dawnie?’
‘No one calls me that.’
‘Dawnie, Dawnie!’
Scarlet steppedback – only just in time to avoid her friend’s fist, which cut the air in front of her.
‘Ow! She’s broken my nose.’
‘What’s going on?’ A teacher was there.
‘It washerfault.’ Dawn was pointing to the girl on the ground, who was yelling, her face covered in blood. ‘Go on, Scarlet. Tell her.’
If anyone asks you what happened in the game, Mum used to say, always blame someone else.
‘This girl,’said Scarlet pointing to bloody face, ‘upset me because she said I was black. My friend was just sticking up for me.’
‘You made a racist remark?’
‘So? My dad says they should all be chucked out and sent back to where they come from.’
‘Get up. You’re coming inside with me.’ The teacher nodded at Dawn. ‘You take care of the new girl while I sort this out.’
‘Well done,’ said Dawn, slapping Scarlet’sback. ‘That teacher’s new so she still reckons she can change stuff.’
The others in the playground were keeping their distance, as if they were scared.
‘Why did you get so upset when she called you “Dawnie”?’
‘None of your fucking business.’
Scarlet didn’t feel so safe any more. ‘I’m sorry.’
‘You’d better be. Now you’ll have to make it up.’
‘How?’
‘We’re going to bunk off again on Friday.’
‘To play the game?’
Dawn gave a sound that was a sort of a laugh. ‘If that’s what you want to call it.’
Scarlet felt a bit scared and a bit excited at the same time.
‘Here.’ Dawn gave her a nudge. ‘Go into the office and tell them that you need a pair of emergency pants. You can’t go back on the bus like that.’
‘But won’t they tell me off?’
‘They’ll want to suck up to you now in case youput in a racist complaint.’ She grinned. ‘Nice work.’
That afternoon, when they got back to the house, Mrs Walters was waiting.
