Page 80 of From Now On

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Duke

It has been a terrible, horrible, awful day.

‘What’s up?’ Charlie asks as Duke throws his arms around Billie, burying his face in her fur.

‘Nina?’ Charlie asks when Duke doesn’t answer.

‘Dunno. He walked home with Evie.’

Pippa’s hand is warm and soft on the back of his neck but then it’s gone and it is Charlie gently helping him to his feet. Leading him to the sofa, Billie at his heels.

His brother crouches down in front of him. ‘I can’t help you if I don’t know what’s wrong.’

‘Nobody can help me,’ he says dramatically.

Charlie glances at Pippa before saying, ‘A problem shared is a problem halved.’

‘But it isn’t though, is it? You haven’t got to do it.’

‘Do what?’

‘I’ve got to perform in the Jubilant June Showcase. I didn’t even know there was one. Nobody told me that everybody in my year has to do something. Two weeks! I’ve got two weeks. It’s too soon.’ Duke feels sick at the thought.Jubilant June. More like Jeering June with everyone booing him off stage.‘I can’tdoanything. I don’t have a talent.’

Charlie raises his eyebrows. ‘You can play sax and piano.’

‘I can’t do music anymore, you know that. If I could then I couldn’t do our kind of music anyway. Everyone wouldlaughat me.’

‘He’s right,’ Nina says. ‘If he took his saxophone in he’d be annihilated and the other kids would probably break it for kicks.’

‘I’m sure they—’

‘They would, Charlie. They would.’ Duke feels a mad fluttering in his stomach. ‘But it doesn’t matter because I can’t play. Pippa?’

‘Whatever you do will be brilliant, won’t it, Charlie?’

‘Of course. I’ll help you figure something out.’

‘I’ve got to go to work now, Duke,’ Pippa says, ‘but text me and let me know what you decide to do.’

After she leaves they bounce around ideas.

‘Ventriloquist?’ Charlie suggests. ‘I’m sure Nina has an old doll or—’

‘Adoll. I can’t go on stage with adoll.’

‘Juggling?’

‘I’d drop the balls and everyone wouldlaugh.’

‘Have you got a yo-yo? You could do tricks?’

‘No. But what about normal tricks? Frodo fromThe Lord of the Ringssaid magic is everywhere.’ Duke looked around as though he might see some.

‘That would be cool.’

‘Help me practise, Charlie? And you, Nina?’ She’s glued to her phone again.

---