Cassie by Barry Jonsberg Read Free Book Online Page A

didn’t we, kiddo?’
    Cassie gave a huge smile. Holly looked at her properly for the first time. She had masses of dark hair in ringlets that fell to her shoulders. Holly would have given her right arm to have hair like that. The things she could do with it! It was Cassie’s face that kept her attention, though. Her grin showed large, white teeth, but the smile was so much more than that. Holly had always thought that the idea of expressions lighting up a face was simply poetic license. Now she understood that a smile was more than a twisting of lips and a flashing of teeth. Every part of Cassie smiled. And her eyes! They were so large, so deep a shade of brown. Looking into them, Holly suddenly got the strangest feeling. It was like she could see herself from Cassie’s perspective, as if she was deep down in the girl’s body, looking out. And what she saw was sad. She almost had to force herself to break eye contact. When she looked back, the eyes were still remarkable in their depth and the expression that flooded them. But the moment had passed.
    â€˜That’s great,’ she said. ‘Maybe next time.’
    â€˜Would you like some food?’ asked Fern. ‘A little speciality of mine. Spaghetti carbonara. Your mother had it without the bacon, of course, but Cass and I are confirmed carnivores. We kept you a plate of the non-vego version.’
    Holly was tempted. The burger had been thin and tasteless and now she was hungry again. But she’d already told her mother that she’d eaten. Trust her luck to lose out when a decent home-cooked meal made a guest appearance. It wasn’t fair. Not much was fair, anymore.
    â€˜No thanks, Aunty Fern. I’ve already eaten.’ Then Holly got a brainwave. ‘I could take it to school tomorrow, though, for lunch. If that’s okay.’
    â€˜Excellent idea,’ said Ivy.
    Holly helped herself to a glass of milk from the fridge. She thought she’d wait a couple of minutes before she excused herself for bed. Fern put away the last plate and draped the tea towel over the oven handle.
    â€˜Oh, while you’re there, Holly, could you get a glass for Cass, please? She drinks so much of the stuff I’m thinking of investing in a cow.’
    â€˜Sure.’ Holly looked around. Did Cassie have a special cup? She couldn’t see one and Fern had asked for a glass, so she filled up a tumbler like her own and put it on the table. ‘There you go,’ she said.
    â€˜Could you help her drink it? Just hold the glass up to her mouth and, trust me, she’ll do the rest.’
    There wasn’t much choice. Holly drew up a chair and put her own glass on the table. She lifted Cassie’s milk and brought the rim to her mouth. This was so strange. So intimate. Holly felt uncomfortable, particularly since their faces were so close. Holly smiled and hoped that she didn’t look as strange as she felt.
    â€˜Hi, Cassie,’ she said. ‘I’m Holly. I’m not sure if we’ve been formally introduced yet.’ Then she felt bad. Of course Cassie knew who she was. And what was she expecting in response? ‘Wassup, Hol? I’m Cass.’? She felt her cheeks flood with colour. And she knew that Cassie couldn’t possibly miss it. The thought made her blush even more. Cassie smiled, a thin trail of milk spilling from the side of her mouth. What should she do now? Mop it? Like cleaning up after a baby.
    â€˜Look, guys,’ said Holly. ‘I’ve got homework to finish and I’m getting a headache. If you don’t mind, I think I’ll go to my bedroom.’ She put the half empty glass of milk back on the table.
    â€˜Sure,’ said Ivy. ‘I’ll come in to say goodnight in half an hour.’
    â€˜Hold Cassie’s hand,’ said Fern.
    â€˜I’m sorry?’
    â€˜Hold her hand. Here.’ Fern took Holly’s hand and placed it into Cassie’s gnarled