Checkmate by Malorie Blackman Read Free Book Online

heading for the door.
    'You too, Mrs McGregor. Mind how you go.'
    His cigarettes in his hand, the Cross man scooted past me to get out of the shop first. I was obviously not going fast enough to suit him. As I stepped out of the shop, I shivered, pulling my long, woollen coat even more tightly around me, the carrier bags in my hand, bumping into my body as I did so. The winter wind bit at me, making my bones ache. In spite of my coat, gloves and hat, I was freezing. It was already getting dark and the wind was trying to freeze my lips together. Being cold always put me in a bad mood. Did the weather match my mood? Or did my mood match the weather? Well, at least I had Jude's
Crossmas presents now. That was something after all this walking about. Another year, another plain shirt, another patterned jumper. Not that I ever saw him wearing any of my presents.
    I really don't know what happened next. One moment I started to walk off, minding my own business and the next moment my legs went out from under me and I went down on my backside, then flat on my back. Mr Aswad was straight out of his shop and at my side in an instant. The next thing I knew, I was surrounded by people, all trying to help me back up onto my feet and asking the same ludicrous question. 'Are you all right? Are you all right?'
    Of course I wasn't all right. I'd just embarrassed myself on the high street. Plus my backside was sore. A middle-aged Cross picked up my shopping bag and chased after my potatoes which were rolling about on the icy pavement. He packed them in my bag before handing it back to me.
    'Thank you,' I mumbled, too embarrassed to look him in the eye. 'It's very kind of you.'
    'Mrs McGregor, are you sure you're OK?' asked Mr Aswad. 'You took quite a tumble there.'
    'I'm fine, Mr Aswad,' I told him, adding under my breath, 'My arse broke the fall.'
    'Really, Mrs McGregor!' smiled Mr Aswad as he shook his head. 'And you a God-fearing woman at that!'
    I stared at him. 'Bat ears!'
    The crowd around me began to disappear when they saw I was now upright and mobile. Thank goodness.
    'Would you like to sit down for a while?' Mr Aswad offered. 'I could make you a cup of tea.'
    'No thanks. I just want to get home and have a nice hot bath,' I said.
    I headed off before he could argue. Halfway up the street, I turned round to see Mr Aswad sprinkling liberal amounts of salt on the icy pavement outside his shop.
    Much too little, far too late, I thought with annoyance.
    I carried on home, rubbing at my upper thigh. No doubt an impressive bruise was forming already.

eight. Sephy

    'Mum! Mum!' Rose ran into the room at full pelt with Tobey close behind.
    'What's the matter?' I asked, looking up from my newspaper.
    'The sky is having sex!' said Rose with great excitement.
    'I beg your pardon?'
    'The sky. Look at the sky,' Rose urged.
    Frowning, I got up and opened the living-room curtains. The sky was already dark even though it was still early evening, but by the light of the orange street lamp outside, I could see myriad snowflakes swirling and twirling in the semi-darkness. The snowflakes looked more amber than white under the street lamp's glow.
    'See!' Rose said, almost indignant that I'd doubted her word.
    I looked from Rose to Tobey and back again. Why did I smell one of Tobey's stories behind this?
    'I still don't understand,' I said carefully. 'What've the snowflakes got to do with sex?'
    'You mean you don't know?' Rose said astounded. Then she grinned at me, pleased to know something I didn't. 'Well, what happens is, the sky and the ground have a big snog and have sex and the snowflakes are all the sperms hitting the ground. And all the blades of grass are the babies.'
    'And where did you get that from?' As if I didn't know.
    Rose looked puzzled. 'Tobey told me.'
    I stood up. 'Tobey, I'd like a word with you.'
    One look at the thunderous look on my face and Tobey bolted.
    'I've got to go home now. Bye.'
    'Tobey, come back here.' I went after him but