Dustbin Baby by Jacqueline Wilson Read Free Book Online

mock-croc pink high heels.
    â€˜Wow! Yeah, just the thing for school!’ I say, as Tanya struts around.
    â€˜Can I try them on?’
    â€˜Sure.’
    I have a go, stepping out gingerly. I catch sight of myself in the wardrobe mirror and get the giggles.
    â€˜It’s not fair. They look great on you but I just look daft.’
    â€˜No, you look fine – though try not to let your bum stick out like that. Sway your hips.’
    â€˜I haven’t
got
any hips,’ I say, tottering around.
    â€˜Try these on. They’re not quite so high,’ says Tanya, finding me an electric blue pair of wedges. ‘Yeah, they’ve got a strap see, so you can keep them on easier. And look, they go great with this little denim skirt. Try it and see. It’s designer, look.’ She shows off the label.
    â€˜Did Pat buy it for you?’
    â€˜You’re joking! No, she doesn’t know I’ve got half this stuff.’
    I remember the older kids at Sunnybank and the way they supplemented their wardrobes. ‘Did you nick it?’
    â€˜Of course not,’ says Tanya, but then she winks. ‘One or two little bits might just have fallen into my bag, right? You’re not shocked, are you?’
    I shake my head, trying to look cool.
    Tanya laughs. ‘Do you nick stuff too, April?’
    I shrug. I never
wanted
to nick anything. Not so much as a bar of chocolate from the sweet shop. Not even a chip off someone else’s plate. But I got forced into doing stuff. I don’t care if Tanya is a thief. It’s like her Pat says. We shouldn’t pass judgement.
    Well, I can just imagine what Marion would say on that one.
    Marion.
    I wonder what happens when you don’t turn up at school. They wouldn’t ring Marion, would they? No, of course not. The teachers probably won’t even notice I’m not there. Cathy and Hannah will be wondering about me though. Especially as it’s my birthday. They might ring home at lunchtime.
    I’ll go now.
    But I don’t go. I stay in Tanya’s bedroom, trying on half her clothes. They look totally weird on me. I look such a baby still. Even Tanya’s crop tops hang loose and I haven’t got any boobs to fill out her tube.
    â€˜Perhaps you need a spot of make-up?’ Tanya suggested.
    So I slap it on and then fix my hair so it’s piled up on top, with little strands falling round my outlined eyes. I stuff a couple of socks inside a bra, slip on the killer pink heels and then pose with one hand on my hip.
    I still look about ten years old.
    â€˜Maybe you’re not up for a night’s clubbing just yet,’ says Tanya.
    â€˜Oh well. Marion wouldn’t let me anyway,’ I say, wiping most of the make-up off.
    â€˜And you do what she says?’
    â€˜Some of the time. She’s a bit old-fashioned. Like out of the Ark. She didn’t half create when I had my ears pierced. But she gave me special earrings for my birthday,’ I say guiltily.
    â€˜Oh yeah, I forgot it was your birthday.’ Tanya scrabbles in her make-up bag. ‘Where’s that glitter stuff? Aha!’ She finds a special little tube from Claire’s Accessories. ‘Here. I’ve only used a little bit. Happy Birthday!’
    â€˜Are you sure? Thank you!’
    â€˜Course I’m sure, silly. Here, I’ll put it on for you.’
    I parade around in Tanya’s clothes, my cheeks sparkling – and then I sigh and stick my school uniform back on. ‘I’d better be going.’
    â€˜You keep saying that. Stay for lunch. Go on.’
    So I sit down at the kitchen table with Tanya and Pat and the three little boys all strapped into their highchairs. The two toddlers ladle their own mince into their mouths (and laps) while Pat scoops spoonfuls of mince into Ricky’s gaping mouth. She must have spooned meals into me too. My mouth opens now like a baby bird. I imagine her wiping the slurp off my chin