Eva's Journey by Judi Curtin Read Free Book Online

school.’
    I made a face.
    â€˜If you had a job, I wouldn’t be going to this stupid school anyway. I’d be on the way to The Abbey, on the bus, on my own.’
    â€˜Oh,’ said Dad, and we walked the rest of theway in silence.
    â€˜Here we are,’ said Mum brightly as we stopped outside my new school.
    I gulped. I’d never looked closely at this building before. I’d only ever seen it through the tinted windows of Mum’s jeep as we drove past on the way to tennis or pony club.
    The walls were grey.
    The windows were grey.
    The bars on the windows were grey.
    The sky had even turned grey in sympathy.
    Why couldn’t I be getting off the bus at The Abbey, looking forward to hearing about the exotic places my friends had visited over the holidays?
    Or why couldn’t I be walking along to Victoria’s school, looking forward to meeting the friends she’d told me so much about?
    Why did I have to be in this grim, grey place?
    â€˜Don’t make me go in there,’ I said. ‘It’s too scary. Please bring me home.’
    Mum shook her head.
    â€˜Don’t be silly, Eva. You have to go to school.’
    I had a brainwave.
    â€˜I know. Now that Dad has no job, why doesn’t he home-school me? He knows heaps of stuff. He’d be a great teacher.’
    â€˜You wouldn’t say that if you’d been there when I was learning to drive,’ muttered Mum darkly.
    Just then three very scary-looking boys went past, pushing and shoving each other as they went through the school gates.
    â€˜Did you see them?’ I asked when they were safely out of earshot.
    Mum put on her bright voice again.
    â€˜You shouldn’t judge by appearances, Eva. I’m sure they’re perfectly nice boys.’
    â€˜Why don’t I invite them home for tea this evening then?’ I said, and watched as Mum’s face went pale.
    â€˜Come on,’ said Dad. ‘If we don’t go inside you’re going to be late.’
    I knew there was no point in arguing any more, so I followed my parents, as they led the way intomy new school.

    Mum and Dad shoved me in the door of the principal’s office, and after a few polite words, they got to home again.
    I wasn’t so lucky.
    There was no escape for me.
    A few minutes later, I was following the principal, Mrs Parker along the corridor. There was a strong smell like old boiled cabbage.
    Why couldn’t I be back at The Abbey, which smelled of perfume and floor polish?
    While we walked, Mrs Parker was muttering about school rules, and locker keys, and fire drills.
    I was muttering along in time, like I actually cared.
    Why did I need to know all that stuff? This was only a temporary blip. Soon I’d be back in my old school, where I belonged.
    At last we stopped at a classroom door.
    â€˜Here we are,’ said Mrs Parker brightly. ‘Sixth Class. After you, my dear.’
    She opened the door and pushed me inside. I stoodthere wishing that the ugly grey floor would swallow me up.
    It was weeks since I’d had my nails or my hair done.
    I had no make up on. (It was against the dress code of course.)
    I was wearing the ugliest clothes I have ever, ever stood up in.
    And thirty pairs of eyes were staring at me.
    I tried to look like I didn’t care.
    I tried to think of nice stuff.
    I tried to think of Madam Margarita’s words.
    Help people, and you will get your reward.
    How soon could I start helping people?
    And how soon would I get out of here?
    â€˜Mr Gowing, this is Eva,’ said Mrs Parker, after what felt like three hours. ‘She’s your new student.’
    A boy at the back of the class waited until the teachers were looking the other way, and then he flicked a piece of folded paper in my direction. The paper flew into the air and then hit me on the cheek. It really hurt.
    I turned to stare at the boy.
    Maybe it was time to start helping people.
    I’d happily help him to