Head Spinners by Thalia Kalkipsakis Read Free Book Online

yelled.
    Erin beamed at me and I grinned back. ‘Again?’ she asked, though I don’t think I could have stopped her if I’d wanted to.
    As Erin’s leaps carried her further and further, our mood grew brighter until we were cheering and laughing like we were at a party.
    We were so deep inside our success that we lost all track of time.
    That was, until eight o’clock…

    â€˜What are you doing?’ snapped a voice from the doorway.
    It was Erin’s mum, hands on hips and eyes narrow. Dr Drew stood next to her on one side and my mum was on the other, hugging a bag and frowning at me. Their mood was the exact opposite of ours. I might have expected that kind of reaction if we’d been caught hanging Erin head first out of a window.
    As soon as he realised we were being watched, Jack stepped backwards and adjusted his cap. I hooked my hands together, out of sight and behind my back.
    â€˜Mum! Look at me! Look what I can do!’ Erin bounded to the corner, wings open and started her run-up.
    Erin’s mum stepped forward as if to stop her, but Erin was too fast. She ran into a low glide that carried her, feet off the ground, for a good metre and a half.
    She landed and turned, jumping and clapping.
    â€˜Oh darling . . .’ Erin’s mum nodded, then turned away, hand over mouth, and shot a look at Dr Drew.
    â€˜Now I can keep my wings!’ sang Erin.
    Mum rushed forward and placed her hands on my shoulders, trying to guide me out of the room. ‘Come on, back to the ward.’
    â€˜But . . .’ I pulled away, confused.
    â€˜Come on. This is none of our business,’ said Mum, her voice low. ‘Oh Brooke, I would have thought you of all people would understand. You shouldn’t give Erin false hope.’
    Around then I stopped listening to Mum because I’d caught sight of Erin. Her wings were folded and her whole face had crumpled. Wet lines trickled down her red cheeks. Dr Drew and her mum were crouched down to her height.
    I felt a rush of anger that was immediately chased by a rush of guilt. I’d been so excited by the idea of teaching her to glide that I hadn’t really thought beyond that.
    Jack had disappeared somewhere. He wasn’t in our room when we got there.
    Mum sat on the end of my bed and patted a space next to her, but I sat up near the pillow.
    â€˜Listen, Brooke, I know what Erin was doing was exciting. Sure. I get that . . .’ She trailed off and sighed. ‘I’ve been talking to Erin’s mum. Erin’s not growing like she should. It’s really best for her to have her wings removed.’
    I had my legs crossed on the bed, two hands in my lap, the third resting on my knee.
    â€˜Think what it would be like if she kept them,’ Mum pushed gently. ‘They’d grow too big to hide. She’d be teased at school. Everywhere she went, people would stare.’
    I kept my head down, looking at my three arms and trying to block out what she was saying. Maybe she was right, but that didn’t mean I wanted to hear it.
    â€˜Brooke . . . look . . .’ Mum checked over her shoulder at Jack’s empty bed. ‘Think of it this way, Erin’s parents are going to do the best thing for her, even if Erin doesn’t understand that right now. The thing is, the decision’s not up to her.’
    Mum leaned close as she said the last part, wanting me to look at her. I kept my head down. She was talking about Erin but I knew she was also talking about me.
    I know you don’t like being here, but you have no choice.
    A loud crash from outside the ward made both of us look up. Mum dashed into the hallway.
I followed. Another crash came from the common room.
    An alarm sounded and two men in white coats flashed past. I heard a fainter thud then a moment of quiet before another thud. It sounded like rocks being thrown against a wall.
    When we reached the