Hitler's Daughter by Jackie French Read Free Book Online Page A

or a religion, better than other people?’
    ‘Yeah, that’s it.’
    ‘I don’t know,’ admitted Anna. ‘Like Irish jokes. Everyone carries on that the Irish are dumb but everyone knows they aren’t really.’
    ‘My great-grandpa was Irish,’ said Mark.
    ‘So was one of mine,’ said Anna.
    ‘My grandpa came from Yugoslavia,’ said Little Tracey, bouncing up and down in her seat. ‘He says that he…’
    Mark spoke over the top of her. ‘Ben’s dad says that Asians are all criminals. But that can’t be right can it? I mean how do we know?’
    ‘Ben’s father’s a racist little rooster with maggots for brains,’ announced Mrs Latter, circling round a pothole with more swerve than necessary, so they all had to grab the edges of their seats. ‘And you can tell him I said so with my love. No need to tell him anyway. I’ve told him often enough. Last time I saw him down at the pub I said…’
    ‘Why,’ began Mark, then stopped. No need to get Mrs Latter any more worked up.
    ‘Why? I’ll tell you why! You just have to look at the statistics, but does anyone bother to do that? No, they just listen to what some twerp has to say on TV and take it like it’s gospel. Never mind if it’s true or not. People just don’t THINK, that’s the trouble. They don’t look at the evidence. Never mind if anyone with half a brain in their heads…get on the right side of the road, you flaming numbskull!!’ Mrs Latter roared at Johnnie Trantor, bumbling past in his old ute.
    ‘What do the statistics say, Mrs Latter?’ asked Anna soothingly.
    ‘Asians have a lower crime rate than the rest of the population, that’s what they say,’ said Mrs Latter triumphantly. ‘And if you don’t believe me you look itup yourself. You look at the ten most wanted criminals in Australia! Not a dark skin among the lot. All white and all dumb.’
    Mark hesitated. Most times you’d be crazy to actually ask Mrs Latter a question. But she wasn’t going to shut up now, no matter what anyone said or didn’t say and maybe, just maybe, she’d have an interesting answer.
    ‘Mrs Latter,’ he attempted to interrupt.
    ‘…and as for that slimy, mean-mouthed bloke on TV, you know what I’d say to him if I ever caught him on my bus…’
    Yeah, right, thought Mark. As though you’d get someone important like him on a school bus. ‘Mrs Latter, do you think there’s any group of people who are better or worse than other people?’
    ‘Sure,’ said Mrs Latter, swinging cheerfully back onto the middle of the road.
    ‘Really?’ asked Mark in surprise. He’d been sure she’d say, ‘No, everyone is as good as everyone else’, and then go off into one of her yelling matches. ‘Who, Mrs Latter?’
    ‘Men,’ said Mrs Latter with satisfaction. ‘They’re the worst group of people out there.’
    ‘But men aren’t a group or a race or…’
    ‘What are they then? Most crime is committed bymen, most car accidents are caused by men.’ Mrs Latter counted off on her fingers, so the bus swung wildly again.
    ‘Now look what you’ve done,’ Anna muttered to Mark.
    ‘Men start most of the wars, and fight in them too. Most of the people in prisons are men. You just have to look at the statistics!
    ‘You know what I think?’ demanded Mrs Latter, then answered herself as no one spoke. ‘I think men should pay higher taxes to pay for all the damage they do. Women are naturally gentler, more cooperative…Move your rear, you great mug!’ yelled Mrs Latter, as the bus slowed down behind old Mr Hannon’s Holden.
    Mrs Latter was still holding forth as the bus pulled in to pick up Big Tracey. Mark sighed, and opened his maths homework.

chapter nine
Questions
    Mr McDonald was sitting at his table marking homework when Mark looked through the door.
    ‘Mark, what’s up?’ he asked.
    ‘Nothing…I just wanted to ask you something.’
    Mr McDonald looked a bit nervous, thought Mark. Maybe he’d asked him too many questions lately, the