Millie and the Night Heron by Catherine Bateson Read Free Book Online Page B

things changed. I got to know people.People got to know me. I made friends. I realised that some of the people I thought were cold-shouldering me felt a little threatened by my city background.’
    â€˜I don’t come from the city,’ I said. ‘Mum and I lived in the country. A little country town.’
    â€˜I realise that,’ Ms O’Grady said, ‘but you are a bit exotic, Millie.’
    â€˜I don’t know what you mean.’
    â€˜I think if you go home and think about it, you might.’ Ms O’Grady smiled at me. I had to drop my eyes. Hers were too kind and I thought I’d burst into tears. I looked at her stomach instead, round as a shell under her stretchy skirt. Just as I looked, her whole tummy kind of rippled.
    â€˜Oh!’ She laughed. ‘This baby’s going to be a dancer. Feel that, Millie!’ And she grabbed my hand and placed it on her stomach.
    It was amazing. You could actually feel life in there. It was bizarre, kind of scary and kind of wonderful at the same time. I couldn’t imagine what it felt like for her.
    â€˜Are you scared?’ I blurted out, unable to stop myself.
    â€˜Yes, I am a bit,’ Ms O’Grady said, ‘but then I look around at all you kids and I think, well, Theresa, they’ve all been born and their mums and dads coped. That makes me feel a little bitbetter. Your mum was fine, wasn’t she? And your dad?’
    â€˜Patrick loves me,’ I said, ‘but he doesn’t live with us. He’s a scientist and has to be overseas. Mum did most of the coping by herself. But, yeah, I guess she was fine. I guess you have to be when you have a baby to look after, don’t you? I mean, it isn’t just you anymore, is it?’
    â€˜Most people think like you do, Millie. But some people don’t handle it as well as others. Tayla’s mum, for example, didn’t handle anything well. She had a breakdown after Tayla was born and couldn’t look after her. That’s been hard for Tayla and her dad. Tayla’s done very well to get to where she is now, believe me. I know she can be ... a little domineering, but when she is like that, remember that she doesn’t have a mum around like you have. Okay?’
    I shrugged. I wanted to say, I don’t have a dad around and Sheri doesn’t live with us anymore so what are you going to do about that? But I didn’t, because my hand was still tingling from feeling Ms O’Grady’s baby and I didn’t want to upset her in case anything happened to it.
    â€˜I know things haven’t necessarily been easy for you, either. But Millie, I look at you and I see a strong person with their own wonderful destiny to follow. You’re an individual. You’ll be fine. Tayla’sdifferent. She’s dependent on that little group she’s got. She’s nothing without them. Do you understand?’
    â€˜You have to have friends,’ I said.
    â€˜Friends are good, but for some people hangers-on are essential. You’ll make friends, Millie. Just give yourself a bit of time. Now, hop out and get some fresh air.’
    I stood up to go.
    â€˜By the way, Millie,’ she said, ‘be brave about the rumours, too. Tayla’s saying you don’t care about anyone and that you wanted to give her a migraine. No one will believe her. We all know better. But keep your chin up, okay?’
    â€˜Thanks,’ I muttered. I couldn’t look at her.
    Minutes after I got back to my dormitory, Helen arrived, almost as though she had been watching for me.
    â€˜Wasn’t too bad?’ she asked, plonking herself down on my bed uninvited.
    â€˜No.’ I surreptitiously wiped my eyes.
    â€˜See, told you.’
    â€˜Ms O’Grady said Tayla’s been saying I wanted to give her a migraine.’
    â€˜Who cares? She’s toe-jam. Sarah and Rachel and I wanted to know if you’d like to be in our Red Faces team. Of