Polly by Freya North Read Free Book Online Page B

eyes, she placed a wand of raw spaghetti between the pages of her book and discreetly left the kitchen as if she had been just about to anyway.
    â€˜Hullo?’
    â€˜Dom?’
    â€˜Hullo, Pollygirl – how
are
you? How’s it going? What am I saying! Hold on. Max?
Max
! Quick! I’ll pass you over. You take care, Miss Fenton – them yankies can be wankies. Max?
Max
! He’s in the frigging bath, Polly. Would you believe it? Call back in five mins, yes?’
    â€˜â€™Kay.’
    â€˜Hullo?’
    â€˜Meg?’
    â€˜Po-lly!’
    The women shrieked at each other nonsensically down the phone for a moment.
    â€˜Max is in the bath.’
    â€˜So I’m your second choice – charming!’
    â€˜Dear Miss Reilly,’ soothed Polly, knowing Megan meant no mischief, ‘I’ve just finished my first full day. It’s the first chance I’ve had to use the phone. I can’t be too long – just give Max enough time to dry.’
    â€˜How are you, girl? What’s it like?’ asked Megan while she located Polly on the school photograph and stroked her with her little finger. ‘Is it incredible? Have you met Tom Cruise yet?’
    â€˜Yes,’ said Polly, ‘and no.’
    â€˜Anyone who looks remotely like him? Brad Pitt, at a scrape?’
    â€˜No,’ said Polly, ‘and no. Or not that I’ve met so far, I’m afraid. There might be, but I’m jet lagged beyond belief. Do you know, this place, Meg, is so, so beautiful. There’s so much space for the children – in class and out. Guess how many I have in a class?’
    â€˜Can’t! Tell!’
    â€˜No. More. Than. Twelve.’
    â€˜Jee—’
    â€˜And they’re all impeccably behaved. They’re even
quiet
before class!’
    â€˜â€”zus. No wonder That Carter Woman looks so shell-shocked.’
    â€˜Everything OK?’
    â€˜If you call Upper Four OK.’
    â€˜Say no more. What was for lunch today?’
    â€˜Lunch? Pie and mash, or mashed ratatouille and mash. And some clumpy pink mash for pud.’
    â€˜Do you know what I had? Ask me!’
    â€˜I say, Miss Fenton, what did you have for lunch?’
    â€˜I had Caesar Salad with a selection of cold cuts and a freshly baked roll.’
    â€˜Stop, stop – that’s just not on.’
    â€˜Well, I could have had vegetable burritos, if that makes you feel any better.’
    â€˜No it bloody doesn’t.’
    â€˜Or there again, chicken papardelle with tarragon cream. The Federal Government subsidizes the food while making guidelines about fat content and protein quotas.’
    â€˜I’m weeping.’
    â€˜That’s not all, Meg. There were four different types of coffee to choose from, and as many teas. And that’s not counting the decaffeinated or detanninized strains! All fresh, I hasten to add, and free. No plasticated liquid from vending machines here. And, do you know, we have those fantastic swirly machines with fresh juice churning around available to us. All. Day. Long.’
    â€˜I’m over there!’
    â€˜No you’re not,’ said Polly quietly, ‘you’re over
there
– over the sea and far, far away. I better go, Max’ll be waiting. Will you write?’
    â€˜I have done already. Posted it at lunch-time,’ Megan paused and continued forlornly, ‘when I went to the newsagent for a chocolate fest in lieu of lousy lunch.’
    â€˜Polly? Polly? You there? That you?’
    Speak some more. Let me listen.
    â€˜Polly?’
    â€˜Oh, Max.’
    They hung on to their respective receivers with eyes closed and hearts bursting. They could hear each other breathe. How fantastic.
    â€˜I couldn’t phone till now,’ Polly explained, ‘I’ve had every minute organized.’
    â€˜I know,’ Max soothed, ‘I’m sure. I imagined. What’s it like? School and where you’re