Sister Heart by Sally Morgan Read Free Book Online

stones
    yelling
    She’s my sister, Annie!
    He rushes back to me
    We’ll see Janey, huh?
    Yeah, Tim!

    Next day
    when school is over
    and jobs are done
    me and Tim
    sneak back
    to the hospital ward
    We peer through a side window
    Inside kids are coughing
    crying
    sleeping
    Where is Janey?
    Tim
    taps
    a secret brother–sister beat
    Someone moves
    A head pokes up
    Janey!
    She spots us
    Holds up her hand
    Me and Tim grin
    Janey’s got her laughing stone!
    Behind us
    a voice growls
    What do you children
    think you’re doing?
    Nurse!
    We spin around
    Her face is red with madness
    Annie, you are old enough
    to know better!
    Do you want
    to get sick?
    Do you want
    Tim to get sick?
    Anyone can catch this illness
    You could catch it!
    shouts Tim
    Nurse waves her arm
    GO!

    Nurse told on us
    Me and Tim
    are being punished
    Jobs
    jobs
    jobs
    Sweep
    mop
    wash dishes
    scrub pots
    Nancy says
    Stop worryin’, Annie
    Janey’s strong
    she be back soon
    but if you keep helpin’ Tim
    with his jobs
    they’ll give him more work
    He’ll be down on his hands and knees
    scrubbin’ the floor
    Poor kid’ll be worn out!
    Tim is already worn out
    I am too
    But I’ve got to help him
    I glare at Nancy
    Nancy frowns
    When you first come here
    Janey was strong for you, ay?
    That why you helpin’ Tim?
    â€™cause he’s her little brother?
    you bein’ strong for Janey?
    I nod
    Nancy shrugs
    I ain’t gunna argue with that, Annie!
    Sometimes
    ya just gotta do
    what feels right inside

    Every night
    I am strong for Janey
    Every night
    I send her moonlit messages
    Stop coughing
    Eat
    Laugh
    Be brave
    Come back!
    Every night
    I sing for Janey
    in my language
    Nancy creeps to my bed in the dark
    Annie, you singin’ too loud
    Teacher only likes English
    You forgot or what?
    Didn’t forget
    Just don’t care!
    Listen
    some girls got sharp ears
    Some girls tell on you for a sweet!
    Like Janey got told on
    when she stole them glasses
    Teacher got a bag of sweets
    that’s why some kids tell her stuff
    You sing like a bird, Annie
    Reckon your songs fly to Janey
    You keep singin’
    but sing real soft, ay?
    Don’t want you to find trouble
    you get what I’m sayin’?

    Tim grabs me at breakfast
    Eyes red and puffy
    Nose snotty
    Wanna see me sister!
    Tim needs to see Janey
    I need to see Janey
    Janey needs to see us
    Why won’t Nurse understand?
    After school
    we sneak back
    to the hospital ward
    Tim gives his secret tap
    Janey doesn’t move
    I thump the window
    Janey raises her head
    Hair dull
    Face thin
    Darkness round her eyes
    Tim gasps
    Poor Janey
    She real crook, Annie!
    Janey slides out of bed
    No, no, stay there, sis!
    cries Tim
    Janey stumbles over
    Eyes sunk
    Lips dry
    Skin tight
    She presses her hand
    to the window
    I take Tim’s hand in mine
    press our hands
    to the same spot
    All our hands together
    Tim is crying
    I am crying
    Janey gives a little smile
    Her head droops
    hand slides away
    body flops down
    Janey is coughing
    but the noise sounds weak
    Nurse comes into the room
    sees Janey out of bed
    lying on the floor
    spluttering
    Spots me and Tim
    at the window
    GO AWAY!

    I wake to see Janey
    standing by my bed
    I rub my eyes
    Is she really here?
    Janey?
    I smile at her
    You come back?
    Janey stares past me
    past the other girls
    past the walls
    of the locked sleeping room
    I jump out of bed
    You cold?
    Annie, I’m a good big sister, huh?
    Yeah, Janey!
    Janey smiles like the sun
    Someone touches my shoulder
    I jump in fright
    spin around
    Nancy says
    Who you talkin’ to?
    Talkin’ to Janey
    I spin back
    Janey’s gone
    Go to sleep, Annie
    Nancy says
    You dreamin’, girl!
    In the morning
    I wake happy
    So what if I was dreaming?
    Janey smiled
    Janey talked
    Janey’s getting better
    I jump up
    and straighten the blanket on her bed
    Janey’s coming back!

    Nurse is here
    at school
    talking to Teacher
    Both talking soft
    both