The Father's House by Larche Davies Read Free Book Online

Lucy’s face. It was obvious no-one had ever told her about the good doctors. But what was worrying was that he and Dorothy had thought they were the only ones who knew that John had gone. One of the aunts must have been blabbing. He nearly blurted out that he knew already, but stopped himself in time. If he let on he might find himself giving an explanation about the linen cupboard.
    â€œHow do you know the good doctors have taken him?” he mumbled.
    â€œI don’t,” replied Matthew. “I just assumed she knew what it meant, and thought it would be fun to wind her up.”
    â€œThat’s really mean.”
    â€œYeah. I realise that now.” Matthew looked contrite, then brightened up. “Still, she won’t know that’s what I was doing. If John is at his desk today, I’ll tell her it was just a rumour, and if he isn’t I’ll be proved right.”
    Well, you are right, thought David to himself. The horror of it sickened him.

“He’s dead.”
    Lucy grabbed the back of her chair. “What d’you mean?”
    â€œWell, I can’t put it any more clearly than that,” said Matthew a little crossly. “You asked if I knew when John was coming back, and I told you he’s dead. What that means is he’s died. Gone. The Magnifico’s taken him.”
    He looked at Lucy’s ashen face, and grabbed David’s arm. “Come on. Let’s go, before she faints or something.”
    David shook him off. “Listen, Lucy,” he said quietly, “I’ll explain it all to you.” But she turned sharply, and started weaving her way through the rows of desks towards the door.
    â€œLeave her alone,” said Matthew. “She’ll get over it. Let’s go and get some food. It’s Father Copse’s duty to educate her, not ours.”
    As they watched, a boy jumped up from his chair and shoved it backwards into Lucy’s right hip.
    â€œHey!” he exclaimed. “It’s FOBF, knocking into innocent people.”
    Two of his friends loomed up alongside him.
    â€œHoly Magnifico! She looks like something the cat sicked up!” laughed one of them. “What’s the matter, FOBF?”
    Lucy hardly heard them. John’s face was swimming before her eyes. She moved on. One of the boys grabbed her arm and swung her round to face them.
    â€œWe’re talking to you, FOBF. Don’t you turn your back on us.”
    Trying to clear her head, she looked at the three grinning faces.
    â€œWe’ll be fathers someday, and you’ll just be a kitchen aunt, so show us some respect.”
    Slowly, Lucy took in what they were saying.
    â€œOh, I thought fathers were chosen because they were clever and handsome, not stupid and ugly,” she said contemptuously. “The Holy Leaders must have changed the rules!”
    She didn’t wait for a response. As she turned one of the boys pulled her back by the neck of her jumper. David leaped forward between the desks and pushed him away. “Leave her alone!” he growled.
    Matthew grabbed him from behind. “Come away, you idiot!” he muttered in his ear. “Let’s go and get our lunch.”
    â€œOoh! Sir Galahad!” jeered one of the boys, and all three laughed and whooped as Lucy walked towards the door with as much dignity as she could muster.
    David couldn’t see Lucy in the canteen. He left Matthew at the counter and took his plate over to where Dorothy was sitting on her own at a window table.
    â€œI think we’ll have to give up on our idea of making friends with her,” he said, after he had described Lucy’s reaction to the news about John, and the incident in the classroom. “She hasn’t got a clue what goes on, or what the good doctors do. An outside friend who doesn’t know things won’t be much use to us.” He looked past Dorothy and noticed that Matthew had settled himself down with