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

two buddies, and was talking nineteen to the dozen. Probably telling them about how stupid Lucy was, thought David.
    â€œYeah, I know what you mean,” Dorothy checked over her shoulder. “But I think we should make one big and final effort, very subtly, to educate her. There isn’t anyone else. Otherwise we’ll just have to leave together at the same time.”
    â€œWell, I’ve been making a really big and final effort for the past two months. It’s like talking to a rubber wall. Whatever I say to her some polite response bounces back at me and that’s it.”
    â€œWe’ve got to keep positive.”
    â€œI know.” David watched the runny stew dribble off his spoon into the bowl and gave it a stir. “Yuk!” he said, pulling a face. “I hope it tastes better than it looks.”
    They ate in silence for a while.
    â€œShe’ll get suspicious if I’m too friendly,” said David when he had finished, “and I don’t want Matthew to think I fancy her! He’d blab it out to the whole school, and she’d never speak to me again.”
    â€œWe’ll have to think of a strategy.”
    David looked out of the window. The sky was a miserable grey. “Look how dark it is, and it’s still only lunchtime!” he remarked forlornly. “Everything’s so depressing.”
    â€œMmm,” Dorothy was thinking. Her face brightened. “The clocks go forward on Sunday, and it’ll be light in the evenings. You boys’ll be allowed to take your bikes on the common after school.”
    â€œGood! I’m fed up with having nothing to do except homework.”
    â€œCount yourself lucky,” remarked Dorothy. “I wish girls were allowed to ride bikes.”
    â€œAh, girls would be tempted to ride away! The Magnifico wouldn’t want to risk that.”
    Dorothy laughed. “You’re so right! We’d be off like a shot.” She lowered her voice. “You’ll be going up South Hill to get to the common, and that’s the way Lucy goes home.”
    The significance sank in. David nodded. “Ah! Right. I see.”
    â€œYou might get a chance to talk to her.”
    â€œMaybe,” he said slowly, “as long as I can do it without looking suspicious.”
    â€œAnd I might be able to too.” Dorothy’s voice had dropped almost to a whisper. “Some of the girls will go up to sit on the grass and pretend to do their homework while they watch whoever they’ve got a crush on – poor fools.” She tossed her head scornfully. “A waste of time seeing they’ll be forced to marry a father! Anyway, if I come up with them I might have a chance to talk to Lucy on her way home.”
    They finished their lunch in silence and stood up to leave.
    â€œChange of mind!” Dorothy announced suddenly. She dropped her voice. “I’m not going to wait till the clocks go forward. I know where she’ll be now. She’ll be behind the bike shed digesting the news about John. Being subtle takes too long. I’m going to be direct. I know it’s risky, but I’ll suss her out a bit before I say anything stupid.”
    Lucy was huddled up with her chin on her knees. There was a huge pain in the pit of her stomach. Big tears rolled down her cheeks as she tried to reason with herself. It was not as if she had been friends with John. And the Magnifico must have a purpose. Even so, she felt her heart would burst. How could He be so cruel?
    She looked up nervously as Dorothy slipped round the corner of the shed. “Oh, it’s only you,” she whispered with relief.
    â€œOnly me,” said Dorothy quietly, sliding down next to her and putting her arms round her.
    Lucy wriggled away. She used to cry on Aunt Sarah’s shoulder sometimes years ago before she started school, but now Aunt Sarah would have told her sharply to pull herself together this minute! Sitting