The Lie by Linda Sole Read Free Book Online Page A

attract their attention as they crossed the road and disappeared into the tea shop.
    Carole came up to her a few minutes later. ‘I’m sorry Terry was so rude,’ she said. ‘He isn’t usually like that. I think he regretted it after you left.’
    Emily shrugged. ‘It doesn’t matter. What shall we do now? We’ve got an hour before we’re on duty.’
    â€˜Shall we go to the Copper Kettle for tea?’
    â€˜No, not today,’ Emily said. ‘Let’s walk into town and see if there are any decent dresses in that shop in Regent Street. I’ve just about got enough coupons for a new one  . . .’
    â€˜Your Daniel’s sweet on our Alice,’ Peter Robinson said to Connor that weekend, when they had returned from biking down the fens to count the bullocks on the washes for Peter’s father. They had paused outside his house to chat for a few minutes before parting. ‘She says he took her to tea at a posh place in Cambridge, and then they went to the flicks together – in the best seats, too.’
    â€˜What did they see? Was it a Western? I liked the one we saw at the fleapit in Ely that Saturday your sister took us in on the bus.’
    â€˜Yeah, Stagecoach ,that’s what it was called,’ Peter said, and grinned at him. The cinema they called the fleapit always had films that had been to Ely before, but it was cheap for the kids to get in. ‘I like John Wayne – but they didn’t see anything like that. It was a soppy love film with Bette Davis – something daft if I know our Alice.’
    â€˜Your Alice is all right,’ Connor said. ‘I like her. She makes good cakes, especially that one with seeds in it.’
    â€˜I’m going to a party next week,’ Peter said. ‘The Harrisons down the lane are having a party for their daughter. Sheila is a bit daft but they have jelly and tinned fruit for tea.’
    â€˜Lucky you,’ Connor said. ‘I wish I was coming with you.’
    â€˜Your stepmother has lots of parties. I bet you get good food at them.’
    â€˜I never go,’ Connor said with a grimace. ‘It’s bound to be cucumber sandwiches with the crusts cut off or something rotten like that. I hate her and I hate her stupid old parties.’ He pulled a wry face. ‘I wish she’d never married my dad.’
    â€˜You can come with me if you want,’ Peter said. ‘I’ll tell Sheila to invite you. She does anything I want,’ he ended boastfully.
    â€˜I bet she doesn’t,’ Connor said, and made a suggestive face. ‘I bet she won’t let you put your hand up her knickers.’
    â€˜She would,’ Peter declared recklessly. ‘I bet she’d even let me do it if I asked her.’
    â€˜Go on then, I dare you – ask her.’
    â€˜Nah,’ Peter said. ‘She’s a nice girl. I might marry her one day.’
    He wasn’t going to admit that he had no idea how to do ‘it’even to his best friend. He was ten going on eleven, just a year older than Connor, but he certainly wasn’t ready for ‘it’yet, even though most of the lads at school boasted all the time about what they’d seen or done.
    â€˜Me and Ken Briggs followed his brother John and Nora Roberts up on the banks last Sunday,’ he said. ‘I think they were doing it . He had his hand up her dress and he was lying on top of her and moving funny. You know  . . .’ He went through the motions and Connor laughed, his cheeks a bit red. ‘We couldn’t see much though, because we had to keep our heads low and Ken was laughing fit to pee himself. If his brother had caught us he would have given us a good hiding. He’s a right nasty bugger, especially if he’s had a drink or two.’
    â€˜Pity you couldn’t see a bit more,’ Connor said. ‘I don’t know how to do it yet – do