The Summer We All Ran Away by Cassandra Parkin Read Free Book Online Page A

any questions, I promise. But you look like someone who needs a safe haven.” She looked up from the porridge, and smiled. “That can be here, if you like.”
    â€œB-b-b-but - ” he looked wildly around at the three people in the room. Kate radiant and motherly. Tom and Priss looking at Kate, who was clearly in charge. Tom’s expression wary and questioning, Priss blank and enigmatic. “But, I mean, I can’t, I don’t want to intrude, it’s not right, you don’t want strangers in your home.”
    â€œGood Lord, this isn’t our house,” said Kate, laughing.
    â€œOh? Oh! So, you’re just renting it for the s-s-s-summer?”
    â€œYou think we’re a family?” Priss snorted. “Do I look anything like Kate and Tom? Do I sound anything like them?”
    â€œWe’re squatting,” said Kate, and winked. “Don’t worry,” she added, seeing the look on his face. “No-one comes here. You’re absolutely safe.”
    Davey could hear the blood singing in his ears. “But don’t you, um, don’t you want to n-n-n - to n-n-n-know anything about - ”
    â€œWe’ve all got secrets,” said Kate, very gently. “We won’t ask as long as you don’t. Okay?”
    Davey felt himself flush with guilt.
    â€œUm, I mean, it’s so nice of you, but I just don’t know if - ”
    She had a nice, friendly smile, and a way of looking vaguely past him and onto more important things that made him feel curiously welcome. “You don’t have to decide now.” She glanced at the bright sky. “Maybe I’ll put the washing out.”
    â€œI’ll come with you,” said Tom. “See about the garden.” He glanced at Priss, who had disappeared behind her curtain of hair. “Priss - ”
    â€œMmm?”
    â€œBe nice to Davey.”
    â€œAnd feed him,” Kate added, over her shoulder.
    The kitchen when they left it became a more threatening, uncertain place. Priss glanced at Davey, then went to cut thick slices of bread from a crusty loaf and layer on thick rashers of bacon.
    â€œSo,” she said, slapping the sandwich in front of Davey. “Anything you want to tell me?” She poured more coffee for them both, and sat down to watch him eat.
    Davey had no idea where to begin.
    â€œD’you know where the word
house
originally comes from?” Priss demanded, returning to the sugar bowl.
    Davey looked at her warily, and shook his head.
    â€œIt comes,” said Priss, looking smug, “from an old Germanword.
Hud
. It means to hide. A house is somewhere to hide.”
    The bacon sandwich was obscenely good. Davey closed his eyes in bliss as salty grease oozed onto his tongue.
    â€œIt’s actually quite rude to just sit there and eat and not reply to anything I say. Didn’t your mam teach you that?”
    â€œI’m sorry.”
    â€œGood. And you apologise too much.”
    â€œI’m s - ” He stopped. Priss laughed, and licked sugar off her fingers.
    Five mouthfuls of peace, and she began again. She was relentless, like a very beautiful woodpecker.
    â€œSo how much did you drink yesterday?”
    â€œI don’t know.” Just the word
drink
made him feel sick. He washed it away with a swallow of coffee.
    â€œKate sat with you for hours. She thought you might die in your sleep. You know, like, choke on your own spew.”
    Davey put down his sandwich.
    â€œCould you not talk about being sick when I’m eating? Please?”
    â€œJust trying to stop you eating the pattern off that plate.” She yawned, not bothering to cover her mouth. Davey glimpsed perfect white teeth and a clean, pink tongue. “What happened to your face?”
    The sandwich suddenly lost its appeal. Davey put it down on the plate and reached blindly for his coffee.
    â€œAre you going to talk to me about anything at all?” asked Priss,