Page 148 - My Home on the Earth

himself. Leaving the sack on the ground, he scampered off to fill his water bottle.
Back inside, he tipped the contents of the sack on the bed and sifted through the clothing. ‘These aren’t mine. They’re brand new ‒ so are the towels,’ he smiled, examining the shiny labels.
He grabbed at sachets of soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, brush and comb, and pouches of cereals, vegetable rice and packets of sweets ‒ lots of sweets. Then he shut the door and locked it.
With hot water bubbling in a kettle on the camping stove, he tore open a sachet of shampoo. There was enough water to have a thorough wash and to wash his hair before paying a visit to the barber’s. He’d grab a bacon roll and a hot chocolate at the market afterwards. The bundle of new clothes included three tee shirts, two pairs of shorts, two thick jumpers, briefs, four pairs of socks, pyjamas, and a dark blue sweatshirt. ‘No way! My mum didn’t bring these. She refused to buy me shorts.’
Feeling clean and refreshed, he packed his new clothes away in a plastic bag and tucked them under the camp bed. Everything else went on the shelving. For the first time since being abandoned, he felt clean, full of confidence and full of hope as he strode smartly along Heath Road.
Stepping out from the barber’s shop, his head felt lighter and he couldn’t help staring at himself in shop windows as he made his way to the market. At the jeans stall, he tried on two pairs until he found a pair of tapered
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