Page 21 - My Home on the Earth

‘Hello, darling, how are you? Come inside,’ smiled Alice. ‘We can sit in the garden for a while. Will you stay for lunch, only I have two pieces of salmon to get rid of?’
Cara hugged her grandma and smiled at her choice of words, but she knew what she meant.
Seeing Cara’s anxious expression, Alice realised she was troubled and for a second assumed it was another problem with Miss Kilroy. ‘Ever since you started the new term she’s done everything possible to get your hackles up. Have you told your mum?’
Cara shook her head. ‘It’s not her this time. Anyway, she’ll never get the better of me and one day, she’ll pick on someone else. No, I think it’s more serious...’
‘Oh, dear. Tell me more.’
‘There’s this boy and I think he begs in the town centre. I saw him the other day at the train barrier and then outside Annetta’s. But yesterday, he was standing outside the school. Grandma, I think I’ve seen his face before, but I don’t know where.’
‘What makes you think he’s a beggar?’ enquired Alice.
‘Wellll,’ she said in a drawn-out voice, ‘he’s wearing shabby clothes and could do with a wash. I wondered if you’d seen him around the market with the others.’
‘I certainly haven’t seen a boy although some of them are about fifteen. Do you think he might have gone to your school and recognises you?’ queried Alice.
‘No way! He’s creepy.’
Alice smiled and shook her head. ‘OK. Describe him.’ ‘He’s probably my height, skinny with a round face,
beady eyes and a peculiar hairstyle.’
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