Page 38 - My Home on the Earth

By noon, he felt hungry. He didn’t fancy the meal his mum had left so he took three coins from the electric money box. Locking the door behind him, he nipped down the staircase, ran out the front door and sprinted to Pizza Den. John was willing to sacrifice a few hours’ less heat for a big hot sizzling pizza. He stuffed the box inside his coat and returned home to enjoy it in front of the TV. Afterwards, he lay on his bed to watch the jostling traffic, and people rushing around in the street below.
Although being allowed to watch endless TV seemed like a good idea, in reality Friday night couldn’t come quickly enough.
When it did, he was bathed and packed by six o’clock. By not using the electric fire too often, he felt he had enough coins to use as a special treat tonight. With the curtains drawn and a blanket at the bottom of the door to stop the draught, he settled in their one armchair to watch TV with sweets and crisps he’d bought earlier from the newsagents. Before he went to bed he remembered the coin box and slipped it inside his rucksack.
Sleep evaded him for a long time, but he eventually dropped off. When he heard the clanking and clattering of market traders setting up their stalls in the square, he had to drag himself out of bed. Squinting at his wristwatch, the time was six forty-five. He’d remembered his mum’s instructions and placed his sheets, pillow case, duvet cover and towels in a black plastic sack to go in the big bin
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