Page 46 - My Home on the Earth

and wandered across the room to look out of the window. His mum’s room was little more than an extended cupboard and his belongings were still in a suitcase when she opened up the sofa bed.
‘I doubt you’ll find anything better than this,’ he said to his mum with a slight air of resentment. ‘So you’ll be staying here with Aunt Louisa?’
His mum lowered her gaze and muttered: ‘Yes. But you’ll be able to visit in the daytime when Louisa is at work.’
‘Why only then? Why can’t I stay here? I could sleep next to you on the floor,’ begged John. ‘I’m sure she wouldn’t mind that. I won’t be any trouble.’
‘Questions! Questions! My head is spinning, John. Like I said before, they don’t allow children to live here. It’s a strict rule. I daresay some residents have grandchildren and they can visit. Anyway, I’ll soon find a flat and then it won’t be a problem, will it?
****
John slept on the floor in the lounge and woke up to find his mum sorting through his clothes. ‘We have to leave shortly. I’ve made some toast for your breakfast and we
have to take those bags.’
The boy noticed one blue sack in the kitchen, four
tightly wrapped black sacks tied with string in the lounge, and a square plastic shopping trolley. It seemed unnecessary to him. ‘You promised I could stay here until this afternoon. If I’m going to stay somewhere else, why can’t we pack the suitcases with my stuff?’
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