Page 51 - My Home on the Earth

‘He said no one comes here because the police visit every week, and the buildings are due for demolition. The police don’t look hard though, so just keep your head down and you’ll be OK.’
Without another glance or word, she upped and left, leaving him to stare around at the empty wooden building.
‘Mum! Come back! You can’t leave me here alone,’ he shouted. He started to go after her. ‘What kind of mother are you? Come back! I want to go home. I’m scared. What have I done to deserve this?’ He stood still and watched her disappear. Then his legs gave way and his body crumpled to the ground. Tears welled in his eyes and he sobbed.
Shivering, and drying his eyes on his coat, he remained on the ground for a long time with no reason to stand up. When he did, he gazed away the afternoon at the buildings and the sky. As if in a dream, his mind drifted back to his old school in Nestonbrook and he remembered the times he’d felt bored. He’d look out of the window and imagine another world in the clouds. Then he wondered what he’d be doing if he was in school and thought about the fabulous weekends he’d shared with his best friend. I never had any friends to talk to apart from him. He shared my problems and secrets. Well, I’m nearly fourteen and I’m not a child any more. I grew up at the children’s home, but I made lots of friends and then I had to leave them behind. He imagined they were running in and out of the derelict buildings shouting their heads off. Nothing scared them. They were invincible survivors and never felt sorry
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