Page 69 - My Home on the Earth

despair and stared at her scuffed shoes. Moments later, a cool breeze blowing off the water sent a chill down her spine. She stood up, scraped her hair back and set off again. Arriving at the metal gate, she paused to look over her shoulder before pulling back a strip of wire fencing. She eased herself and one trolley through, then yanked the second trolley in and secured the fencing. An open yard of broken down brick buildings lay before her and her walk was impeded by soggy ground and fallen debris. Mindful not to trip over, she arrived at a wooden shed nestled in the corner of an L-shaped building. The door creaked as she pushed it open and sighed. ‘Where are you this time?’
The shed was of modest proportions, and sheltered from the wind blowing in off the bay. In one corner lay a sleeping bag and a pile of blankets. A few unused tins of food sat in cardboard boxes under a glass window pane usually covered by cardboard.
She quickly emptied the trolleys and found a pad and pencil hidden among the blankets. She read the words: Gone fishing in the bay. Leave food and get out. Police here last night. Scary. Will be round later. She didn’t believe the bit about fishing and scribbled a reply. OK, will look out. Bring washing. Before leaving, she placed a small Easter egg under the blankets and replaced the cardboard over the window. Her heart raced each time she left and, pulling the trolleys, she scurried back to the gate. Instead of using Heath Road, she took a different path and headed towards her sister’s apartment block and tonight, a roast dinner.
63