Page 91 - My Home on the Earth

Alice froze as the girls walked away, chatting, and didn’t know what to think. At times, she felt Elise was able to see deep into the heart of someone’s soul and she didn’t suffer fools either. Eleven years old and going on twenty- one, she was a past master at weeding out lies to get to the truth. ‘I forgot she could lip-read. I’ll have to be careful in future.’
Driving away, she thought it was time to see her daughter, Emily, to make sure she didn’t know anything about the boy.
‘So ‒ when did you see him?’ quizzed Cara, walking through the school gates.
‘The day we went to Annetta’s. I knew who it was straight away. He hasn’t changed much apart from his height. It looks like his mum still chops his hair off. Just think, that horrid bulbous eyed creature once scared me to death.’ Elise’s mind wandered for a minute. ‘He stood at the train barrier. I saw him as I bent over to talk to a little girl. I didn’t want to say anything in case you got scared.’
‘Hang on, Elise. I’m confused. Can we talk some more at lunchtime? I need to know what to do and say because Grandma and your dad insist your mum mustn’t find out yet,’ said Cara.
‘Don’t worry. I won’t say a word. See you later.’
****
Emily noticed her mum arrive on the driveway from a bedroom window. She chuckled to herself as Alice deliberately reversed her car over the gravelled section of the driveway. For all her bravery and outgoing nature, she
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