Page 27 - SAMPLE Talking the the Moon

“Iris!” he says.
He hugs me then Mimi.
“Lovely to see you. How’s things?”
“Good,” I say.
Pearl screams until I lift her up. Then she takes
a breath and screams some more. She’s hurting my ears.
“What a horrible noise,” I say.
She digs her nose into my neck. It’s cold and
snotty.
“You look cold, sweetheart,” says Mum and before I
know it she’s taken off her coat and wrapped it round me and Pearl.
It’s embarrassing. I pull it off.
“Don’t catch a cold,” she says. “You’re going blue.” “I like blue,” I say. “It’s my favourite colour.”
“How’s work on the mould going?” says Mimi. “Slowly,” Dad begins.
I don’t want to hear any more. I don’t want to even
think about going back to the house and all that chaos. I put Pearl down and prod her.
“Come on,” I say. “I’ll race you!”
Noah clambers down from Dad’s arms and the three
of us run across the stones. 25