Authors: Nick Sharratt
Lola Rose (30 page)
âIf he really wants to,' said Auntie Barbara. âLola Rose? Would you like to live at The Trout? There's lots of little attic rooms. You could have your own bedroom. Purple, of course. And there's a big old screen somewhere â maybe you'd like to decorate it with scraps?'
I took a deep breath. She didn't need to try to persuade me. It sounded like a fairy tale. âIt would be wonderful,' I said.
I'm going to miss my friend Harpreet, of course. I've never had a best friend before so it will be horrible saying goodbye. Still, maybe her mum will let her come and stay in the holidays. Mrs Gabrie still doesn't think much of my mum but she approves of Auntie Barbara. She actually invited her in for a cup of tea the other day!
I'll miss Ms Balsam too. I like it at Larkrise, especially the art lessons. Still, I'll have a new school to go to now. I'm going to stay Lola Rose and then maybe I'll make lots of new friends.
I won't miss this house much, though I
will
miss Andy upstairs. He and Steve are getting this new place soon. And Miss Parker might be going into a home. We're all moving on. It's definite now. Mum and Kendall and me are going to live at The Trout. Though it's not going to be called that for much longer.
will
miss Andy upstairs. He and Steve are getting this new place soon. And Miss Parker might be going into a home. We're all moving on. It's definite now. Mum and Kendall and me are going to live at The Trout. Though it's not going to be called that for much longer.
âI could never stick the name,' said Mum. âAnd if we're going to run it together, Barb, we don't want all the guys to call us the two old trouts.'
âSo we'll change the name, no problem,' said Auntie Barbara. âWhat shall we call it, eh? What about the Singing Sisters?'
âBig Sister and Little Sister,' said Mum. âOnly I'm the blooming Big Sister now.'
âStop it!' said Auntie Barbara. âYou'll get your figure back soon enough, you'll see. Though it'll be hard for you to go on a diet living at the pub. Wait till you try our Thai green chicken curry!'
We all knew Mum could still pull any bloke she fancied, fat or thin. She'd like it at the pub because she'd meet lots and lots of men. I wish she didn't need them so much, but she can't seem to help it. Still, I don't think she'll ever want Dad back again.
I don't really worry about Dad now. Auntie Barbara will protect us if he ever comes back.
I worry about Mum. Even though she's getting better. She really is. The hospital is very pleased with her progress. Mr Key says her chances are very good now.
I don't know why. It was probably the treatment. Even though she nearly died after that first week.
She was lucky.
You can't
make
lucky things happen. You can't win the lottery every day.
make
lucky things happen. You can't win the lottery every day.
I know it was just chance that Mum got better after I'd endured the shark ordeal. A lucky coincidence. But I still feel good every time I look at the shark's tooth hanging on the fine silver chain around her neck.
We're going to live happily ever after, Mum and Auntie Barbara and Kendall and me. Fingers crossed.
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