Dare Game (30 page)

Sometimes I cook her special treats too.

We work together and go out together and make things together and make things together and muck about together and chat together.

Of course we can’t do everything together. I have to go to school, worse luck, worse luck, worse luck. I
might
be able to switch to Liz’s school at the end of this term but till then I’m stuck with Mrs Vomit Bagley and Roxanne and all her putrid pals and even though this is a Happy Ever After ending Mrs V.B. is still the Wicked Witch and Roxanne is that weirdo princess that spews up toads and frogs every time she talks.

Mr Hatherway is all right though.

I’ve made a new friend at school too. He’s called Trevor and he’s the smallest boy in Year Three and everyone picks on him. (He’s the one who had the nosebleed, remember?) Mr Hatherway asked if I’d keep an eye on him in the playground. So I do.

Nobody dares go near little Trev when
I’m
around.

I think Trevor likes me, though he doesn’t say much.

I know Alexander likes me – and he says lots and lots. I’ve been to his house again. I ate all my tea this time, and had a second and
then
a third helping of cake. Alexander’s been to my house too. Alexander had a great time. He and Cam had this long long long discussion about books.

Alexander likes Cam a lot. But he likes me more.

I think Football likes me the most though. I don’t go round to his house much but he comes round to my house lots. We play football, surprise surprise. Out in the yard. Sometimes Cam plays too. And Jane and Liz. You’ll never guess what. Jane is brilliant at football, even though she’s so big. She’s better than Alexander’s dad. Even better than Football himself. Though he won’t admit it. He’s working on his game. Alexander’s dad has got him into this club. I’m not sure how long this will last. Football hasn’t got the knack of getting on with people. He’s had a few arguments already. He might find he gets excluded. But I’m never going to exclude him. He can stay my friend no matter what.

I think he still sometimes hangs out at the empty house. Alexander doesn’t go there any more. I don’t either. Though I took Cam there once.

I made out it was
my
home and I showed her all round. Most of Alexander’s cardboard furniture got broken up and so the house looked a bit sad and empty and dirty.

‘But I could make it look really great,’ I said, taking Cam by the hand and leading her around the living room. ‘Maybe I could live in this house when I’m grown up, right? I’ll have a chandelier and a ruby-red carpet and a big squashy sofa and a telly as big as the wall. I’ll stay up half the night watching telly and then sleep really late and then I’ll do a bit of work. I’ll write these best-selling books, OK? And then I’ll stop writing around five and have tea. I’ll have a big birthday cake every single day.’

‘You’ll get pretty tubby then,’ said Cam, poking me in the tummy.

‘I won’t eat it all by myself. I’ll share it. I’ll invite Alexander round. He can pop in between his brain surgery operations. And I want Football to come too, though he’d better not eat too much birthday cake if he’s in
serious
training. And guess who else I’ll invite?’ I paused.

‘Mrs Vomit Bagley?’ said Cam.

‘
No
chance!’

‘Elaine?’

‘Maybe. Once in a while, for old time’s sake. No, someone else. Someone important.’