Sammi and Dusty (7 page)

That evening, Sammi sat down with the books that Jack had given him. He had already finished one of them, and he was over halfway through a second one. Jack was right – they were quite easy to read, but the stories weren’t too boring. In fact, they were exciting adventures that made him want to carry on, and he found he was whizzing through the pages. If he finished this one tonight, he’d be able to return it to Jack in the morning.

His mum came to sit next to him. ‘Are these books from school?’ she asked him.

Sammi looked up. ‘Not really,’ he said. ‘They’re from Jack. He’s in my class at school, but we weren’t friends until we met at City Farm.’

‘City Farm, City Farm!’ smiled his mum. ‘That’s all you want to talk about these days. Well, I’m very happy. And I have something to tell you.’

‘What kind of thing?’

‘Our neighbour came round today,’ said his mum. ‘The woman from Pakistan. I couldn’t understand everything she said, but I worked out that she’s going to City Farm tomorrow. She suggested we go there together. What do you think?’

‘Mum! That’s a great idea,’ said Sammi. ‘She speaks really good English. You’ll learn a lot from her!’

‘Yes. Maybe she’ll become a friend. That would be good for me, I think.’

Sammi grinned at her. Of course his mum needed friends here in England, just as much as he did.

* * *

Sunday 12 October dawned at last – the day that everyone was dreading. Sammi got to City Farm early. His mum would be along later with Giti and their neighbour, but he wanted to be there to see Dusty, check on what was happening and see if there was anything he could do to help.

Rory and Jack were already at work, milking the goats as usual. The animals still had to be looked after properly, even if they were going to move from their homes very soon. Sammi watched Jack struggle with the buckets, and jumped forward to help him. Jack grinned at him.

‘I finish two books,’ Sammi told Jack proudly, as they walked across the yard towards the barn. ‘I bring them back for you today.’

‘That was quick!’ said Jack. ‘D’you want some more, afterwards? I don’t have any myself but there are loads in the library.’

‘The what?’ Sammi hadn’t heard the word before.

‘Li-bra-ry,’ said Jack slowly. ‘It’s where you can borrow books to read. We can go there together sometime, if you like.’

‘I would like that,’ agreed Sammi. ‘Thanks, Jack.’

As they swung open the barn’s creaking wooden door, Kerry was standing behind her desk, looking nervous. She was holding a piece of paper and muttering to herself, turning the paper away and then muttering again.

‘What’s going on, Kerry?’ asked Jack.

Kerry gave a big sigh. She ran a hand over her braids, then fiddled with one of the silver beads that dangled from them. ‘I’m just practising my speech,’ she told them. ‘I think it’s really important that we explain to everyone what City Farm is all about, and how much it’s contributed to our community.’

‘A speech! That sounds scary,’ said Jack.

‘Too right it’s scary,’ agreed Kerry.

Just then, the barn door burst open again and Asha rushed in.

‘Kerry, Derrick Jarvis is here! And he’s got a big
CLOSED
sign in his car – I don’t know what he’s going to do with it...’

‘Has he indeed? Right. I’ll deal with him. Come on.’ Kerry put her speech down and led everyone outside. A group of council workers were gathering in the car park, some with yellow hard hats and fluorescent jackets like the ones who had come before. Derrick Jarvis was there with another man by his side, chatting away with the
CLOSED
sign under his arm.

Kerry marched across the car park in her leopard-print wellies, and went straight up to Derrick Jarvis. ‘Good morning, Derrick,’ she greeted him.

‘Ah, Kerry,’ he said. ‘I’m just going to get the men to hammer this into place. I hope you’ve put all your affairs in order – the development people will be here to start work first thing on Monday morning.’

‘Our affairs are always in order here at City Farm, Derrick,’ Kerry told him calmly. ‘But I think you’ll find there are a lot of people who want to come and look around for one last time. So it might be better to wait until the end of the day to put that sign up, don’t you think?’ She nodded towards the main gate. ‘You see, there are visitors just arriving.’

Sammi’s heart gave a leap. His new footballing friend Robin had walked in – with a big group of boys just behind him!

Derrick Jarvis looked very cross, and harrumphed grumpily. ‘If this is another delaying tactic of yours—’ he began.

‘Not at all,’ said Kerry smoothly. ‘This has always been a community project, Derrick. So if the community want to come in on our last day, I really don’t think we should stop them. And to show just how much support we have, I’d like to show you this—’

She held out the sheaf of petition papers, but Derrick just looked away. Sammi felt shocked. This man was so rude! But more people were arriving all the time – he wouldn’t be able to ignore
everyone
, would he? Asha rushed off to greet some friends, then Jack started waving furiously at someone he knew. The big yard at City Farm was starting to fill up!

Kerry tried again. ‘I really think you should look at this—’

But Derrick was staring at the crowds coming in. ‘This is most irregular,’ he muttered. ‘We should have that sign up by now.’

Then the man at his side interrupted. ‘It’s all right, Derrick. The sign can wait,’ he said. Then he turned to Kerry. ‘I’m Mr Collins, Derrick’s boss. I’ve come to oversee what happens today.’

Kerry shook his hand. ‘Good to meet you, Mr Collins,’ she said. ‘I hope you’re fully aware of what a big impact this closure is going to have. I think you’ll find that it’s not at all popular with local people. In fact...’

Mr Collins coughed. ‘Our main concern is to make the best use of the land.’

‘Exactly,’ said Kerry. ‘And when you see the support we have today, I hope you’ll begin to realize what the
best use
really is.’

* * *

People were continuing to stream in through the gates. Some of them explored the yard or wandered into the garden, while others took a walk around the grounds to see all the animals in the fields and enclosures. After about an hour, Kerry called Sammi, Jack, and Asha over to the barn.

‘I’d like you to go and gather all the visitors together,’ she told them. ‘Bring everyone back here, to the front of the barn. It’s time I made a speech. Take a petition with you, in case anyone hasn’t signed it.’

The three of them ran off in different directions to do as she said. To his delight, Sammi saw his mum, Giti and the neighbour coming through the gates, and he directed them to the right place. Then he rushed off to the paddocks to fetch anyone who might still be out there. He found Robin and his friends, and ushered them back to the yard. When they arrived, he stared in amazement. The yard was completely packed!

He left Robin and elbowed his way to stand near Jack, Rory and Asha. Kerry was looking more nervous than ever, but she stood up on a wooden bench and began to speak.

‘Welcome to City Farm,’ she said. ‘And thank you so much for coming.’ Her voice was a little bit wobbly at first, but it got stronger as she carried on. ‘I think you’ll all agree that there’s nowhere quite like City Farm. Where else can children come and see goats, chickens, pigs and donkeys in a city environment? And not just children – I know that many adults have enjoyed coming here over the years.’

A murmur of agreement rippled through the crowd. ‘What’s more, this is more than just a farm. The Harvest Hope project was set up for children facing a difficult period in their lives. Here, they’ve found new purpose and happiness through looking after other creatures, and a new sense of community too. I’m happy to say that we’ve helped many to find their way.’

Sammi found himself nodding. He couldn’t agree more. But now, Kerry’s voice was sounding more and more sad. ‘So today is a tragic day for me. Members of our own council are here with us, and they’re here not to support us, but to close us down. Ladies and gentlemen, if you have signed our petition, I’m very grateful...’ She turned to Rory, who was standing by her side. ‘How many signatures do we have, Rory?’

‘Five hundred and seventy-four,’ he told her.

‘Five hundred and seventy-four members of this community have signed, saying that they wish the farm to remain open. But sadly, the council doesn’t want to hear. Five hundred and seventy-four people say no to closure. The council still says yes.’

The muttering among the crowd now sounded indignant. Someone shouted out, ‘Shame!’

‘So, unfortunately, City Farm has to say goodbye to you all. Thank you again for coming. I value your support more than I can say.’

Kerry stopped, looking upset. She stepped down, and there was a smattering of applause. With a flourish, Rory handed the pile of petition sheets to Mr Collins. He looked embarrassed, and flicked through them hastily. Derrick Jarvis said something into his ear, and he nodded, then turned his back to Rory and Kerry and began to walk away.

Out of the corner of his eye, Sammi spied one of the council workers with the
CLOSED
sign in one hand, and a hammer in the other. Surely that couldn’t be it? After everything that Kerry had said, and all the names on the petition, they were just going to carry on and shut City Farm? Could Derrick Jarvis and Mr Collins ignore them all, just like that?

Suddenly, he knew what he had to do. Feeling very nervous, he stepped forward, past Asha and Jack, and forced himself up onto the bench. Kerry stared at him in surprise. ‘Sammi, what are you...?’

He stared down at her, his cheeks burning. But then he saw his mum’s face in the crowd and opened his mouth. Somehow, he began to speak.

‘I come to Harvest Hope project...’ he began. His voice was quiet, and he realized that no one could hear him. He cleared his throat.

‘I come to Harvest Hope project three weeks ago,’ he tried again, louder this time, and some of the crowd noticed. They nudged their neighbours, and the chatter slowly died down as people turned his way.

Sammi searched his heart for what he wanted to say. ‘I never think England can be my home,’ he said. ‘I miss Afghanistan. I miss my family. I miss everyone.’ He looked for his mum’s face again, and saw her eyes wide with amazement. She nodded at him, urging him to carry on.

‘But here at City Farm, I make friends. For first time, I make friends. I make friends with animals and I make friends with people. Now I think...’ He paused, struggling for the right words. ‘Now I think that maybe I can be home in England after all.’

He came to a halt. Everyone was silent. He glanced down at Kerry, and saw that she had tears in her eyes.

‘Thank you, Sammi,’ she whispered, as he stepped down.

The crowd had started to applaud when Asha leaped up onto the bench and began to speak. ‘Sammi’s so right!’ she told everyone. ‘I’m on the Harvest Hope project too, and it’s helped me so much! I was sick in hospital with leukaemia for months. But then when I started to get better I came here, and it’s made me so much stronger! I love working with all the animals and looking after them and learning about them, and Kerry and Rory are so supportive and you just know when you’re here on City Farm that anything and everything is possible after all!’

She paused to draw breath, and now the crowd had started clapping loudly, and cheering their support.

‘I think the best part was when I first started feeding the guinea pigs, and then they started recognizing me whenever I came near and making their crazy squeaking sound,’ Asha carried on. ‘Or maybe it was when I took some feed to the goats and they nearly knocked me over, they were so excited! I realized I’d have to get strong and fit if I was going to deal with
them
.’

Everyone laughed, then cheered again. As Asha kept on with her string of stories, Sammi noticed that Jack was lining up to speak, along with a row of other children that he didn’t recognize. Kerry must have seen him looking because she whispered to him. ‘They’ve all been on the Harvest Hope project, like you,’ she told him. ‘There’s Emily, Laura, Katie and Darren. Oh, and Zoe too.’

Asha was coming to the end of another funny story. With everyone laughing, Rory persuaded her that she’d got her message across.

‘Come on, lass, let the others speak now,’ Sammi heard him say.

Jack took her place, and sounded a bit nervous. He told everyone how he’d grown up on a farm and had really missed it when he moved to the city.

‘I love City Farm,’ he said simply. ‘I don’t know what I’m going to do without it.’

He clambered down, his cheeks a bit pink, so that Emily, Laura, Katie, Darren and Zoe could say their bit. As they spoke, Sammi suddenly realized something else. His English had improved so much in the last few weeks that he understood everything they said. Maybe, after all, it wouldn’t always be a struggle. One day, he’d be able to chatter away in English just like he could in Pashtun.

The crowd was loving every minute of it, but Sammi was beginning to get anxious. It was all very well having their support, but what about the council? He couldn’t even see Derrick Jarvis any more, or the men in yellow jackets. He wondered what they were up to.