Swap Over (2 page)

 

Mr. Walton finished his coffee. Maddy waited expectantly. Which one of the Waltons was going to run her to school?

“I'll drop Maddy off,” Mr. Walton said.

Maddy felt stiff, awkward, and uncomfortable in the good uniform. Mrs. Walton had plaited her hair back so tightly that her ears felt funny with the strain. It was all going to be worth it though. She would wave graciously to the poor suckers waiting for the bus as they drove past in Mr. Walton's big, gray car.

“You'll have to go to the after school program this afternoon, my pet,” Mrs. Walton said as she handed over the lunch box to be put in the heavy, good quality school bag. “I've got meetings this afternoon.”

After school program! Since when did Jennifer go to after school programs? “I can catch the bus home, and play with the Matson's until you get back.”

“You're not the Matson's responsibility,” Mr. Walton said.

“I bet they wouldn't mind,” Maddy countered.

This was true. The Matson's mother never seemed to notice the stray friends, relatives, or others who lined up to be fed with the rest of them. The Matson place was always crowded with relatives who visited and then stayed over, sleeping on the shabby couch in the lounge room, or in sleeping bags on the worn carpet.

“Besides the extra math coaching is really helping your marks,” Mrs. Walton said, as she kissed Maddy and Mr. Walton and walked to the front door with them.

“Extra math coaching,” Maddy repeated.

“You have to be grateful for the school organizing it whenever you use the after school program,” Mr. Walton said.

“Yeah,” Maddy grouched.

“I'll collect you about five,” Mrs. Walton promised. “Have a nice day.”

Maddy waved without enthusiasm to all her friends at the bus stop as they drove past. It was awful to think that school was lasting until five in the afternoon, ending with a math session.

She cheered up when she was dropped off at the pedestrian crossing and met up with Jennifer's friends, Rowena and Katrina. Today, they had swimming, so she was going to be able to use the school swimming pool at last. Maddy was relieved to learn that her swimming gear was already in Jennifer's locker.

“And God help the rest of us if we forget to bring our gear in every Monday morning,” Rowena said. “That Ms. Matthews yells like a sergeant major if we forget.”

“And even looks like one,” cheeky little Katrina giggled. “Although you're lucky. She never yells at you, Maddy.”

Rowena nudged Katrina hard. Katrina sneaked another look at Maddy and went bright red.

“So Maddy never forgets her gear like the rest of us,” Katrina almost gabbled. “There goes the bell for Assembly.”

The school day started. Maddy put in such a hard-working morning that the puzzle of why Rowena had nudged Katrina, and why Katrina had turned so bright red was forgotten. The classes were smaller than at her school. The teachers cruised like sharks around the room, checking that the work was understood and that everyone worked and kept on working.

She had lunch with Rowena and Katrina. Maddy's lunch was not as delicious as she had hoped. There were fresh brown bread, salad sandwiches and a smaller plastic box of chopped celery, cheese and dried fruit, a fresh apple –no cakes, or biscuits. It was disappointing, remembering what magnificent biscuits and cakes Mrs. Walton baked.

It was after lunch that the blow fell. Everyone was lining up to walk across to the swimming pool, swimming bags slung over their shoulders, when Ms. Matthews suddenly noticed Maddy.

“Maddy,” she trumpeted. “I almost forgot! Your mother rang to say that you are excused swimming this afternoon. Miss Dewitt has offered to take you into her social studies class.”

“But I want to come swimming,” Maddy protested.

“Maybe next week,” Ms. Matthews called back. “Don't dawdle girl. You've just got time to return your swimming gear to your locker before you catch the excursion bus.”

“Excursion bus,” Maddy echoed, but Ms. Matthews and the swimming class were already gone.

Maddy cheered up as she put her swimming gear with its beautiful nylon racing bathers rolled in the big fluffy towel back into her locker. Ms. Matthews was right, of course. There was always next week. And she was going on a school excursion to replace her swimming. Jennifer had said they went lots of exciting places on their school excursions.

Everyone was already seated in the school bus and waiting. Miss DeWitt stood looking at her watch.

“Sorry I'm late,” Maddy said as she scrambled up the steps. The door hissed shut behind her. “I had to drop my gear back.”

“That's all right, Maddy,” Miss DeWitt said with a smile. “When I heard that you weren't swimming, I suggested you come with us. I remembered how much you enjoyed helping the elderly cits last time.”

Maddy sat down as the bus lurched into movement. Helping elderly cits! What sort of expensive private school was this anyway? Why had she been made to give up swimming for the afternoon just to work around moldy, elderly people? She hated hanging around old people.

Jennifer never mentioned a word about doing this sort of thing. The bus moved fast along the main road. For the first time since the weird swap had happened, Maddy had a faint prickle of unease. Did she really know Jennifer and her luxury lifestyle that well after all?

 

The bus slowed and pulled into a driveway. The notice out the front of the big brick building said it was The Walkley Elderly Citizens Retirement Home.

Maddy stared around. This place looked more like a hospital than a retirement home. Were all the old people bedridden? Why did Jennifer actually like coming to such a moldy-looking place? The bus stopped, and everyone filed out.

“Julie, Anne, Penelope, William, James, Anthony, Belinda, and Mark will escort the elderly going to the Westward shopping centre,” Miss Dewitt said.

Maddy's eyes went round in surprise. Everyone had been talking about the new Westward shopping complex. It was supposed to be something else, with fountains and plazas and free entertainment. Because it was on the other side of town from where they lived, their mother had refused to take them although they had begged and begged.

Maddy put up her hand. “Please Miss Dewitt, can I go and help as well?” she asked.

“Some other time, Maddy,” Miss Dewitt said. “You don't want to disappoint Mr. Brown. He looks forward to your game of draughts when you visit.”

“But I want to go to the shopping centre,” Maddy yelled. “Someone else can play draughts with Mr. Brown.”

Everyone turned and stared. Maddy remembered that Jennifer never yelled. Jennifer was always well-mannered, nice, and eager to help. Yet she always managed to get her own way all the time. How did she do it?

“I didn't mean to yell. I was just disappointed. I was so looking forward to helping everyone shop,” Maddy said more quietly,

“Maybe the next time, Maddy,” Miss Dewitt said.

Maddy recognized the suppressed irritation in Miss Dewitt's voice and shut up. She stuck out her bottom lip and watched enviously as the eight students named marched across the driveway to where a small bus waited. They joined the elderly people already in the bus and waved as the small bus drove away. The rest of the class followed Miss Dewitt into the big building.

“What's with you?” Selina whispered. “You've never been allowed to go with the shopping group.”

“Well, it must be about my turn then,” Maddy whispered back.

“Thought you were keen on hanging around with Brett,” Selina said.

Maddy suddenly noticed the tall figure walking beside Miss Dewitt. She had been so upset she hadn't spotted that he was in the school bus with the rest of Miss Dewitt's class.

Brett Havington was the best-looking guy in the district. She hadn't ever spoken to him of course, but she and her friends often watched him when he played tennis or football. He lived in the big house with the unusual-shaped swimming pool. Not that he was stuck up or anything. He had the nicest smile even if he didn't know you.

This was another wonderful thing about being Jennifer. As Maddy Matson she had no excuse to even approach Brett Havington, but he was at Jennifer's school. At last she had an excuse to talk to him. Jennifer had never mentioned that she knew Brett that well. What if secretly she and Brett really were an item? Maybe this afternoon wasn't going to be a complete waste after all!

“Um,” Maddy admitted.

Miss Dewitt opened a door on the other side of the corridor, spoke to someone, and ushered three students inside.

“They say he's going to have a pool party for his birthday next week,” Selina said.

Maddy took a deep breath of pure delight. Jennifer Walton, being the most popular girl in the district, always got invited to everyone's parties. She had never been to a pool party before and she had heard they were great fun. What if she actually ended up paired with Brett Havington?

“So are you going?” a voice asked eagerly from behind them.

Maddy turned and stared at the speaker. She hadn't realized Linda had been walking so quietly and so closely behind listening. Linda wore her long, brown hair dragged back in a single plait, emphasizing her pointed nose and sharp brown eyes. She even looked like a sticky beak! Maddy blushed as if Linda had overheard what she was thinking as well.

“I was having a private conversation, no third person invited. Do you mind?”

Linda's face reddened. She lagged further back without a word.

“It wasn't that private,” Selina said. “There was no call to hurt Linda's feelings.”

“She shouldn't have been snooping, then.”

“She wasn't snooping!”

“She was so. It's none of her business what we were talking about.”

“You're behaving like a prize pig, Maddy Walton.” Selina's mouth was in a straight line and her eyes were suddenly unfriendly. “What's come over you? Snubbing poor Linda like that.”

Maddy stared at Selina. Why was she suddenly being so nasty? Well, she didn't have to put up with pills like Selina!

“Little Miss Goody Two Shoes,” Maddy retorted. “Suck up to her if you want to.”

Selina dropped back to walk with Linda. Maddy heard Selina whispering something to Linda and knew they were talking about her. Well, they were just jealous of her and they could talk all they liked. She didn't care. She kept walking ahead until she caught up with Bronwin.

“What's wrong with Selina?” Bronwin asked. “You two usually stick together.”

“Playing Mother Hen with Linda,” Maddy said.

“Well Linda is a pest,” Bronwin said. “But what was she doing this time?”

“None of your business is it?”

“So sorry to offend you, Lady Muck.” Bronwin's cheeks flamed red.

Maddy remembered from somewhere that Bronwin had a terrible temper. Well, she wasn't scared of Bronwin or her temper.

“Lady Muck yourself,” Maddy jeered. “Why don't you wash your blouse—it's got jam stains on it.”

Bronwin sneaked a look down at her blouse. Her face paled as she saw the stain. She gave Maddy a furious look and walked on ahead.

And that's shut you up, Maddy thought, congratulating herself on noticing the stain. This school was really fussy about clean uniforms.

Miss Dewitt stopped. “Brett and Linda,” she read out from her list. “You've been asked to help the same people as last week.”

She opened a door on to the verandah. It seemed crowded with tables and chairs and elderly people.

“Can we help them as well?” Selina called.

Miss Dewitt nodded. Selina and Linda hurried past Maddy without even looking at her.

“Welcome to the weeding club,” Brett said. “There are always plenty to share.”

Everyone laughed. There was a babble of delighted greetings as they went through the door. Maddy watched enviously. It sounded as if weeding with Brett was fun. She wouldn't have minded being with them if Selina hadn't behaved like a pill.

It was bad luck that Selina and Linda were working in the garden with Brett. They were going to have all the afternoon to badmouth her. What if Jennifer and Brett really had been an item? Would he dislike her now for snubbing Linda? What if Jennifer and Brett weren't an item at all? Would Selina and Linda snigger about her being keen on him, and put him off her anyway?

Maddy flushed dark red and suddenly reconsidered Selina's cold face. She had just made a bad enemy. In fact, she had just made three enemies! Linda had looked just as coldly through her as Selina as she walked past, and Bronwin had looked murderous. Yet it had just happened without her even trying.

She tried to control her rising panic. What did the bad opinion of three people matter? Maddy Walton was the most popular girl in her school and the whole district. From now on, she would try to be more careful and only open her mouth to say Jennifer sort of things.

Still it was odd. She wasn't usually so touchy and irritable or as easily put out. Maybe the change of lifestyle or perhaps it was the weird swapping over that had drained her. She still felt tired all the time.

“Maddy,” Miss Dewitt repeated.

Maddy hadn't noticed, but the corridor had turned a corner as if it was heading towards the front of the building again. Miss Dewitt was holding open the door to a spacious lounge room.

“Bronwin is filling in for Selina today. Enjoy yourselves.”

She gestured to where a bald old man sat at a table for two with the draught board set out ready and waiting. Behind him, another old man crouched on a sofa with cards spread on the coffee table in front of him.

Bronwin followed Maddy into the room. The door closed behind them as Miss Dewitt led the rest of her class elsewhere.

“And where's that nice little Selina?” Mr. Brown asked. “She was going to give old Westy his revenge in a nice game of poker.”

“Selina is taking her turn at weeding,” Bronwin explained. “Mr. West will have to try and take his revenge at poker from me.”

She sat down on a stool facing the coffee table, making sure her back was to Maddy, and shuffled cards. Maddy pulled up the chair opposite Mr. Brown and started playing. She liked draughts and usually won, but because she was in such a bad temper, she lost two straight games.

“Not like you not to see that move, Maddy,” Mr. Brown said. “Having a bad day?”

“Of course not,” Maddy said.

She concentrated more carefully, but the next game still ended with her staring bewildered at her three kings so cunningly cut off by Mr. Brown's remaining three kings.

Mr. Brown had won again! Maddy stared at the board. She had been tricked into the one wrong move that had caused her to lose the game! How could she have been so stupid? No one had ever beaten her at draughts before, not even her father!

Maddy felt her temper rise. That nasty, sneaky old man! It was just plain dishonest to trick her with that move. How dare he sit there nodding away like a stupid old clown?

She glanced at the big clock on the wall. There was barely time for one more game. She just had to win it and take that nasty smirk of his face.

“Last game, Mr. Brown,” she said as nicely as she could.

She didn't mean to, but she made a wrong move again. She glared at the board. That move was a mistake! She was going to lose again. It wasn't fair!

She gave into temptation, twice. Mr. Brown turned around to drink his tea and she shifted her piece. He moved his piece and turned around again. She shifted one of his kings!

It was unfortunate that because she was concentrating so hard, she hadn't noticed that Bronwin had moved her position and was watching her. She just happened to glance up and catch the contempt on Bronwin's face. Of course she couldn't have seen Maddy shift those pieces. She had done it too quickly. Bronwin was just glaring at her because she hated her, that was all!

Mr. Brown looked mournful as the game progressed. Maddy blocked his last king triumphantly. She had won!

“Guess you are too slick for me, young Maddy,” Mr. Brown said. “I won't bother you to play with me again.”

Maddy had to bite her tongue so she didn't retort what a poor loser Mr. Brown was not to want to play again. Fortunately, Miss Dewitt put her nose around the door and beckoned.

It was time to leave. Maddy gave Mr. Brown a triumphant smile and walked out of the room with Bronwin at her heels.

She and Bronwin were among the last to get back into the school bus. Linda and Selina sat together at the back, giggling with Brett. Maddy felt sorry that she had been so quick to snub Linda and upset Selina. They looked as if they were enjoying themselves, and she would have liked to join them. Now it was too late.

She shouldn't have been so nasty to Bronwin either. It wasn't fair to have embarrassed her like that. Bronwin noticed her glance and suddenly spoke in a loud carrying voice.

“A real poor loser,” Bronwin said.

The bus hadn't started. In the silence, every one heard the accusation in her voice. They all looked a question. Maddy went cold all over. Bronwin had seen her change the draught pieces around after all! Bronwin hated her, but surely she wouldn't? However, Bronwyn kept on in her loud voice so everyone could hear.

“What does it feel like, Maddy Walton, to cheat a half-blind old man just to win at draughts? Are we supposed to congratulate you on what you are doing to the school's reputation? I heard Mr. Brown say he didn't want to play with you again! He knew, didn't he, but was too nice to expose you?”

Maddy looked out the window. She knew that her silence was proof enough of her guilt, but her throat had a lump in it that actually hurt, and her mouth was too dry for her to even try to speak. Her face was so hot it felt as if it was burning. If she lived forever, she would never, ever forget the shocked look on Miss Dewitt's face and the absolute disgust on everyone else's.

The bus lurched into movement, and whatever was being whispered about her was lost in the noise of the busy road. Maddy kept staring out the window as she blinked away tears. She wasn't going to give anyone the satisfaction of seeing her cry.

What was going wrong with her beautiful new life? First she had effortlessly made three nasty enemies, and now everyone in Miss Dewitt's class hated and despised her.