‘What the fuck?Who’s making that godawful noise?Some of us are trying to sleep here…’
George looked up hopefully.
‘I’m looking for my dad.Is he up there?’
A man with a full head of ginger dreadlocks and a dazzling diamond stud in his lower lip was leaning out of the first-floor window.He peered at George, rubbing his eyes and blinking blearily.
‘You don’t mean Mozzer, do you?He’s gone away, man.Not seen him all week.Think he’s bummed a lift to a festival up north somewhere.You need any help, mate?’
George tried to be sensible and to stop crying, but this was the worst news ever.Dad gone?To the North?They’d been doingThe Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobein his class just before he left, and George really liked the way his teacher got all the kids to shout, ‘Narnia and the North!’as they ran out into the playground for break.He wondered if MM had remembered to take his thick donkey jacket; he’d heard that it was cold in the North.Certainly it was always cold in Narnia.What did the beaver say?Something about ‘Always winter but never Christmas’?Suddenly having an urgent need to find Dad before he froze to death or was turned to stone by the Witch, George picked up his backpack and ran, back up the steps, across the road, and straight into the path of a passing taxi.There was a screech of brakes, and, for the second time in an hour, George’s head hit the ground.
15
Leo had never known or imagined such a state of panic before.If this was what it was like to be a parent, he was beginning to be relieved that he’d never tried it.The flat was in turmoil as the news came through of the accident.George’s backpack had contained his notebook which was helpfully inscribed with all his personal details, and the police rang Jess the minute George reached the hospital, but she was already speeding down the motorway by this time.Nina was frantic, and was only persuaded against taking a cab to Brighton by Harry, who reasoned that Jess would let her mum know as soon as she needed her, and that she would be better to wait for a progress report.In desperation, Nina rang Mab, who was almost in Brighton by this time.
‘I wish you’d talk some sense into these men.Jess is bound to want me there now, surely?What use is Stan going to be to her?He knows nothing about children or hospitals.He’s only a big kid himself,’ cried Nina.Leo flinched; he could hear the first part of Mab’s response from the other side of the room.He gestured to Nina to put the speaker phone on, not wanting to miss anything.
‘That’s not fair, Nina!’Mab was saying.‘Stan’s had loads of experience with children at the school and he’s actually at his best in a crisis.’
‘Really?’
‘Yes,really.I remember when I broke my arm in three places just before my thirteenth birthday.He was the only one who could calm Mum down, and he organised the ambulance, let Dad know, and got Mum to hospital and back for a whole week, single-handed.’
‘Where was your dad?’asked Nina, momentarily distracted.
‘Oh, on a business trip somewhere in Canada.He was quite high powered in those days.Stan always had to be the man of the house.I sometimes think that’s why he seems a bit flaky now; he got fed up with all the responsibility when he was younger.’
‘Well, so long as he’ll look after Jess and George…’
‘Of course he will.Try to stop worrying, I’ll call later, OK?’
Nina grimaced and put the phone down.The next hour passed with interminable slowness as everyone drank far too much tea and waited for news.Sophie continued her trawl on the laptop.She was so busy that she hardly seemed to have noticed the pale, worried faces of her companions.
‘Still shopping, Soph?’Leo said, as he produced yet another glass of the special water that Sophie liked.She ignored him.Noticing Nina watching him as he placed the iced water at Sophie’s right hand, Leo motioned her to follow him to the kitchen.
‘What was that filthy look for, pet?’he asked.‘Why are you so angry with me, today?’
Nina shrugged.‘Oh, I don’t know.Just touchy, I guess.I’m so worried about George and Jess, and the Little Princess can’t even get herself a drink of her lovely water.’
‘I was only trying to keep her out of everyone’s hair.I thought I was doing you all a favour.’
‘Hmmph.What’s she doing all this time on the computer anyway?’
‘No idea.I expect she’s on TikTok or Snapchat or somewhere, telling all her tedious mates how bored she is, and getting them all writing sympathetic comments so that she can reassure herself that she’s popular.’
Nina looked at Leo in surprise.‘What are you getting at?Do you mean sheisn’tpopular then?I thought Sophie had plenty of friends?’
‘Oh, well, she knows loads of people, and they call themselves friends, but that lot are so shallow that they’d forget Sophie in five minutes if she didn’t have her daddy’s money to spend.They like the parties at Sophie’s parents’ house, and she gets them in at all the best clubs, and suchlike.’
‘You must know her very well?’
‘I’ve been with Sophie for ages, I try to keep my eye on her, that’s all.’
‘Is that what it’s all about then?’
‘Is that what what’s all about?’said Leo, playing for time.
‘Relationships, love, all that stuff?Just keeping an eye on each other?’
