Head Spinners Read Online Free PDF Page B

ward obviously had a whole closed circuit TV network hooked up through its computers.
I checked for the camera, and found it high up in the corner above the door. Mum handed over a few more forms, and another nurse showed me to my room.
    â€˜Well, isn’t this lovely?’ said Mum once the nurse had gone. She pushed down on the bed a couple of times, as if we’d just checked into a hotel.
    But I wasn’t looking at my bed; I was looking at the three other beds in the room. One was clearly empty, but the two others had bedding, get-well cards on the bedside table and clipboards at the end . . .
    I wasn’t the only one.

    Mum wanted to stay and help me unpack, but I told her not to hang around.
    There wasn’t anything scheduled for the rest of the day and I knew she’d be back in
the morning for the next round of tests.
    â€˜Don’t worry. I’ll be fine.’
    For a moment Mum frowned at me. Then she nodded. ‘Alright,’ she said. ‘But call me whenever
you want. I don’t mind what time.’
    â€˜Okay, thanks.’ A quick hug, then she was gone.
    I looked around. One of the beds had a soft floppy elephant on the pillow and fairy cards everywhere. The other bed was more of mystery. Someone was definitely using it, but there was nothing to show how old they were.
    For something to do, I checked out the bathroom. No surprises there. Then, feeling self-conscious, I poked my head into the hall. No one was at the nurses’ station. I could hear faint canned laughter.
    I followed the sound past a door with another keypad and to a room signed common room. It was painted bright yellow and had shelves stacked with books and board games. An episode of Get Smart was on the TV.
    â€˜Hello. What’s your name?’ said a little girl, standing up from the rug. She was only about as tall as a toddler, but her face made her look six or seven.
    â€˜Hi, I’m Brooke,’ I said, and stepped forward so I could see what she was doing. Puzzle pieces were strewn around her feet. It was obvious straight away why she was here – she had a huge lump at the top of her back.
    She was a hunchback. Poor thing . . .
    â€˜I’m Erin, and that’s Jack,’ she said, pointing at the back of an armchair that was facing the TV.
    Feeling nervous, I stepped around the armchair. What was I going to find?
    A boy about my age turned and looked me up and down. For a moment his eyes stopped on the bulge of my sleeve. ‘Hi,’ he mumbled before turning back to the TV.
    â€˜Hi,’ I said, trying to look him over without being too obvious. He was wearing a baseball cap and seemed completely normal.
    Erin tugged at my sleeve. ‘Do you believe in fairies?’ she whispered.
    â€˜Ah . . .’ I wasn’t sure how to answer that.
    â€˜Because I can show you for real,’ she cried. ‘Look!’
    The next thing I knew, Erin was pulling off her windcheater. Underneath she was wearing a tank top . . .
    I gasped and stepped back.
    Between Erin’s shoulderblades was a folded pair of wings. They weren’t sparkly and colourful like fairy wings. I could see thin fingers of bone inside a fleshy membrane.
    â€˜See? It’s me! I’m a real live fairy!’ she chanted, jumping up and down.
    I swallowed. Other than their flesh-pink colour, they looked like the wings of a bat.
A wave of nausea washed through me. I was repulsed, but at the same time I couldn’t look away. Was this how Mum had felt when she first saw my arm?
    â€˜Can you fly?’ I managed.
    Erin stopped jumping, and pouted. ‘No,’ she said. For a moment I thought she was going to cry, then I realised she was concentrating, holding her breath.
    Slowly the wings unfolded. They were wider than I’d realised. Networks of blue veins stretched beneath the skin.
    I opened my mouth, searching for something to say.
    Erin breathed out in