Heartland Read Online Free PDF Page A

more slowly. Chelsey doesn’t, or just won’t do it this morning. Any suggestions?
    Miss Pale sighed and then spoke in a louder voice.
    I’m sick of trying to deal with her and her rudeness. She can sit and do nothing if you can’t get her to do anything and I’ll write a referral, again, to Miss Dragovic. Then more quietly: Just get her to write something in the boxes and draw the cross.
    Rob sat back down. Chelsey stared at Miss Pale’s back.
    Bitch, she said quietly, then imitated her voice: I’ll write a referral again, to Miss Dragon Witch. Frigid bitch.
    Less get on with this, Chelse. Come on, doh get wound up.
    She actually did settle down then, and while Miss Pale talked to the rest of the class about different religious festivals Chelsey and Rob did some colouring in.
    What yer doin for yer dad’s dinner today?
    Gooin dahn the chip shop.
    I thought yer had no money.
    Me uncle gid me some.
    Which uncle?
    Me Uncle Ted. He come to visit.
    Rob frowned. She hadn’t got an Uncle Ted. He sighed.
    That’ll be nice, any road. Yer dad’ll enjoy some chips.
    If he’s up aht o bed. He day get up yesterday till after three.
    Maybe he was tired.
    Maybe he was pissed.
    Rob wanted to say something else to her, but couldn’t think what. He’d had a pint with her dad in the Lion acouple of times. He seemed a nice enough bloke. They carried on colouring in together in silence.
    Yow like that Paki teacher, doh yer? Rob?
    What?
    Yow like that Paki teacher, the one in the library.
    Doh say Paki, Chelse, come on, yer know that.
    OK. Yow like that – I doh know how else to say it – teacher in the library, doh yer?
    I doh know what yome on abaht.
    Yes yer do. I’ve sin yer lookin at her in the library.
    If you mean Miss Quereishi, I do know her, Chelse. We went to William Perry school together for a bit when we was little. Same primary school you went to, ay it?
    I think yer fancy her.
    Oh, right.
    Yome blushin, look yer.
    The bell went. Rob leaned back in his little chair and looked at the kids around him, motioning them to be quiet and settle themselves down to be dismissed.
    Enjoy yer chips, Chelse. Hope yer dad’s all right.
    Yeah, right. Yow havin dinner with yer girlfriend?
    Watch yer cheek.
    Rob was smiling, though. At this point he caught Miss Pale’s eye. She looked at him and then at Chelsey with the same expression. She announced that the class could go. Before Rob could get up Chelsey had pulled herself on to the table top and swung her legs round to bolt for the door, her skirt sliding up over her arse, pulling a packet of Joey Khan’s Arabic-squiggled Silk Cut from a little handbag that wasn’t big enough to accommodate school books.
    She’s done a bit of colouring, Rob said and handed Miss Pale Chelsey’s paper.
    Thanks. About all she’s good for. That and lying on her back with her legs open.
    Miss Pale was already moving fast between the tables, muttering, laying out papers for the afternoon lessons. He thought of grabbing her blond ponytail and smashing her head off one of the tables, the pearls on that necklace bouncing around the room, her body flopping like a caught fish as he pulled her towards the windows. He gritted his teeth.
    Look. Her’s gooin home now to sort out her dad’s dinner. Iss her in charge o the house. Her mom died. I know her’s difficult but –
    Miss Pale had stopped.
    I know, I know, but where does it end? I’m here to teach her and she can’t even read.
    We could try and teach her, Rob mumbled.
    The door flew open and some boys ran in wanting to store their coats and bags. They wrestled with each other in the corner. Miss Pale recovered her composure.
    Guys, if you’re not sensible you won’t be able to leave your stuff.
    Rob took some of the papers from her and began putting them out on the empty tables.
    Look, thanks for trying with her at least, she said. It’s a