Peggy's Letters Read Online Free PDF Page B

Dad.
    Dear Dad
    Tommy and I are in the bedroom hiding from another row. Everything we do upsets Grandad. Then Mum gets into trouble. It’s not fair.
    I wonder how many days Mum will have to work before there’s enough money for
us to get our own place. I hope it will be back in our old neighborhood so that I can go to my old school with my old friends. I just want everything to be back the way it was.
    Love, Peggy

10
    I’m floating on the ocean holding a balloon-shaped cloud on a string, when everything starts rocking.
    â€œPeggy! Peggy, wake up.” Mum is shaking me. It can’t be morning already; I’ve only just gone to sleep.
    â€œPeggy, get up,” says Mum again.
    â€œI’m tired,” I whimper and turn over.
    â€œCome on, luv. This is my first day at work. We’ve got to get a move on. I can’t be late.”
    Before she can say any more, we hear a loud yell from the kitchen.
    â€œSomeone come and look after this child,” calls Grandad.
    Mum leaves me and runs down the stairs. I follow her.
    â€œI thought you agreed last night to keep a better eye on him.”
    Tommy is grinning from ear to ear. He has tipped his porridge out and is wearing the bowl on his head. I want to laugh, but I don’t.
    â€œOh, Tommy. You naughty boy,” sighs Mum. “Get the dishcloth, Peggy. Why is this happening today?”
    Between us, Mum and I feed Tommy, get him dressed and clean up the mess. Grandad just stands around grumbling. I don’t bother to listen anymore. We’ll soon be gone and he can go back to being all by himself in his gloomy house.
    Mum closes the front door behind us. “Today has to get better,” she says. “It can’t possibly get any worse.”
    I’m not sure about that. I give Tommy a kiss.
    â€œMm…Mm…Mm…” Tommy blows me back a dozen kisses and waves both hands.
    â€œBye, Mum. Good luck,” I say, although if Mrs. Mashman has found out about me and Spud playing hooky, I’ll be the one needing the luck.
    â€œBye, luv. Don’t forget to pick up Tommy.”
    â€œI won’t.”
    There’s no avoiding Mrs. Mashman. She’s standing by the gate.
    â€œWait outside my office,” she booms as soon as I am within hearing range.
    Spud’s already there sitting on a bench outside her door. “Hello,” he says and slides to the other end to make room for me. He gives me a grin, but it’s not a very big grin.
    The seat is hard. A lump grows inside me as the hands of the office clock move to the top. How can ten minutes take so long? Then I hear Mrs. Mashman’s footsteps and wish for another ten minutes.
    â€œIn my office, Peggy Fisher.”
    I think I’m going to be sick.
    The lecture goes on and on. Because I’m new, it’s a whole week of detention afterschool. Starting today. Mrs. Mashman sends me back to my class and calls Spud in.
    My steps clatter down the corridor and slow as I near the classroom door. I can’t stay after school. I have to pick up Tommy. I turn back to the office, my brain searching for the best words to explain the Tommy thing.
    Spud is coming out of her office. He’s blowing on the palms of his hands.
    â€œYou got the strap?”
    â€œDidn’t hurt,” he says.
    I don’t believe him. How can I talk to Mrs. Mashman now? She’s an ogre.
    â€œI got a week’s detention after school, but I have to mind Tommy.”
    â€œWouldn’t skip detention if I was you,” says Spud, putting on another performance of blowing on his hands.
    â€œWhat am I going to do?”
    We’re nearly at my classroom door.
    â€œI could fetch him for you,” offers Spud.
    â€œCould you? Oh, I don’t know. Last time I left Tommy with someone else, my Mum was really angry.”
    â€œI’ll pick him up and come back to meet you. No one will know.”
    I like Spud. If only he wasn’t always