Phoebe Finds Her Voice Read Online Free PDF Page B

their heads close together chatting. Dad was wearing his scruffy PEACE NOW T-shirt, some awful brown sandals and his fake smile.
    He’s been smiling like that ever since he moved out; like he thinks if he sticks a smile on his face we won’t realize what a mess everything is. Sometimes I think I could reach up and peel that smile right off like a plaster, and underneath his real mouth would be all turned down and sad.
    â€œWe’re going to make popcorn, Phoebs!” cried Sara, when she saw me. She started to hop about like a demented rabbit. “Dad said we could make popcorn and watch a DVD like we’re in a real cinema. Barney absolutely loves popcorn,” she gabbled on, pulling Barney out of her book bag and whispering something in his ear. I grabbed hold of her and pushed her down the road. The last thing I wanted was Polly Carter to show up and see my loopy sister talking to her teddy – or my dad in his manky sandals.
    Back at the flat, Dad and Sara got busy in the kitchen. There wasn’t really room for all three of us so I went to sit in the lounge. It was practically empty except for a tatty, old couch and a few boxes Dad hadn’t got round to unpacking yet.
    Mum and Dad split up ninety-two days ago – not that I’m counting or anything. Mum said that Dad had gone strange in the head and she couldn’t live with his crazy ideas any more. Well, okay, she didn’t use those words exactly, but she’s right, he has gone strange in the head, especially since he lost his job and joined the Life centre. He used to work at this amazing nursery where they grew all sorts of rare, tropical plants. He’d worked there for years and years, ever since he left school – but then out of the blue they said they were cutting back the staff or something and that he’d have to leave.
    At first he didn’t do much at all, just moped about the house watching rubbish TV all day. But then after about six months he went and joined this weird New Age group called Life . He goes to the Life centre all the time now, especially on Saturdays when he’s supposed to be with me and Sara. I don’t even know what they do there – but it’s obviously more exciting than being with us.
    The popcorn was taking ages so I decided to try out Sam’s great audition tips while I was waiting. I stood in the middle of the living room with my legs apart and my shoulders back and pretended Miss Howell was sitting in front of me on the couch. I reached my arm out towards her, took a deep breath, opened my mouth as wide as I could and was just about to start singing when Sara burst in.
    â€œ What’s the matter? ” she squealed, staring at where my hand was pointing. “ Did you see a spider or something? ”
    I dropped my arm, and spun round. “For goodness’ sake, Sara! Don’t creep up on me like that! What do you want anyway?”
    â€œI was just gonna tell you about the popcorn.” She grinned. “We’ve made so much it’s flying around all over the place. It’s brilliant. We’re going to put butter and salt on it, but you can have yours plain if you want. Come on!”
    In the kitchen the popcorn was banging about inside the pan and Dad was standing next to the stove grinning and looking very pleased with himself.
    â€œBet you didn’t know I could make popcorn, eh, Phoebe?” he said, as if it was some amazingly rare talent that only two or three people in the whole world could do.
    â€œIsn’t this brilliant , Phoebe!” said Sara again, hopping around the kitchen. And just for that second, looking at Sara’s happy, shining face, it was brilliant.
    I trailed back into the living room, still thinking about the audition. Dad came in a couple of minutes later carrying two big bowls of buttery popcorn.
    â€œHow was drama on Saturday, Phoebe? I never got the chance to ask you.”
    â€œOf course you