The Farm Beneath the Water Read Online Free PDF

passing them in the opposite direction, carrying a pile of exercise books. “I want everyone involved with the house plays to be there.” She glanced at Hannah. “I’ve got some important announcements to make.”

Chapter Four
The Tea Party
    “Do you want to come to mine for tea?” asked Hannah, as they walked home.
    “Depends,” said Lottie. “Not if it’s overcooked beans on burnt toast again.”
    “Actually, it’s shepherd’s pie.”
    “Did you make it?”
    “No, Granny did.”
    “Oh. In that case, yes please.”
    “Sometimes,” said Hannah, “I don’t know why I’m even friends with you. Do you need to ask your mum?”
    “No, she won’t be home for hours. I was only going to stick something in the microwave.”
    Lottie’s mum worked in London and she was always too exhausted to cook when she got home. Lottie ate better food when she stayed with her dad, but that was only every other weekend and the occasional week night. Her parents had been divorced for years.
    “You were lucky not to get detention,” said Lottie, as they crossed the road at the top of Elm Lane.
    “I was lucky not to get suspended. Seeing howmuch he hates me.”
    On the left of the farm track, the fields stretched away to the soft curves of the South Downs, hazy blue in the afternoon light. On the right-hand side North Meadow sloped down to a wide stream. Along the far bank of the stream grew a thick hedge of blackthorn, hawthorn, hazel and willow. Beyond the hedge, a patchwork of smaller fields rose to meet the ancient oak woods that marked the northern border of the farm. Ruby rosehips and deep-red hawthorn berries studded the hedgerows like jewels.
    A pair of buzzards circled in the sky above North Meadow, looping and crossing each other in a complex dance. The air was alive with birdsong.
    The girls left their bags on the freezer and walked into the kitchen. A buzz of conversation was coming from somewhere in the house. Hannah turned to Lottie, frowning.
    “There’s people here.”
    Lottie listened. “Sounds like quite a few people.”
    “They must be in the sitting room.”
    Hannah walked into the hall. Who could it be? The sitting room was never used except at Christmas.
    The back door rattled open and slammed shut again with a force that could only mean Martha. Hannah heard the thud as Martha’s school bag was thrown down on the freezer. She must have been just behind them walking home, but she would never in a million years have been seen dead actually walking with them.
    Martha came into the hall. She gave Hannah a contemptuous look.
    “I said you didn’t stand a chance, didn’t I? I don’t know why you bothered.”
    “Did you get a part in The Tempest? ” asked Lottie.
    “Of course. I’m a water spirit.”
    “Well, Hannah got a part in Romeo and Juliet, too. A non-speaking part, same as you.”
    “I’m only a spirit because Year 7s weren’t allowed the big parts. I’ll get the main part next year, you’ll see.”
    She started up the stairs. Then she stopped, frowning.
    “Who’s in the sitting room?”
    Hannah shrugged. “You tell me.”
    Martha marched to the door and flung it open. She stared in for a few seconds. Then she pulled the door shut and swung round to face Hannah and Lottie. She looked as though she was about to throw up.
    “I said he’d joined a dating agency, didn’t I? Have a look in there. He’s gone and invited every tragic loser on uglybride.com to our house, and he’s giving them tea and cake.”
    “What are you talking about?” asked Lottie.
    “He had that woman round the other day and now he’s got a crowd of them here. He must have realised he had no chance with anyone young or good-looking. This lot’s ancient. Take a look.”
    She opened the door again. “Ugh. Disgusting.”
    “Martha,” called Dad, “if you’re hanging around in the doorway, make yourself useful, will you, andfill up this teapot.”
    “No way ,” said Martha. “They’re not my