The Minnow Read Online Free PDF Page B

Minnow is fast asleep and I don’t want to wake her, which is a shame because she’s really good at hearing from a distance. The gravel is crunchy and noisy so I stand still. I recognise Jonah’s voice. He is laughing about something. There is a man’s voice. Older and more musical, almost like he’s singing rather than speaking. I concentrate really hard but I can’t make out any words.
    â€˜Tom!’ It’s Jonah. I don’t answer. ‘Tom!’ he yells. ‘Come and meet Mr Wo.’
    I realise I am standing in a pool of light. The moon has appeared from behind a cloud and given me up. ‘Okay,’ I call back, trying to sound normal and not like a complete idiot, and I walk the thirty or so metres to the house.
    Mr Wo is really young. His name is James and he says it’s okay to call him that outside of school. He says he’d prefer everyone to call him James but that Mrs Haversham, one of the new senior teachers, thinks it is disrespectful. He has come to the house to meet me. This is Jonah’s fault, I know it. He keeps avoiding my eyes.
    â€˜So, Tom, when do you think you’ll be coming back to school?’ Mr Wo says, getting straight to the point.
    â€˜I’m pregnant,’ I say, and I can feel my eyes sting. Please don’t cry in front of Mr Wo, I beg them, but they ignore me, and small tadpoles drop onto my cheeks.
    â€˜I’m so sorry,’ says Mr Wo. ‘Can I help?’
    â€˜It’s all right,’ says Jonah. ‘She’ll be okay in a minute, won’t you Tom?’
    I nod. Yes.
    I stop crying, eventually. I blow my nose and look up to find Jonah and Mr Wo smiling at me. ‘What?’ I say to both of them.
    â€˜Nothing,’ Mr Wo says. ‘Are you okay to talk now?’
    â€˜I guess.’
    â€˜You haven’t been to school since the flood, which means you missed most of year nine and it’s already September so year ten’s going the same way.’ He waits for me to speak, but I don’t say a word.
    â€˜Okay,’ he says, pausing to take a breath, ‘how do you feel about using the next few months catching-up on year nine, with the idea of going into year ten next year?’
    I look across at Jonah. ‘It wouldn’t be too bad,’ he says.
    He’s right. But I’m still going to feel like a loser.
    â€˜Tom,’ says Jonah, reading my expression, ‘it’s not like you’re repeating .’
    â€˜Easy for you to say,’ I reply.
    â€˜I know,’ says Jonah.
    The three of us are quiet for a minute or so. Eventually Mr Wo breaks the silence. ‘So,’ he says, ‘I was thinking I could send some work home with Jonah. And I could come here once a week and check how you’re doing.’
    He raises an eyebrow at me. Jonah makes a face. ‘How does that sound, Tom?’
    â€˜Good. It sounds good. Thanks, Mr Wo,’ I say.
    â€˜James,’ he says, and smiles. He’s nice. He has a really pretty face.
    Mr Wo— James —stands to leave. ‘I’ll see you Monday, Jonah,’ he says. Then he turns to me and says, ‘and I’ll see you Friday afternoon, Tom.’
    â€˜Yes, okay,’ I say, leaving out his name. ‘Thanks.’
    Jonah and I stand and watch him walk down the drive to his car.
    â€˜Oh, no,’ I say to Jonah, ‘I forgot to tell him how much I love the mural.’
    â€˜Tell him on Friday,’ says Jonah.

The Minnow and I are down at the inlet. Jonah walked us there when he got home from school. He carried the Fish-Master. He’s returning at dusk to walk me and the Minnow and the FishMaster back home.
    I’m not really enjoying it. There is no Bill, there has been no sign of Sarah, the Minnow can’t seem to get comfortable and, to put the pie in the freezer (another Nana saying), a cold breeze has picked up from behind Ponters Corner and I’m starting to shiver. I