The Secrets We Keep

The Secrets We Keep Read Online Free PDF Page A

Book: The Secrets We Keep Read Online Free PDF
Author: Nova Weetman
the middle of the night when I can’t get back to sleep.
    Sometimes I dream that I’m watching our house burn and I try to break in through the front door, but Dad pulls me back just as the roof collapses. On those nights I wake sweating and shivering at the same time, and I can hear Dad crying on the couch. I get out of bed to check on him, but I never seem to make it all the way. I don’t know what to say to him. Even my best friend Bridge I’ve only told bits and pieces. My aunty tried to talk to me about it, too. But there’s just not much to say.
    Suddenly I hear Dad in the stairwell and rush over to open the door.
    â€˜Well, that’s service, Clem,’ he says, and he gives me a hug.
    â€˜Yeah. Gotta do something around here to earn my keep.’
    â€˜It’s cold in here.’ Dad shivers as he takes off his heavy blue jacket. Luckily it didn’t burn in the fire. It was safe in the boot of our car. All the workers at the gardens have them for cold days because the padding is so thick it stops the wind and means they can stay outside for longer. It’s his unofficial uniform. At least some things are still the same.
    â€˜I can’t light the heater,’ I say.
    â€˜Oh, I’ll show you the trick.’
    I smile. Of course Dad knows the trick.
    â€˜You’ve got to press the starter button at the same time you put in the temperature,’ he says, showing me the buttons.
    He moves out of the way and I know he wants me to try it myself. This is Dad’s way of teaching me how to do things. So far it’s meant that I can change the tyre tube on my bike, pitch a tent and hammer a nail in straight.
    I light the heater instantly and Dad pats my back, pleased.
    â€˜How was school?’ he asks.
    I shrug. ‘You didn’t really research it, did you?’
    Rather than answer my question straightaway, Dad walks into the kitchen and turns down the radio.
    â€˜Hey, I was listening to that.’
    â€˜Nobody should listen to that,’ he says, winking at me.
    I watch as he turns on the kettle. That’s the other thing Dad always does: has a cup of tea when he gets home even in the middle of summer. He puts it down to having English parents who had a pot going twenty-four hours a day.
    â€˜I sort of researched it,’ he finally replies.
    I snort. ‘On Google?’
    â€˜Maybe.’
    â€˜Did Google tell you there’s a “no-homework policy”? Dad, my teacher has a nose ring. And there are no desks!’
    â€˜Wow. Sounds interesting.’
    â€˜Yeah.’
    â€˜Was anyone nice to you?’
    â€˜One girl. Ellie. That one who showed me around when you were leaving,’ I say.
    â€˜Good. Is it going to be okay?’
    I nod. ‘Maybe.’
    â€˜It’ll be okay, Clem,’ says Dad, after a pause.
    I know I should comment but I don’t really know what to say. Mum was always the person I talked to about problems at school and with friends. Maybe he’s trying to fill the gap.
    I watch as Dad makes his cup of tea. He dangles the teabag over the cup for a second, drains it off with a teaspoon and then tosses it into the sink. He doesn’t add any milk, just two heaped teaspoons of sugar.
    â€˜Work wants me to start back next week,’ he says. ‘I told them that should be fine, but it’ll mean you’ll have to get yourself to and from school without me every day. That okay?’
    â€˜Yeah, Dad. Of course.’
    â€˜The boss said I could have the earlier shift so I’ll be home just after four. At least that way you don’t have to cook. Can’t be eating beans on toast every night!’
    â€˜Ha ha. You’re hilarious, Dad.’ I’m secretly relieved that he’s doing the early shift. I look over at the radio. Being on my own in the flat until six wouldn’t be much fun.
    â€˜See you tried the pudding,’ he says.
    â€˜Didn’t.’
    â€˜Pretty
Read Online Free Pdf

Similar Books

The Burning White

Brent Weeks

Chore Whore

Heather H. Howard

Stanley Park

Timothy Taylor

Bloodspell

Amalie Howard

Outside

Nicole Sewell

Where Nobody Dies

Carolyn Wheat

The Mapmaker's Wife

Robert Whitaker

Checkmate

Annmarie McKenna