The Thirteenth Read Online Free PDF

stop.
    As she passed the tattoo parlour, she glanced over the road at its open doors. There were still people hanging around outside, all standing around their precious vehicles, laughing and chatting. Val didn’t feel she could face the crowd. Plus, she rationalised, snatching a peek at her watch, she didn’t really have time to see Shane tonight. He would have to wait until the morning. She had more than enough on her mind already, and she had to get home in time for her party.
    She looked at all the people waiting at the bus stop and wondered if any of them had had the same sort of day as she had had. When she boarded the bus, the driver looked at her suspiciously from under his hat, and for a second she thought he might know something. Val felt uncomfortable under his intense gaze.
    “Feeling better today are we, luv?” he asked inquisitively, looking her up and down.
    He must have been the driver from yesterday. Val couldn’t remember much and his unattractive beard and bottle glasses certainly didn’t stick out in her blurry memories. “Yes, thank you for asking,” she smiled a wry polite smile back at him. She supposed it was nice of him to ask, but he was definitely creeping her out. She found a place to sit next to an elderly lady who proceeded to spend the journey apologising for her gas, rubbing her chest and telling Val all about her many disorders in great graphic detail. What could be worse than ending your day like this? Well, having to wear the thin-strapped dress your mother had bought for your birthday while displaying a raging black tattoo on your arm would be a good attempt at making things worse!
    Val’s mum was in the hall waiting like a tiger ready to pounce. The stressed look on her face said it all. Before she became part of the Saunders Birthday Circus, Val wondered why people put themselves through so much hassle for a party, when the guests would eventually complain that there wasn’t enough food or booze and that the weather was awful etc, etc.
    Susan started firing words in Val’s direction. “OK, upstairs, get changed, now. You look a mess. Please, just for me, just today, put on some lip gloss.” Susan ushered Val towards the stairs flicking her hands in a pushing motion.
    “Can I get a drink first?” Val was thirsty and she looked at her mother in the hope that not every glass in the house was taken.
    “No. You can drink later. Go and get ready before I faint due to stress. Do it.” Susan was now pushing Val with all her strength, which wasn’t much, towards the stairs. At this point Val could see she was onto a loser and did as she was told.
    As she made her way to her bedroom, Val’s father burst out of the bathroom at a trot heading towards her. A loving smile crossed her face. Although he was a very boring man, his sense of adventure shone through in the shirts he wore. His offence for this evening was a sort of surfer slash Salvador Dali attempt and Val felt intimidated just looking at it.
    “Hi honey. Best get ready, your mother is having kittens as usual,” Mike cheerfully chirped as he hugged her.
    “Looking good, Dad.” Val gave him a two thumbs up sign and they both smiled. Mike believed Val really meant it.
    Val found the dress laying on her bed. She sighed. It really was offensive. Not only did she hate wearing dresses, but how on earth was she going to hide the tattoo? The dress was a soft baby pink with thin straps and a layer of what looked like spider’s silk over the top, which Val had to admit flowed beautifully when she had it on.
    As she searched in her wardrobe for something to wear over the top, she began to get a sinking feeling that this wasn’t going to go at all well. Val pulled out the only two cardigans she owned. One was a sort of multicoloured long old tatty thing that really should have been dumped years ago, but she loved it. The other was a faded grey, waist length thick winter cardigan. She had no choice but to go for the grey. As she