finished with a steep incline down to a row of trees that were perfect for climbing. Me and Prince picked the biggest tree.We climbed until we thought no one would be able to see us from the ground.
Here we spent the rest of the school day. Neither of us mentioned the morningâs events. Another thing we didnât mention was the fear that clung to us like the cling-film that covered Asad and Ikramâs sandwiches every day - suffocating. The fear of what would happen if Princeâs school did manage to contact my uncle. Of what would be awaiting us when we returned to the house.
We played boxes and hangman in the notes section of my school planner. We practised hanging from the branches by our ankles. We tried to climb to the highest branch. When we got hungry, Prince pulled out his Chomp and I had the rest of my Space Raiders.
We were still hungry, but we had both been hungrier before.
Chapter 8
My uncle gave us an allowance every month. It had been the same for the last two years. Sometimes he would bring us the money, sometimes it would be thrust at us by one of his friends. For the first few months, the money ran out before my uncle appeared again. I didnât know how to ration then.
For those weeks we lived on anything we could scavenge. That was hungry. I learnt about rationing pretty quickly after that.
It wasnât too bad during the week. We would sneak into the free dinnersâ queue at school. The weekends left us with fewer options.
I remember one Saturday. We were starving. We had not been in England long, and had not smelt the scent of a barbecue before, as it wafted through the air from a neighbouring garden. We didnât recognise the smell, but it still made our mouths water and our stomachs ache.
We sniffed the air around us, and licked our lips.
âCan I have some of that?â Prince asked. Princeâs adjustment to our new life had been quick, but he still expected to get what he wanted.
We went through the loose panel at the back of the garden, and made our way down the path, following the enticing smell. I gave Prince a bunk-up to look over each fence as we went.
âYes, yes, yes!â he said, when we found the right garden. He dropped down and I scrambled up, gripping on to the top of the fence and placing my feet flat against the panel. At the far end of the garden there was a large man. He wore a cap and a checked, short-sleeved shirt. The lower half of his body was obscured by a smoking barbecue.
âDarling!â he shouted. âDarling, can you get me a tray? This chickenâs done.â He stood listening, facing the house. No reply came and he barked, âDarling?â
He walked into the house, and without aword to Prince I hauled myself over the fence.
I ran as fast as I could, and reached the barbecue, panting. Quickly I picked up as many chicken legs as I could carry. I tried not to scream as my knuckles were seared on the blackened metal bars. As I ran back down the garden, I thrust the sticky meat into my pockets. I slammed into the fence and again hurled myself over. I crashed into Prince as I fell down the other side.
That was the first thing I ever stole. It was terrifying.
***
It must have been nearly time for school to finish when we decided to head back to the house. We could hear the jingle of an ice-cream van at the nearest entrance to the park. It was a ten minute walk back to the house.
We decided to take a detour to the mini-supermarket on the green. We stretched our money carefully. A pack of six finger rolls, a big bag of nachos, some cheese slices, and a big bottle of cola pop. I had just silver coins left in my pocket. Prince wanted another Chomp or a Freddo,but I knew that a little money in my pocket was better than slightly fuller stomachs.
As we walked the few minutes from the shop to our own alley and garden fence, you could almost hear us not mentioning what might await us. When we arrived, we both looked over
Here we spent the rest of the school day. Neither of us mentioned the morningâs events. Another thing we didnât mention was the fear that clung to us like the cling-film that covered Asad and Ikramâs sandwiches every day - suffocating. The fear of what would happen if Princeâs school did manage to contact my uncle. Of what would be awaiting us when we returned to the house.
We played boxes and hangman in the notes section of my school planner. We practised hanging from the branches by our ankles. We tried to climb to the highest branch. When we got hungry, Prince pulled out his Chomp and I had the rest of my Space Raiders.
We were still hungry, but we had both been hungrier before.
Chapter 8
My uncle gave us an allowance every month. It had been the same for the last two years. Sometimes he would bring us the money, sometimes it would be thrust at us by one of his friends. For the first few months, the money ran out before my uncle appeared again. I didnât know how to ration then.
For those weeks we lived on anything we could scavenge. That was hungry. I learnt about rationing pretty quickly after that.
It wasnât too bad during the week. We would sneak into the free dinnersâ queue at school. The weekends left us with fewer options.
I remember one Saturday. We were starving. We had not been in England long, and had not smelt the scent of a barbecue before, as it wafted through the air from a neighbouring garden. We didnât recognise the smell, but it still made our mouths water and our stomachs ache.
We sniffed the air around us, and licked our lips.
âCan I have some of that?â Prince asked. Princeâs adjustment to our new life had been quick, but he still expected to get what he wanted.
We went through the loose panel at the back of the garden, and made our way down the path, following the enticing smell. I gave Prince a bunk-up to look over each fence as we went.
âYes, yes, yes!â he said, when we found the right garden. He dropped down and I scrambled up, gripping on to the top of the fence and placing my feet flat against the panel. At the far end of the garden there was a large man. He wore a cap and a checked, short-sleeved shirt. The lower half of his body was obscured by a smoking barbecue.
âDarling!â he shouted. âDarling, can you get me a tray? This chickenâs done.â He stood listening, facing the house. No reply came and he barked, âDarling?â
He walked into the house, and without aword to Prince I hauled myself over the fence.
I ran as fast as I could, and reached the barbecue, panting. Quickly I picked up as many chicken legs as I could carry. I tried not to scream as my knuckles were seared on the blackened metal bars. As I ran back down the garden, I thrust the sticky meat into my pockets. I slammed into the fence and again hurled myself over. I crashed into Prince as I fell down the other side.
That was the first thing I ever stole. It was terrifying.
***
It must have been nearly time for school to finish when we decided to head back to the house. We could hear the jingle of an ice-cream van at the nearest entrance to the park. It was a ten minute walk back to the house.
We decided to take a detour to the mini-supermarket on the green. We stretched our money carefully. A pack of six finger rolls, a big bag of nachos, some cheese slices, and a big bottle of cola pop. I had just silver coins left in my pocket. Prince wanted another Chomp or a Freddo,but I knew that a little money in my pocket was better than slightly fuller stomachs.
As we walked the few minutes from the shop to our own alley and garden fence, you could almost hear us not mentioning what might await us. When we arrived, we both looked over
Similar Books
The Mourning Sexton
Michael Baron
Unraveled
Dani Matthews
Out Of The Silent Planet
C.S. Lewis
On a Clear Winter Night: An Irin Chronicles Short Story
Elizabeth Hunter
First Position
Melody Grace
Thomas and Percy and the Dragon
Rev. W. Awdry
Lost Between Houses
David Gilmour
Long Upon the Land
Margaret Maron
One Night Stand
Parker Kincade
What Kills Me
Wynne Channing