Anthem for Jackson Dawes by Celia Bryce

Author:Celia Bryce
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Published: 2013-08-17T04:00:00+00:00

Ten

‘What do you think you’re doing?’ Sister Brewster appeared at the door. There had only been one sweep with the razor so far but it hadn’t been at all pleasant. Megan half wondered if Jackson really knew what he was doing. ‘Give that to me right now!’

The game was up.

‘I was making her look presentable,’ Jackson declared, smiling his most winning smile. Sister Brewster wasn’t to be won over. She held out her hand, waiting for the razor. ‘It’s a safety one, can’t do any harm.’ Jackson, sounding sulky, handed it over, smile all gone.

Sister Brewster shook her head. ‘And Megan, I would have thought you had more sense than to let Jackson anywhere near you with this!’

She brandished the razor at them both, her face furious, ranting on about safety regulations, about the dangers of sharp blades. There were babies and toddlers on the ward for goodness’ sake, what would have happened if … and where on earth was their common sense?

Megan stared at her hands, saying nothing, heart thumping. She closed her eyes in disbelief when Jackson spoke up, his voice sullen, stubborn.

‘She lets the doctors at her. What’s sensible about that?’

‘I beg your pardon?’ Sister Brewster faced him.

‘Don’t, Jackson. It’s all right.’

Jackson swung round to face Megan, his face stormy. ‘No, it’s not all right! You let them, why not me? At least I was doing some good.’

Megan groaned. She knew when they’d lost, knew there was no point in prolonging the agony.

‘Jackson …’ Sister Brewster stood with her big eyes resting on him, her mouth in a straight line. He should have seen the warning in her face.

‘You’ve never had your hair fall out, have you? You’ve never had needles stuck in you. Not the way we have. And what good does it do, anyway?’

Something in Jackson’s voice made Megan look up. His face was set like stone, though the nerves in his cheeks twitched with anger.

Sister Brewster remained calm. ‘It’s all very important, as you well know. We don’t stick needles into people for nothing. We don’t do it for fun.’

‘But what good does it do? You tell me!’ He was glaring at Sister Brewster, looking at her as if he hated what he saw.

What was he doing?

Why wouldn’t he stop?

‘It can do a lot of good, Jackson.’ Sister Brewster’s voice changed slightly, there was a hint of kindness in it. ‘It can. You know that.’

‘Like it’s helping Kipper?’ He spat out the girl’s name.

‘Let’s not discuss her now, Jackson.’

‘Why not? You didn’t mind discussing her when I took her for a walk … and you sent the whole army to find us.’

Megan swallowed. What was he on about? What did he mean about Kipper?

‘I think it’s time you went to your own room, Jackson. You’re all finished here.’ Sister Brewster straightened her back, which made her even taller than before, and held the door wide open.

It was Siobhan who tidied her up, Siobhan with her long black hair piled high on her head, tiny corkscrew curls framing her face.

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