Callie by Ruth Park

Author:Ruth Park [Ruth Park]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780730443407
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Laurens had scarcely locked up the empty flat and come upstairs to have his coffee, before Dan flew into the kitchen and yelped at Callie: ‘Just look at my nose, it’s exactly like Dad’s!’

Heather was rolling out pie pastry, and took no notice.

Callie said, ‘Big deal.’

Gret, doing her homework at the kitchen table, advised: ‘Ring up the TV station. They’ll want that on the six o’clock news.’

Laurens poured out another cup of coffee and nodded.

‘It is true that your nose is like mine. It is a pity it is not a prettier nose. But why think of it just this minute?’

‘Because,’ said Gret scornfully, ‘it proves he’s half-Danish and Callie isn’t.’

‘Now, look here, you kids—’ began their mother.

Two bright patches jumped into Dan’s cheeks, his hands clenched and unclenched and he shouted: ‘She’s not your real daughter! It’s not fair if she goes to Denmark!’

Callie had heard of people seeing red, and now she did. She had been reasonably polite with Dan in the playground, though she had been pleased when Frances hadn’t. She hadn’t complained of him to her mother. But now the whole kitchen turned dark red.

She grabbed the coffee pot to throw at him. Laurens snatched it back just in time. But he was not quick enough when Callie darted a hand at the dish of cooked meat and vegetables, which stood ready to be covered with pastry. In a second it was all over Dan, gravy, carrots, onions and all.

The entire family froze. Laurens had his mouth open, and the coffee pot still poised above the table. The scene was like a still from a movie. Then Gret broke the silence:

‘And I’m hungry, too!’ she said peevishly. ‘Starving. I tell you, Dad, everyone in this place is off their trolley!’

Suddenly the kitchen was full of noise, Rolf laughing, Tad barking.

Dan danced with rage. He bellowed. As Mrs Beck said later, if it had been Tad, she would have thrown a bucket of water over him, but it was hard to know what to do with a boy of Dan’s age.

‘Be quiet!’ roared Laurens. ‘Be quiet, you hear me?’

For a moment Dan believed that for the first time in his life his father was going to hit him. The shock was so great he instantly stopped squawking.

Laurens said sharply: ‘For a family to quarrel over poor Aunt Mette’s kind thought is bad enough. But there has been a worse thing said by Dan. Listen, all of you. Carol is not my daughter but in the heart I am her father and always will be.’

I am your daughter, I am, Callie thought, but she did not know how to say it. She stood there hanging her head and swallowing back tears. She could scarcely believe she had done what she had. It was like some awful dream.

She sneaked a look at her mother, who was staring wistfully at the pastry.

‘Oh, Mum!’ croaked Callie in shame, and fled.

‘Dan,’ said Laurens. Dan’s heart gave a sick jump. He thought he was going to be severely punished.

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