How Not to be Popular by Cecily Anne Paterson

Author:Cecily Anne Paterson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: kids;middle fiction;class camp;friendships;bullying
Publisher: Wombat Books
Published: 2019-03-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

I started a conversation about Tahlia with Mum at breakfast.

‘Why does she live with her grandad?’

‘Who?’ said Mum. She was standing by the bench eating a bowl of cereal, the radio on behind her.

‘Tahlia,’ I said. ‘You know, from school. Most people live with their mum or dad, but she’s with her grandfather. And her cousin—that older girl who works in the pie shop.’

Mum made a face like, really? At this time of the morning? ‘Used to work in the pie shop. She hasn’t been there for a while now. Look, I’m not really sure, darling. I think there was some problem with her mum early on in her life, and her grandad was already looking after her cousin, so she came to stay with them. It’s been like that as long as we’ve lived in Kangaroo Valley.’

‘Well, why does she have to get up at 5am every day?’

‘Ava! Are you up yet?’ Mum called down the hall.

‘What, Maddie? Does Tahlia get up at 5am? I have absolutely no idea why.’

She put her bowl down on the bench, spilling some milk and Rice Bubbles, and went out into the living room. ‘Seb. The high school bus is coming in ten minutes and you still don’t have shoes on.’

‘Is it because her granddad works an early shift?’ I asked.

‘Who?’ Mum gave me another look. I felt bad. First thing in the morning was not Mum’s best time of day, and especially when Seb and Ava were making everyone late.

‘I’ll get it sorted for you.’ I ran into Seb’s room, found his shoes and took them out to him. Then I ran back to Ava’s room and shook her awake. ‘You’ve got to get up. It’s school today.’

‘Noooo-oooo …’ She grabbed her pillow and rolled over so her face was buried in it, but I swiped it out of her hands and her head landed on the mattress. ‘Ow, Maddi-eeee …’

‘Get up, Ava. You have to.’

‘I don’t.’

I didn’t bother answering. Instead I grabbed her doona, ripped it off the bed, left it on the floor, and walked out of her room.

‘Muu-uuum …’ came a whine behind me, but I ignored it. I whipped my own clothes on and brushed my hair quickly, and then pushed Seb out the door with his bag, his hat and his shoes on his feet, and came back to the kitchen.

‘Want a cup of tea, Mum?’

She looked at me with gratitude. ‘Oh, yes please, darling.’

I boiled the kettle and found a tea bag in the cupboard. ‘Sit, Mum. So, does Tahlia get up early because her grandad does shift work?’

Mum looked confused again, but then I put her tea in front of her and she seemed to relax. ‘I suppose so,’ she said. ‘Yes, actually, he does. That’s probably the reason.’

I thought for a moment. ‘So who helps her get ready in the morning?’

Mum shrugged. ‘I don’t know. Maybe no-one. I heard her cousin moved away. She’s all grown up now, so it’s just Tahlia and her grandpa.

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