Just Like Everyone Else by Sarah Hagger-Holt

Author:Sarah Hagger-Holt
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Usborne Publishing Ltd

Chapter Twelve

Atif has come good on his promise.

“Here, Daisy, Evie, one for each of you. Can you hold them nice and steady all the way there?” he says, leaning through the back door of the car and balancing a tin of iced lemon cupcakes on each twin’s lap. They both have their serious faces on, concentrating hard on keeping the cakes absolutely still. I am squashed in the middle between the two booster seats. I am tempted to open one of the tins and take a cupcake, but the twins are guarding them so fiercely that I wouldn’t get away with it.

The boot’s full of cakes and biscuits. We spent all day yesterday making them. Auntie Jo did a run and came back before we’d even finished the first two batches. It was fun, despite Bells bossing us all around, but I’d still rather have been out running. We’ve also packed Jack’s signs, some collecting tins and, as promised, a fold-up chair for Mum. There’s not space for all of us in our car today with all the extra stuff packed in – there’s barely room for me to cram my kit under my feet – so Bells and Lily are going with Justin and Atif. Jack’s mum is taking Jack, Chloe and Auntie Jo.

“Go on, it’ll be fun,” I hear Bells saying to Justin in her most charming voice. “What’s the point of having a convertible if you don’t take the roof off?” It’s starting to drizzle, so I don’t think he’s going to say yes. I just hope their flash car doesn’t get too covered in mud.

I feel awkward turning up with so many people in tow. It’s normally just me at a race or, at most, Mum or Dad dropping me off and then waving goodbye without getting out of the car. They’re pretty low key events anyway.

I lean forward and whisper to Dad as he settles behind the wheel. “You’re not to be embarrassing, okay?”

Dad pretends to be offended. “Here I am to support my only son, to cheer him on, show him how proud I am of him and all he’s worried about is me embarrassing him.”

“Yeah, exactly, so don’t. It’s a race, not primary school sports day.”

“Those were good days,” says Dad. “Remember them parents’ races? I was a bit faster on my feet back then…”

“Yes, I do remember them,” I say quickly. “That’s what I’m talking about. Just keep a low profile today, okay? You can be as embarrassing as you like at Chloe, Evie and Daisy’s sports days, just not today.”

“All right. Your mum and Jo will keep me out of trouble anyway. We’ll be right busy, what with all those cakes we’ve got to sell, and keeping an eye on your little sisters.” His eyes meet mine in the rear-view mirror. “Seriously though, I am proud of you, you know that, don’t you? Not just with your running. This cake sale business, all your idea.”

I hope he’s not going to start a heart-to-heart, especially when it’s almost time to go.

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