My Name Was Eden by Eleanor Barker-White

Author:Eleanor Barker-White
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2024-02-27T00:00:00+00:00

26

“You stabbed him with a compass?”

Eden stares out of the window. Mrs. Ford leans forward in her chair slightly, and places both forearms on the table in front of us. She looks too young to be doing this job. Beside her, the head teacher—Mr. Turley—clears his throat. “So far, Eden hasn’t given either of us a satisfactory explanation as to why this happened,” he says disapprovingly. “Which is a great shame, as she’s been doing exceptionally well in classes, from what I hear. But I am going to have to suspend her until Wednesday.”

I turn to Eden. “Why did you do it?”

When she doesn’t reply, I persist. “Is it to do with what happened to Gran?”

I’m clutching at straws here, offering a perverse get-out clause, for my benefit as much as hers. See? My child is not a mystery, she is not deranged. Just grieving.

“No,” Eden says, looking completely baffled at the suggestion. “I was protecting Charlie. That’s what best friends do.”

“I’m not sure Alex’s parents saw it that way,” Mr. Turley says. “I’m sorry for your loss. However, I’m sure you can understand that the safeguarding of all students is our priority.”

In the car afterwards, Eden is silent. “I don’t know where to start,” I say. I’m too wound up to have this conversation now but I do it anyway. “What the hell was that all about? A compass? I just . . . I can’t . . .”

“Don’t, then,” Eden says.

“Don’t what?”

“If you don’t know where to start, don’t start.”

I tell her I’m taking her phone. It doesn’t make much difference. Eden continues to track the passing scenery out of the window, completely unmoved.

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