Rory by Jacky Gray

Author:Jacky Gray [Gray, Jacky]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2015-07-08T22:00:00+00:00

18 Robin Hood

Everything about this place was different from Archer’s previous two foster homes; reflecting Penny’s diverse, esoteric interests. The mantelpiece in his bedroom held a glitter-enhanced painting of twilight in a fairy grotto next to an old and battered plastic badge with the motto “Make love, not war.” Then came a broken corn dolly, a statue of Buddha and an exquisitely crafted silver bell, which tinkled magically when shaken.

Archer preferred the objects that brought nature into the room: unusually shaped stones, beautiful sea shells, pieces of bark and gnarled twigs, even branches. Some were carved or polished to bring out their beauty; others lay as they would have in their normal environment, any cracks or crevices still housing earth, moss or lichen. It was obvious that Penny felt the same connection to earthly objects that his people did. For the first time since he had entered this different world, Archer began to feel at peace.

It was not destined to last long. “The girls” Penny had spoken of, were sisters Mandy and Kellie who were caught up in a messy divorce. They spent most of their time at Penny’s, but stayed with their grandparents occasionally and would continue to do so until the courts decided the final outcome. This upheaval meant their behaviour was extreme and usually obnoxious, hence their placement with Penny, who was known to run a tight ship.

Sixteen-year-old Mandy had shaved off all her hair apart from a central stripe which was dyed bright pink and gelled into stiff peaks in the Mohican style. He was intrigued by the ugliness, finding out from the internet that it was a hairstyle favoured by a tribe of warriors living in America several centuries earlier. It also explained why her face was obscured with the matching war paint. Kellie was two years younger and dressed completely in black, with messy black hair and a white face in the Goth style. Archer didn’t have a clue how to deal with them; they were like nothing he had ever met.

‘Watcha lookin’ at, gorgeous?’ Mandy’s first words caught him at a disadvantage because he had been staring.

‘I’m not sure, the label’s fallen off.’ He used a phrase from an old TV show that made him laugh.

‘Aw Gawd Kell, we’ve got us a right comedian here, pretty tasty one, though.’ She spanned his upper arm with her hands. ‘Feel the muscle on that. You must work out every day.’

‘I do work every day. At school and in the house, but the muscle comes from …’ he hesitated, he was about to say from practising with the bow, but after the last load of trouble it was probably better not to mention it.

‘Gor blimey, listen to Mr Posh Pants. Mummy and Daddy send you to public school did they?’

He was baffled by their behaviour and said the first thing that came into his head. ‘My real parents are dead.’

‘Ain’t you the lucky one? I wish mine were. Stupid prats haven’t got a clue about anything and they spend all their time knocking seven bells out of each other.

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