The Blue Horse by Marita Conlon-McKenna

Author:Marita Conlon-McKenna [Marita Conlon-McKenna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781847174680
Publisher: The O'Brien Press
Published: 2012-10-15T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

SEPTEMBER

Mam talked to one or two of the neighbours and to Miss O’Gorman to get advice about school. The social worker agreed that James Searson was a fair and sensible man. Twins were often split up so maybe it would be for the best. She gave Katie the application forms for the Community School but Katie wasn’t that much bothered. Tom was staying home, maybe she would too.

The first day of September was on top of them before they knew it. Brian was all excited and Miss O’Gorman surprised him with a vivid blue schoolbag that strapped over his shoulders and a grey school jumper and tie. Paddy went off into the bedroom in a huff.

When Mam walked with Brian down to the national school, half the neighbourhood seemed to be heading in the same direction. Brian was very nervous, but relaxed a bit when some of his football pals fell into step with him.

Mam came back almost sick with worry, but praying that Brian would be okay.

Half-an-hour later a red and grey bus stopped almost outside the door. The driver, a burly red-faced man, got out holding a list in his hands. Paddy and Hannah were the only two from their road going.

Mam and Katie went out to the bus with them. About eight other children were on it already. Hannah was crying a bit and showing all the signs of getting herself in a right state. Mam was trying to hurry her along.

‘Come on, I haven’t got all morning, Missus,’ said the driver. ‘Tell her to make up her mind if she’s coming or going. I have another twenty at least to pick up.’

Hannah looked over at Katie beseechingly. ‘Katie, come with me, please.’

Katie hesitated. She had barely washed herself this morning she had been so busy getting the rest of them ready. She had brushed Hannah’s hair and picked out two green clips, one for each side.

‘First day is it?’ the driver said, a little more kindly. ‘The older girl can come if she wants to, but she’ll have to walk back.’

‘Please, please, Katie. I want you to see our school. Please come, just this morning.’

Mam nodded in agreement and Katie jumped up and grabbed a seat beside Hannah. Hannah always got her own way in the end, where Katie was concerned.

The bus journey was fairly long. They turned back onto the main road and then into a neighbouring estate, where about ten young travellers got on. They seemed to know the other children on the bus and just ignored the newcomers. The bus called to a halting site and seven more youngsters got on, their parents waving goodbye from the three trailers parked on the concrete yard. One of the boys, a cheeky fellow with a mop of blond curls pushed in beside Paddy and was trying to chat to him. The last call was to a roadside. Behind a clump of hedgerow, a caravan roof peeped through, then two little girls appeared out of nowhere and climbed up on the bus.

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