The Disconnect by Keren David

Author:Keren David
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781781128893
Publisher: Barrington Stoke

At lunch‑time, I remember Maura and look around for her. She’s sitting on her own in a far corner of the playground, eating a sandwich and reading a book. I nudge Natalie.

“Look, Maura,” I say. “All on her own.”

“So what?” Natalie says.

“Well, couldn’t we go and keep her company?” I suggest.

“What and hear more about life without a smart phone?” Natalie moans. “Listen, Esther, don’t go weird on me here. We’re doing this to get money and buy better phones, OK? And clothes and make‑up and stuff.”

“And a ticket to New York,” I remind her.

“That Maura shouldn’t even be allowed to take part in The Disconnect,” Natalie says. “She said it herself. She’s got nothing to disconnect from.”

“She seemed really nice though,” I say. “And a bit lonely.”

“Well, you go if you want to. I’m going to talk to Tommy. Look, River’s with him.”

There is no way that I’m going over there with Natalie, who’s so keen on Tommy that it’s a bit embarrassing. Also, I’m kind of annoyed that she thinks she can give me permission to spend time with Maura. I make my own decisions.

“OK,” I say to Natalie. “Say hi from me.” And before she can reply, I’m walking towards Maura. I can imagine Nat’s face – her eyes, like lasers, shooting holes in my back.

It’s not that Natalie’s very bossy or I’m especially quiet. It’s just that we’ve been friends since we were nine, and Natalie is the sort of person that you keep being friends with because you hear what she says about her enemies.

Not seeing Natalie online, not seeing her comments – it’s been a relief. And I’ve managed fine without taking six pictures of myself every day to send to her for approval before I leave the house.

In fact, maybe I’d rather stay Disconnected from Natalie for longer than six weeks.

By the time I reach Maura and sit down next to her, Natalie’s with Tommy and River. She’s laughing, touching River’s arm, glancing over at me. I refuse to imagine what she’s saying.

“Hey,” I say to Maura. “Hope you don’t mind me sitting here.”

“Not at all,” she says. “Thanks for Friday. I love your cafe.”

“Oh well, it’s my mum and stepdad’s, not mine. It was nice to see it full of people.”

“Isn’t it normally?” Maura asks.

I explain about the toxic review.

“I can tell people about it,” says Maura, “like my parents. And my grandparents.”

“Thanks, Maura,” I say.

“And couldn’t you advertise?”

“They tried that,” I tell her. “But I think people look the cafe up online first.”

“Annoying,” she says. “I’ll think about it. I’m sure there must be a way. How are you coping without a phone? What’s the worst thing?”

I explain about Rosa and Zack and Dad in New York, and she sympathises. I tell her about the postcards, and she says she knows a good shop for cards, just up the road in Stroud Green, and maybe we could go there together after school. Then the bell goes and we walk across the playground together.

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