The Million Pieces of Neena Gill by Emma Smith-Barton

Author:Emma Smith-Barton [Smith-Barton, Emma]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Published: 2019-07-09T16:00:00+00:00

I send a quick message to Josh too, while I’ve got the chance, thanking him again for earlier. Then I make my way to the kitchen.

I pause in the hallway. Mum and Dad’s voices are raised. Something’s wrong.

‘… but what else can we do?’ Dad is saying.

‘I know, but is it really the answer? Maybe we should be getting her help here? Maybe … we should get someone in, to pray for her?’

I freeze. I’m not exactly sure what they’re on about, but I know they’re talking about me. I push myself up against the wall and move a little closer to the kitchen door to hear them more clearly.

‘I don’t know,’ Dad says. ‘I’ve tried taking her to church. I pray for her every day. Everyone’s praying for her.’

‘But does she pray? Do we need some direct prayer – on her?’

A shiver runs through me. Prayer, on me? What exactly do they think is wrong?

‘We can keep praying, and sure, let’s get someone over, but we also need to do something,’ Dad says. ‘Saleem says it will help.’

I like Dad’s friend, Uncle Saleem. I’ve always thought he’d make a great Father Christmas if only his skin was white instead of brown. He’s got the perfect belly for it and the laugh too. But what’s this got to do with him?

‘His niece changed completely when they took her there,’ Dad goes on. ‘Neena’s been cheating! Most of her grades are poor. And all the drinking. What choices are left? Are we going to wait until it’s too late again? Tell me that.’

My face goes hot. So that’s what this is about. They want to change me. ‘Fix’ me somehow. They’re disgusted with me. Mum’s quiet now and I hear pots and pans being moved around. Then she sighs. ‘Maybe you’re right,’ she says. ‘She’s going to be on those tablets her whole life otherwise. Something needs to be done …’

A wave of shame rushes through me. Mum’s changed her mind about loving me. Those tablets in my drawer, that I don’t even take any more, have made her think about me differently. My ears ring, like an alarm going off. And then, after a few moments, it’s quiet again.

‘Neena!’ Mum calls.

I try to think straight. I back away from the door and towards my room, in case Mum comes out to call me again. There, I take deep breaths. I still don’t actually know what Mum and Dad were talking about. But I’m going to find out. I wonder if they want to take me on a pilgrimage or something. Dad went to Lourdes in France once to pray for his mum to be healed of heart disease and she lived for fifteen years after that. He told us that when we were younger and Akash said church was boring.

‘Neena!’ Mum calls again. ‘Dinner’s ready.’

I head towards the kitchen again, ready to find everything out. And to test Mum and Dad. Can I trust them or not? I’m so confused now.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.