The Mystery of Me by Karen McCombie

Author:Karen McCombie
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Barrington Stoke Ltd
Published: 2022-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

Since the accident, the doctors have looked at me as a patient.

My parents have watched me like I’m made of glass.

Kids at school stare like I’m an alien.

But Otis … Otis has just seen me at my most exposed – and compared me to the coolest movie heroine in years.

I’m so happy I could hug him – but that might be just a bit too weird.

I like the way he looks interested, not horrified.

CHAPTER 6

The key starts turning

It’s Day Five, Friday.

I’m tired, but I’m nearly there. One week down, and then it’s the weekend and I can have a rest.

I’m outside Maryam the counsellor’s office, and Adele and Urmi have just this second walked away.

A voice calls out – “Hey, Ketty!” – and I see Otis hurrying over.

“Hi!” I say, grinning at my new friend.

“Listen, do you know Daisy Weston?” he asks.

I think hard about the name, but it’s no good. I can’t remember who that is.

“No, sorry,” I tell him.

“Don’t be sorry!” Otis says with his easy smile. “The thing is, it’s Daisy’s birthday tomorrow, and she’s going to have a big picnic in the park to celebrate. Loads of people in our year will be there.”

Not me or Adele or Urmi, I think. We haven’t been invited.

“I’m going, and I … well, I just wondered if you wanted to come with me?” Otis asks.

I’m blushing. Is he asking me out? Or just asking me along? I know there’s a difference. A BIG difference.

“Um, yes, sure,” I say, and all of a sudden I’m shy. “I better go in – I’m late for my appointment …”

“No worries,” Otis says. “How about I meet you by the cafe in the park at two tomorrow afternoon?”

“Sure, yeah,” I mumble, then I turn to knock-knock at Maryam’s door.

“Are you OK, Ketty?” she asks as soon as I’m inside. “You look as if you’re a bit shocked about something!”

“Um, I think I’m going to a sort of party tomorrow afternoon,” I say as I sit down. “A big picnic for someone’s birthday. With my friend Otis.”

“That sounds fun,” Maryam says. “Seems as if you’ve settled back into school life really well.”

“I … I suppose so,” I reply. “But, I mean, I’m so tired, and a lot of it isn’t making sense.”

“Well, maybe you shouldn’t go along to the party. It’s great to be invited, but parties can be very tiring. Are you ready for that?” Maryam asks. “You don’t have to rush things. You’ve taken some really big steps this week …” she goes on.

I start to zone out and then—

BLAM!

A picture slams into my mind. I’m standing at the top of three deep metal steps – steps up to a coach. Outside, the sun shines on a grassy meadow, and butterflies dance around. I’m standing there at the top of those steps, about to go down, and I have the most amazing sense of … what’s the word?

JOY.

That’s it!

“Ketty?” Maryam says. “Are you OK?”

“It’s OK,” I tell her. “I just remembered something about the school trip, about the day of the crash.

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