The Runaway Girls by Jacqueline Wilson

Author:Jacqueline Wilson [Wilson, Jacqueline]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781787620643
Publisher: Penguin Random House Children's UK
Published: 2020-12-24T00:00:00+00:00

He knew the words, but he was hopeless at keeping in tune. He croaked like a frog, wavering up and down the scale, though he looked quite sweet standing there, hands clasped, in his blue shirt and braces.

‘You’ll drive the crowds away if you sing like that,’ said Kitty bluntly, with her hands over her ears.

‘Perhaps I could sing the rhyme and you could do a little jig,’ I suggested.

Tommy Magpie tried to oblige, jumping about violently, but with no grace or rhythm whatsoever.

‘Never mind. I could sing this song about a tumbling boy, and you could do a cartwheel or two, Tommy Magpie,’ I said.

‘Yes, I can do cartwheels like a good ’un,’ said Tommy Magpie.

He showed us. Perhaps he thought he was turning splendid cartwheels, but his feet barely left the floor.

‘Haven’t you got any talents whatsoever?’ Kitty asked.

‘Yes, I collect bottles and jars and get pennies for them,’ said Tommy Magpie.

‘Perhaps you could collect the pennies from the crowd while I sing,’ I suggested. ‘You’d be good at that because you look so sweet.’

‘I don’t look sweet,’ said Tommy Magpie, offended, but he agreed to be the money collector.

I decided it was simplest to sing hymns as it was Sunday, and there was no way of demonstrating our novelty songs while Kitty was hunched up in pain. She watched from under the trees while I sang solo and Tommy Magpie collected the tin, stuffing it in the deep pockets of his wide trousers. I was very nervous at first, and sang the first verse of Praise my soul the King of Heaven, to his feet they tribute bring in a timid quaver, but I grew in confidence after that. People seemed to appreciate the hymns and most gave us coins with a smile.

I encouraged Tommy to bow and say thank you kindly as he pocketed the pennies, which went down well. I sang until my voice went husky and Tommy’s pockets were so heavy that his trousers were in danger of falling down, even with his braces on.

‘Look, Kitty!’ I said excitedly, when we had a rest at last. ‘Let’s count how much money we’ve got! I reckon we should give Tommy Magpie half, don’t you? The crowd seem to take a shine to him.’

Kitty shrugged. ‘Any fool can collect the tin,’ she sniffed. ‘Still, do what you like. He’s your little pal, not mine.’

‘You don’t have to be so grumpy,’ I said. ‘What’s the matter with you?’

‘I hurt,’ said Kitty.

I was hurt that she wasn’t pleased with me. I’d thought I’d done so well. I’d earned us lots of money and I must have sung well, because people smiled so. I heard one lady call me a little darling. The only person who had ever called me that before was dear Nurse.

‘I know you hurt, and your wrist and ankle look horribly sore, but there’s no need to be so nasty to me. It’s not my fault you got set upon. You didn’t have to go off on this mysterious errand,’ I said.

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