Twenty-Four Hours by Margaret Mahy

Author:Margaret Mahy [ Mahy, Margaret]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9780007439744
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2011-10-15T04:00:00+00:00

11.10 am – Saturday

They jumped over the low stone wall into Moncrieff Street and set off for the Land-of-Smiles, Ursa hurrying after her sister, but continually glancing over her shoulder at Jackie.

“Have you and Winston really had a go at each other?” she asked at last.

“Words only,” Jackie replied in a slightly subdued voice. “I thought it finished on fairly good terms. I mean, he didn’t beat me up or anything.”

“The thing is,” said Ursa, “he could be counting you and me as an item. He could have decided to get at you through us. And if they’ve grabbed Shelley, there mightn’t be much we can do about it. I mean it’s always been – well, an informal arrangement, hasn’t it?”

“Shelley’s mine,” cried Leona. “Ours!” she added.

“She only seems like ours,” said Ursa. “And you know how keen those Children’s and Young People’s workers are on the natural right of the birth mother. Oh, well, we’ll check them out.” She came to a sudden stop. “Oh, shit!” she exclaimed. “No car! Monty’s old wreck is off the road.”

“We could walk there,” began Jackie doubtfully. But then his eyes swivelled towards Ellis. “Salvation!” he cried, pointing. And suddenly all three of them were looking at him with various kinds of supplication.

Without quite knowing it, Ellis found that a definite agenda had been forming in the back of his mind. He had been planning to find a lavatory where he could vomit up the coffee he had recently drunk. He had also planned to drive home. After accepting criticism from his mother over the terrible state of her car (though he might counter her inevitable anger by pointing out his own good judgement in not driving home the night before), he planned to shower, climb into a clean bed and to sleep until late afternoon. Ursa seemed to detect something of these private ambitions flitting over his face.

“You owe us for a room for the night and a cup of coffee,” she said. “Plus all that free booze.”

“You got it back again. I threw it all up,” said Ellis with a slight smile. He felt this comment was worthy of Jackie himself.

“You had the fun of it, though,” said Ursa ruthlessly, “and it’s not as if we can recycle it.”

Ellis felt his stomach twitch and tighten.

“Oh, please,” said Leona. “Just hurry!”

“Well, OK then,” said Ellis weakly. “Is it far?”

“Not if you’ve got wheels,” said Ursa. “And then you can flick us away like used socks.”

“No, I don’t want to do that,” began Ellis. “I want to help. I’d better ring my mother, though.”

“Leave it until later,” said Jackie quickly. “She’ll talk you out of it.”

“My mum’s a good sort,” said Ellis, looking at Leona, not Jackie or Ursa. He could see that she had been crying as she walked between the gravestones to Moncrieff Street.

“OK,” he said wearily. “It won’t take long, will it?”

“Not with a car,” said Ursa. “Come on, let’s go!”

Leona’s eyes may have been red-rimmed, but the smile she directed at him was the smile of an angel – a grateful smile promising future blessings.

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