Phosphorescence by Raffaella Barker

Author:Raffaella Barker
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Published: 2014-03-03T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

Three days before the party I have the hugest spot in the history of humankind on my nose.

‘What spot?’ says Mum when I charge into her bedroom to ask for something to cover it up.

‘Mu-um,’ I wail. ‘Please don’t pretend you can’t see it.’

Mum is drying her hair. Her room is warm and bright with the radio on and the window open to let in the scent of the blossom tree which is in flower in the garden behind our flat.

Her room is much quieter than mine. I never open my window. I got used to it when it was jammed shut, and even now it’s mended, I don’t bother; it seems pointless because the street below is so loud and dirty. Mum turns off the hairdryer and goes to her dressing table where she pulls open a drawer.

‘Here, try this. It is hardly noticeable – I promise.’ She dabs something on my nose and looks at me, right up close so I am reflected in her eyes. It’s funny how if you look at a pair of eyes on their own without taking in the whole face, they could be anyone’s. Mum’s are so clear and brown, with the whites almost blue, that you would think they were a child’s eyes. Then she smiles and her pupils blur as she comes and kisses me. ‘You’ll be fine, no one will notice, and—’ She is interrupted by the phone ringing. She answers it.

Her face tightens.

‘Oh, hello.’

Pause.

‘Yes, I see. You must talk to her yourself.’

I know it must be Dad.

‘Lola, darling—’

Dad doesn’t call me darling, so that’s odd for a start. Somehow I don’t want to hear what he is about to say, so I rush on, which is what I always do with Dad if I can.

‘Hi, Dad, Did you get my message about the terns?’

‘Yes, but—’

‘I’ve got to go to school now, you know.’ I have to pause, because it is time to go, and I haven’t let him say what he was going to. He coughs and continues, talking over me.

‘I thought I’d better ring before you left. I wanted to see if you could change your plans and come home this weekend instead of next?’

This is the excuse I need not to go to the party, but now I have it I’m not so sure I want it.

‘Why? I’ve been asked to a party in London this weekend, and I’ve been really looking forward to it.’ God, I am such a liar. I didn’t want to go at all until this moment. ‘And I’ve made loads of plans for next weekend in Norfolk with Nell and people. And I’m going to help Grandma with Jack’s birthday. That’s why we set it for next weekend, Dad.’

Mum is rolling her eyes and looking at her watch. Dad sounds exasperated.

‘Well, I think Grandma and Jack would like you to come this weekend instead now. He’s had another fall and the doctor thinks it’s a minor stroke. Seeing you cheers him up so much.

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