School Run by Sophie King

Author:Sophie King [King, Sophie]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Action & Adventure, Fiction
ISBN: 9780340838365
Google: aczhTuomQfEC
Amazon: 0340838361
Goodreads: 1636666
Publisher: Hodder Pb
Published: 2005-08-01T18:30:00+00:00

24

NICK

‘One fifth of teenagers between sixteen and eighteen now have a sexually transmitted disease, according to a new report out today . . .’

‘Third gear, not fifth – I said third!’

‘You’re making me nervous, Dad, stop it.’

‘I can’t afford another gearbox, Julie. You’re ruining it.’

‘Well, if you let me practise more, it would be all right.’

She had been like this since she had got up this morning.

To be fair, he’d been tetchy too. They always were on anniversaries, birthdays and at Christmas. Nothing was the same without Juliana. Two years tomorrow. Was that possible? Sometimes it seemed like ten, at others, like last week.

Lately, Amber had suggested counselling for Julie – just as school had done – but she wouldn’t hear of it. ‘I’m not talking to a stranger, Dad. Anyway, I’ve got my friends.’

Nick only wished they didn’t include the spotty Jason, who refused to meet his eyes. He’d been there every day this week when he’d dropped off Julie, waiting to scoop her up. He made Nick’s skin crawl. How far had they gone? How far would Julie let him go? He had tried to discuss safe sex but every time he broached the subject she said, ‘Stop it, Dad. I know about that kind of thing.’

He only hoped she knew more about the pill and condoms than she did about the Highway Code. ‘No, move into the inside lane. That’s better. Now check your mirror. Good.’

If he’d hoped to restore the peace, he had failed. Julie’s beautiful face was scowling, her lip curled in precisely the same way that her mother’s had.

Silence. Unbearable silence. It was worse than the arguments.

‘What have you got on at school today?’ asked Nick, aware that it was a desperate question from a parent who needed to make a gesture of peace.

‘Nothing much.’ Julie’s eyes were fixed firmly ahead. ‘English and geography in the morning. Helping out with sports day in the afternoon.’

‘Sports day!’ Grateful for something he could relate to, Nick pressed on: ‘Don’t you do it yourself?’

Julie gave him a withering look. ‘Dad, I’m too old! I help the younger ones – it’s part of my Sports Leaders’ Certificate. I told you.’

Of course. Too old for sports day. Too old to tell him how she was really feeling, two years after her mother’s death. And too young for a serious boyfriend – at least, in his view. Nick’s heart lurched. He’d give anything to go back to the days when he and Juliana had gone together to Julie’s sports day. They’d hold hands at the side of the track. She’d lean her head on his shoulder and he’d kiss her neck. Once they almost missed Julie cross the finishing line. Julie, with her plaits and the smile that said nothing would ever go wrong in her life.

Nick rubbed his eyes. He had to go forward and blank out memories like that or he’d go mad.

‘They might need some more dads for the fathers’ race, if you’re up to it.’ Now her eyes twinkled mischievously.

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