“No. It was horrible, and I want to go home.”
“Oh, Lucy, I’m sorry.” Her mum looked at her anxiously. “I’m sure it’ll get better, honestly. You just need to take a few days to get used to everything.” She sighed, and then said in a cheerful voice, “I thought we’d walk back, it’s not far. Kieran wanted to go by himself, so you and I can see if we spot any nice parks on the way home.”
“Not there, home. I want to go back to our old house, and my proper school. I hate it here! No one likes me!” Lucy wailed. “I miss Ellie, and all my friends!”
Mum sighed again. “Lucy, your dad and I have explained this. We had to move. Dad’s job is here now, and if we lived in our old house, he’d have to spend hours getting to work. We’d never see him. You wouldn’t like that, would you?”
Lucy shook her head, and sniffed, trying not to cry where loads of people from school would see her. “I know,” she whispered. “But it’s really horrible here.”
Her mum put an arm around her shoulder. “I know it’s hard, sweetheart. But I promise it will get better. We’ll just have to do lots of fun things to cheer you up.”
Lucy rubbed her sleeve across her eyes. She couldn’t believe she had to go back tomorrow.
Chapter Two
Lucy stared out of the classroom window, trying not to catch anyone’s eye. She’d been at her new school for nearly a week now, but she still hadn’t settled in. She couldn’t forget the way Orla had talked about her. The awful thing was, Lucy knew she probably had seemed stuck-up and unfriendly, and all those things Orla had said. But it still seemed unfair. Didn’t they know how lonely she was? Couldn’t they see how difficult it was being the new girl? At least it’s Friday, Lucy thought.
“Hey! Pssst…”
Lucy jumped slightly as someone prodded her hand. She looked up, confused. The pretty red-haired girl who sat across the table from her in her maths group had poked her with a pencil.
“Mrs Walker’s watching you,” the red-haired girl whispered. “If you weren’t new, she’d have had a go at you by now. You’ve been looking out of the window for ages and we’re supposed to be drawing that hexagon shape. Are you stuck? Do you need a rubber or something?”
Lucy shook her head, and gave her a tiny smile. “I’m OK, thanks,” she whispered back, glancing quickly over at Mrs Walker. It was true – the teacher was looking her way. She bent her head over her book, suddenly feeling a little less miserable. Maybe there were some nice people in her new class after all.
When the bell rang for break, Lucy watched as the red-haired girl wandered out of the classroom with a group of other girls, all chatting excitedly. Maybe she should say something to her? But that would mean going up to her in front of the whole group. She would have to try to say something interesting, or just hang around on the edge of the circle until someone noticed her. She couldn’t face that, what if they all ignored her? Lucy gave a little shudder and stayed put. She’d go to the school library. Like she had every other day this week.
The next morning, Lucy lay in bed, hugging Stripy, and feeling grateful that she didn’t have to drag herself out to get ready for school. She’d tried to go back to sleep, but it wasn’t working. She sighed, and looked round her room. So far she hadn’t even bothered to unpack all her boxes. She was still hoping that somehow things would change and they could go home, but the hope was draining away with every day they stayed.
Kieran wasn’t helping, either. He was loving his new school, and last night he’d spent most of dinner time talking enthusiastically about going to play football with some really cool new mates he’d made already. Mum was really excited about all the decorating that needed doing, and Dad had started his new job… Only Lucy was desperate to go back to their old home.
“Lucy! Hey!” It was Kieran, banging on her door.
Lucy ignored him, but he didn’t go away. “Lucy! Get up, lazy!” He opened her door a crack, and peered in.
Lucy sat up. “Out! You’re not allowed in my room!”
“OK, OK! But get up. Mum and Dad have got a surprise for you in the kitchen. You’re going to love it!” he called, then thumped off back downstairs again.
A surprise! For a tiny moment Lucy’s heart leaped. They were going home after all! She jumped out of bed and raced down after Kieran.
“Are we going home?” she gasped excitedly, catching him just at the bottom of the stairs.
Kieran gave her a strange look. “Of course not, silly, this is home now.”
Lucy’s shoulders slumped again. She trailed into the kitchen after him.
“Lucy!” Her parents were smiling happily at her, which just made Lucy feel more alone than ever.
“We’ve got a surprise for you, darling. Remember we said you’d have a special treat when we got here?” Mum pointed to a large box on the kitchen table.
Lucy stared dully at it. When her parents told them about the move, they’d said they would get Kieran an iPod, and that they had a special present in mind for Lucy, too. She’d been so sad missing everyone at home that she’d forgotten all about it.
She stared at the box, feeling just the tiniest bit excited. What could be inside? Suddenly the box started squeaking.
Lucy moved closer, curious despite herself. She opened the top flaps, which were attached together to make a sort of handle, and peered in.
Inside the box was the most beautiful creature Lucy had ever seen. A kitten with soft creamy fur, huge blue eyes, a chocolate-brown nose and gorgeously oversized brown ears.
Lucy gasped. A kitten!
The kitten looked anxiously up as the box opened, and mewed. It was a strange noise, almost like a baby crying, and Lucy immediately wanted to pick up the kitten and cuddle it. The kitten seemed to think this was a good idea, too. It stood up, balancing its paws on the side of the box, and shyly put its head over the side, looking up at Lucy with its amazing sapphire-blue eyes. “Wowl?” it asked pleadingly. “Wowl!”
Lucy lifted out the kitten, and it immediately snuggled into her pyjama top and started to purr. “Hello, little one,” she said softly.
“Told you she’d love her,” Lucy’s dad said happily to her mum. “She’s called Sky, Lucy. She’s a Siamese. We know you’ve wanted a kitten for so long, and we think you’re old enough now to look after a cat properly.”
“Yes,” said Mum. “We know how upset you’ve been about us moving to Fairford. But you can’t be miserable with a beautiful kitten to play with, can you?”
Lucy stared at them in disbelief. The kitten was gorgeous, but it was as if her parents thought having a pet would suddenly make everything all right again. Lucy would forget about Ellie and all her friends, her school, her lovely old bedroom, and be happy for ever. Her eyes filled with angry, disappointed tears.
She carefully detached the kitten’s tiny, needle-sharp claws from her pyjamas, and put her back in the box. Then she ran out of the kitchen, her shoulders heaving.
“Lucy!” Mum called after her, her voice shocked.
“Hey, Lucy, what’s the matter?” Kieran said. “Mum, Dad, can I pick the kitten up? It’s really cute, and it’s crying.”
Dad’s voice was worried as he answered. “Yes, give her a cuddle, Kieran. I need to go and talk to Lucy, and find out what’s wrong. I just don’t understand, I was sure she’d be so happy.”
Chapter Three
Lucy’s dad had picked up Sky from the breeder early that morning. Sky had only left home before to go to the vets, and she’d always returned to her familiar room, and the big basket she shared with her mum and her brothers and sisters. Today she’d had to stay in the dark box on her own for ages, and she was so lonely. She wished she could go home, and snuggle up and let her mum lick her fur to make her feel better.