sag. I had no idea what Chronic Fatigue Syndrome was but it
didn’t sound too awful. ‘Fatigue is just tiredness, isn’t it?’ I asked.
‘Yeah. It basically means I’m tired all the time.’
I knew that already. ‘So did he tell you when you’ll be better? Do you have to take medicine?’
‘He gave me some pills to take.’ She didn’t exactly sound cheerful about it.
‘That’s good, isn’t it? When are you coming back to school?’
‘I don’t know. I am actually feeling a bit better at the moment.’
‘Fantastic. Because Mr Champion has decided that he can’t rest until we all know the many fascinating ways of joining two bits of wood together and I need you there to share in the
good times.’
She smiled. ‘Can’t wait for that. How was rehearsal?’
‘Mr Garcia said that if Bartek and I start using the brains and the lungs nature gave us there’s a glimmer of hope that we might not entirely embarrass ourselves at the
concert.’
‘Wow. That’s practically a hug coming from him. You two must be his favourites.’
‘Bartek said that if Mr Garcia starts using his lungs we’d better all take shelter because his shouting will blow our heads off.’
‘That’s pretty funny.’
‘He is funny. You’d like him. And he’s so upbeat. He always makes rehearsals fun.’ I couldn’t help adding, ‘I wish you were there.’
‘Me too.’ She looked sad and I felt like an idiot because I was supposed to be cheering her up.
‘There’s always the spring concert next term,’ I said.
‘Yeah, maybe.’
There was another pause. I’d never had to think this hard about what to say to Lauren before.
‘So . . .’ I started. I was going to tell her about what Iron Hair had said to Jasveen when she saw her running in the corridor, but then I thought that maybe I ought to be asking
more about what was going on with Lauren. ‘Did the doctor tell you what the recovery time is from this syndrome thing?’
Lauren stood up and threw herself on to the bed. ‘Never mind all that stuff. Tell me what Cute Josh has been doing.’
In the end, we had a really good chat about almost everything except Lauren’s health. I told her about Mr Champion’s toxic new aftershave and how Cute Josh had worn his hair parted
on the other side, and she showed me the bracelet her dad had sent her from his latest business trip. Lauren’s mum didn’t interrupt us or tell me it was time to go, even though I stayed
until eight thirty.
That night, I went to bed feeling happy. Lauren wasn’t dying. She had a diagnosis now and some pills to help her. I was doing quite well at being less snappy with people.
Singing with Bartek was good fun and our duet was coming along nicely. All I wanted was for Lauren to come back to school and then everything would be perfect.
Usually, Saturday is my favourite day of the week, but recently, without Lauren to hang out with, they’ve all been a bit of a disappointment. By half past ten, Lucy was
back from her ballet lesson and practising flying leaps in the Pit because she was hoping to get them high enough to knock Madame Donna’s glasses off next week. Ella had gone to the fabulous
Crystal’s house and Chloe was kicking a ball about in the garden. Mum was planning lessons at the table in the sitting room and I was slumped on the sofa. I was the only one without anything
to do. Fantastic.
‘I am so bored,’ I sighed.
‘I’m sorry to hear that, love,’ Mum said. ‘Why don’t you visit Lauren?’
‘I rang. Her mum says she’s resting and then she’s got to do some schoolwork.’
‘Can’t you go out with your other friends?’
‘Milly and Jasveen have gone to London for the day. I tried Olivia and Bethany, but they’re not answering their phones. They’re probably doing something together because
they’re best friends. Everybody is in pairs, and even when they let me tag along, my best friend is missing and it isn’t the same.’
‘If it’s any
didn’t sound too awful. ‘Fatigue is just tiredness, isn’t it?’ I asked.
‘Yeah. It basically means I’m tired all the time.’
I knew that already. ‘So did he tell you when you’ll be better? Do you have to take medicine?’
‘He gave me some pills to take.’ She didn’t exactly sound cheerful about it.
‘That’s good, isn’t it? When are you coming back to school?’
‘I don’t know. I am actually feeling a bit better at the moment.’
‘Fantastic. Because Mr Champion has decided that he can’t rest until we all know the many fascinating ways of joining two bits of wood together and I need you there to share in the
good times.’
She smiled. ‘Can’t wait for that. How was rehearsal?’
‘Mr Garcia said that if Bartek and I start using the brains and the lungs nature gave us there’s a glimmer of hope that we might not entirely embarrass ourselves at the
concert.’
‘Wow. That’s practically a hug coming from him. You two must be his favourites.’
‘Bartek said that if Mr Garcia starts using his lungs we’d better all take shelter because his shouting will blow our heads off.’
‘That’s pretty funny.’
‘He is funny. You’d like him. And he’s so upbeat. He always makes rehearsals fun.’ I couldn’t help adding, ‘I wish you were there.’
‘Me too.’ She looked sad and I felt like an idiot because I was supposed to be cheering her up.
‘There’s always the spring concert next term,’ I said.
‘Yeah, maybe.’
There was another pause. I’d never had to think this hard about what to say to Lauren before.
‘So . . .’ I started. I was going to tell her about what Iron Hair had said to Jasveen when she saw her running in the corridor, but then I thought that maybe I ought to be asking
more about what was going on with Lauren. ‘Did the doctor tell you what the recovery time is from this syndrome thing?’
Lauren stood up and threw herself on to the bed. ‘Never mind all that stuff. Tell me what Cute Josh has been doing.’
In the end, we had a really good chat about almost everything except Lauren’s health. I told her about Mr Champion’s toxic new aftershave and how Cute Josh had worn his hair parted
on the other side, and she showed me the bracelet her dad had sent her from his latest business trip. Lauren’s mum didn’t interrupt us or tell me it was time to go, even though I stayed
until eight thirty.
That night, I went to bed feeling happy. Lauren wasn’t dying. She had a diagnosis now and some pills to help her. I was doing quite well at being less snappy with people.
Singing with Bartek was good fun and our duet was coming along nicely. All I wanted was for Lauren to come back to school and then everything would be perfect.
Usually, Saturday is my favourite day of the week, but recently, without Lauren to hang out with, they’ve all been a bit of a disappointment. By half past ten, Lucy was
back from her ballet lesson and practising flying leaps in the Pit because she was hoping to get them high enough to knock Madame Donna’s glasses off next week. Ella had gone to the fabulous
Crystal’s house and Chloe was kicking a ball about in the garden. Mum was planning lessons at the table in the sitting room and I was slumped on the sofa. I was the only one without anything
to do. Fantastic.
‘I am so bored,’ I sighed.
‘I’m sorry to hear that, love,’ Mum said. ‘Why don’t you visit Lauren?’
‘I rang. Her mum says she’s resting and then she’s got to do some schoolwork.’
‘Can’t you go out with your other friends?’
‘Milly and Jasveen have gone to London for the day. I tried Olivia and Bethany, but they’re not answering their phones. They’re probably doing something together because
they’re best friends. Everybody is in pairs, and even when they let me tag along, my best friend is missing and it isn’t the same.’
‘If it’s any
Similar Books
