Taking Flight by Julia; Green, Jane Cope Page A

Grandad’s pigeons, he thinks, just before he falls asleep.

Chapter Two
    â€œI don’t feel well,” Luke tells Mum at breakfast.
    â€œWhat’s wrong?” she says.
    â€œI feel sick.”
    â€œWell, we’ll just have to hope you don’t get any worse,” she says. “I’ve got a busy day. I can’t stay at home. I’m sorry, Luke.”
    â€œI could stay with Grandad,” Luke says, hopefully.
    â€œNo,” Mum says. “Grandad needs time to rest. It’s enough for him having you after school every day.”
    â€œHe
likes
having me,” Luke says. “He says it’s the highlight of his day!”
    But Mum is already getting the car keys and her coat.
    Most of Luke’s class are in the middle of a football game in the playground when he arrives at the gate. He stands next to Mira and watches Sam and Marek dribbling the ball like professionals. Marek scores a goal.
    â€œWhat are you doing for your talk?” Mira asks him.
    Luke shrugs. “Nothing,” he says. “I forgot.”

    They start doing the talks after lunch. Luke feels sicker and sicker. What is he going to do? Mira talks about going to India for her aunty’s wedding. She shows the class the sequinned sari she wore. Marek talks about the Junior League – he’s goalie. Joe’s talk is about the newts he has in his garden pond. The newts have little hands.

    Luke wonders about having a pond in Grandad’s garden, with newts. The whole class clap when each person finishes. It’s not so bad, after all, Luke thinks. It’s fun listening to everyone.

    Luke watches the clock.
Tick
.
Tick
. Nearly there.
Tick Tick
. Home time!
    â€œI’m sorry, children,” Mrs Hill says. “We’ll have to save the last four talks for tomorrow.”
    YES! Luke thinks. Now he’s got time to get a really good talk ready. He imagines everyone listening and clapping.
    He tells Grandad what he’s decided. “Tomorrow I’m giving a talk about your pigeons.”
    â€œGood lad,” Grandad says. “Maple syrup or lemon and sugar for your pancakes?”

    Luke has both. So does Grandad. Luke remembers to help do the washing-up. Grandad has a sleep in the deckchair. He sleeps for ages, so Luke feeds the pigeons and lets them out for their fly around.
    â€œI’m going to tell everyone at school about you tomorrow,” he tells them as they perch on the cage edge, ready for takeoff.

    They tip their heads and look at him with their beady eyes. The pigeons fly off with a swoop of wings. Two feathers flutter down. Luke picks them up. He can take them in to show his class.

    He watches the birds spiral above the gardens in bigger and bigger circles, and then veer off over the street. Maybe they are flying over the school. Perhaps Grandad would let them out when he did his talk, so everyone could see.
    Luke goes over to ask him. But Grandad looks strange. His face is grey. He’s shivering.
    â€œGive us a hand in, lad,” Grandad says.
    Luke makes him a cup of tea but he doesn’t drink it.

    â€œI think we’d better get your mum here,” Grandad says. Luke phones her mobile.
    â€œI’m on my way,” she says. “Keep him warm. Call the doctor if he gets worse.”
    Luke brings a blanket downstairs and tucks it round Grandad. He sits by him. Grandad strokes his hand. They watch the TV till Mum arrives.
    She phones the doctor. The doctor says they need to get an ambulance. Grandad gets bundled into the ambulance. Mum and Luke follow in the car.
    At the hospital, Luke has to wait on a chair in a corridor for ages. He suddenly remembers the pigeons. They will need shutting back in their cages safe for the night. He tells Mum when she comes back.
    â€œGrandad needs to stay in hospital tonight,” she says. “Come and see him before we go.”
    Grandad is lying in a bed. The white sheets make his face look grey.