Everything We Keep, Di Walker [best pdf reader for ebooks txt] 📗

‘It must be for a long time if you had to change schools?’ Cora said. Agatha noted a curious tone creeping into Cora’s voice.

Agatha shrugged. ‘Parents. Can’t work them out.’

The all murmured with agreement.

The conversation of the small group swirled around Agatha. She hadn’t been in a group like this before, where they talked about shopping, the TV shows they watch, their weekend sport teams and how annoying their siblings were. Agatha just listened, trying to find something she knew about that she could comment on. She craved to be just like them.

The bell signalled the end of recess and they moved inside to the lockers. ‘What do we have now?’ Cora asked.

‘English then French,’ said Tully.

‘Oooo la, la,’ said Morgan, another member of their small tightly knit group and whose locker was next to Agatha’s. ‘Tully is the organiser. She knows everything. If you forget something, just ask Tully.’

The small band of new friends surrounded Agatha as they all walked down the corridor to class. For the first time that day, Agatha relaxed and smiled.

22

Katherine had arrived at the school too early. She drove into the car park near reception and got out. It was too hot to sit in the car. When she entered through the doors Stella looked up from behind her desks and smiled. ‘Can I help you?’

‘I thought I’d just wait here; it’s hot outside.’

Stella smiled and returned to what she was doing. Katherine moved to the window and watched as a slow trickle of students began to appear. She was really only looking for one.

Several minutes past before the final bell went. By that time there were students everywhere, heading for the gates, some would walk home, others had bikes, but many got into cars that pulled into the circular carpark and out again.

When Katherine spotted Agatha walking towards her car, she let out a sigh of relief. Beside her was a girl, who, when she reached her own car, gave Agatha a small wave, which Agatha returned.

Katherine moved quickly outside towards Agatha and her car. ‘Good day?’ she said as she approached.

‘Okay, I guess. It’s school.’

Inside the car, doors closed, air conditioner blasting out still warm air, Katherine looked at Agatha. ‘I see you have made a friend.’

‘Remember the girl on the train, Tully?’

‘Really? Well that’s great, isn’t it?’

‘I think so. Katherine, I have homework.’

‘Right. Well that is something I can definitely help you with.’

The house was cool when they walked in through the back door, and Chief was excited to see Agatha back. He circled around her feet as she carefully took each step. Finally, putting her schoolbag down beside the dining table she bent down and picked him up.

‘Did you miss me, Chief?’ She ruffled his head while he tried to lick her face. Katherine placed two tall glassed of lemon water on the table and the jar of homemade biscuits that she had baked that day, to keep herself busy until it was time to collect Agatha.

‘So, what homework do you have?’

‘Not much. Tully gave me her notes from Science to copy because there’s a test next week, Monday, I think. And then I have some Maths questions to finish. Mr Brown gave me a school diary and I copied things from Tully’s diary into it.’

As Agatha unpacked her books onto the table, Katherine watched and took small sips from her glass. With everything out, Agatha sat and organised her books in front of her. She made neat piles, moving each one slightly until they were perfectly lined up. She opened her pencil case and took out some of the contents, again taking time to have them placed in order, the tips all pointing in the same direction and each one evenly spaced. Once it was all done, Agatha touched each book and pen, ruler and eraser again. Katherine watched.

Agatha sat back in her chair and picked up her glass. ‘Okay. I’m ready.’

‘Right. What do you want to do first?’

Agatha shrugged. She looked to Katherine.

‘Well, why don’t we start with the Maths. Then you can do the Science and copy out the notes and ask questions if you need to.’

‘Okay.’ Agatha picked up the Maths textbook from the pile, opened her workbook and picked up the pencil. ‘We are doing Chapter 3, which doesn’t make sense, because Tully said they haven’t done one and two. Why would they do that?’

‘School can be a bit of a mystery sometimes. Let’s have a look,’ Katherine said.

For the next twenty-five minutes, Agatha methodically worked through the problems with Katherine beside her, ready to help if needed. It was Chief who alerted them to someone approaching the house.

Katherine stood up and went to the front window, Agatha stood just behind her shoulder. ‘Hmm . . . ’ said Katherine, ‘I don’t know who this is.’ They watched a woman walk swiftly up the driveway.

‘I do.’

Before Agatha had time to explain, the doorbell rang. Katherine went to see who the unexpected visitor was that Agatha already knew. A moment later she returned with the woman to the empty sitting room. ‘Would you like to sit down?’ Katherine said, looking around for Agatha.

‘Thank you but I don’t need to sit, I won’t take up your time. I have to get to my child’s gym class. I’m Tully’s mother, Celeste.’

‘Oh, I see. I’m Katherine. I’ve heard such good things about Tully. She has been a kind friend to Agatha on her first day at school. Please, let’s sit.’ Celeste hesitated then agreed. Both women moved to armchairs and sat facing each other.

‘Are you Agatha’s aunty?’

Katherine hesitated and then said, ‘Yes.’

‘I’m a little uncomfortable saying this, I haven’t had to before, but my priority is always to protect my children.’

‘Of course. Why don’t you just say what it is you want to say.’

Celeste cleared her throat. ‘I don’t know Agatha’s story; I don’t want to know Agatha’s story. And I don’t want her being friends with my child, Tully. There’s something not quite right going