Page 103 of The Summer That Changed Us

Chapter Thirty-Seven

‘Forty-eight, forty-nine,’ Amber counted. ‘And this little lacy bralette that I’d quite like to keep. But I won’t obviously because their need is greater.’

She relinquished this last one and added it to the pile.

‘Well done pet.’ Nula ruffled Amber’s hair.

‘Fifty bras for our first shipment,’ Katie whistled. ‘I think that’s something to celebrate.’

‘With champagne?’ Amber suggested, ever hopeful.

‘With tea and biscuits,’ said Nula. ‘Chocolate ones.’

Katie laughed to herself as Amber stomped over to flick the kettle on.

It was Monday afternoon and Amber had joined them at Auntie Small’s to help sort through the donations to Small Things Matter. It had been so simple to put a collection box in the shop and spread the word. And in a matter of days the box had filled up. Their customers had been so generous and quick to help out. The thought that her little shop in Merle Bay might make the difference to a woman in a desperate situation in another part of the country made her glow with pride.

‘Remind me where the first ones are going?’ she asked Amber.

‘Newcastle, Glasgow and Bristol,’ Amber replied. ‘And I’m waiting to hear back from a couple more.’

‘You’re a star,’ Katie said. Amber had volunteered to contact the women’s refuges with an offer of help. Katie was pretty sure she wouldn’t have been as confident at her age.

Katie held out a bag and Nula tipped the bras into it. ‘I’ll wash them and then they’ll be ready to send.’

‘I was thinking,’ said Amber, clattering around getting out mugs. ‘There’ll be little kids at the refuge, do you think I could send some of my old books and toys?’

Nula and Katie exchanged heart-melty looks. Barney and his wife had done a brilliant job raising such a thoughtful young person.

‘That’s a lovely idea,’ said Nula.

‘But check with your dad first,’ Katie suggested.

‘I can’t wait until I can donate a bra,’ said Amber.

‘All yours fit you,’ Katie chuckled. ‘And very nice they are too, if I do say so myself.’

‘I know and plenty of growing room too,’ she said, mournfully. ‘If only my boobs would grow, I could donate the old ones and help other people.’

‘We all develop at different rates,’ Katie told her. ‘Anyway, what happened to the girl who said she didn’t know what all the fuss was about because they were only glands?’

‘Nothing!’ A faint blush crept over Amber’s cheeks.

The door opened and a man and a woman came in. Nula went to serve them. It was the woman’s birthday, Katie heard her explain, and she wanted a bra that wouldn’t show under the new dress her boyfriend had bought her.

‘Why don’t you have a boyfriend?’ Amber asked.

Katie was used to Amber’s directness but even so, this one took her by surprise. Was it the arrival of the couple that had prompted the question, she wondered, or perhaps there was a boy at school who’d caught her eye?

‘Not everyone has a boyfriend,’ she replied.

Amber shrugged. ‘I know but you’re cool. I bet you get loads of offers.’

‘Thank you. You can come again,’ Katie smiled.

Amber looked at her as if to say well I’m waiting …

‘I’m not the best at relationships,’ said Katie carefully. ‘Something happened to me when I was younger. Something bad, and it made me wary of trusting people for a long time.’