AllFreeNovel
Share Us
‘Um, I don’t know how long suspensions are.’
‘He told me it was foroneday.’
‘I did think it was odd that I hadn’t seen him around the school all last week.’
Katie looked at her a long moment, surprised that her friend even gave her brother the time of day, let alone noticed him in school.
Caitlin’s cheeks went bright red. ‘So, er, what’s your brother been doing while he’s been off school all week?’
They both took two steps forward in the slow-moving lunch queue.
‘Well, that’s the thing. They both told me, my aunt and brother, that he was only suspended for one day, last Monday. But I overheard Toby on the phone to his friend when I passed his bedroom door last night. I heard him say that it was his last day today suspended, and he didn’t want to return to school on Tuesday. He was enjoying working in the shop.’
‘The shop? What was he talking about?’
Katie shrugged. ‘I have no idea. But it gets worse. He has been coming to school in the morning with my aunt, getting out of the car with me, and then scooting back to the car when I wasn’t looking.’
‘Seriously?’
‘Yes, my aunt’s been in on it, obviously.’ Katie added, ‘I did wonder why she’d suddenly insisted on taking us to school in the car and picking us up last week, when Mum and Dad have paid for us to get the school bus this term.’
‘But how did you find out this was going on?’
‘After I overheard him last night, I got ready for school as normal, pretending like I had no clue what they’ve been up to. When we arrived at school this morning, I got out of the car, and Toby trailed behind as usual. But this time I ducked behind a group of older kids. He didn’t see me watching him as he got back in the car.’
‘So, you reckon this must have been going on all week?’
‘Yes.’
Caitlin shook her head. ‘I don’t get it.’
‘Neither do I.’
‘What’s the big secret?’ asked Caitlin.
‘Good question! Something’s going on, I just know it, and whatever it is, they’ve been keeping it from me.’
‘Maybe he was just embarrassed that he’d been suspended for all that time.’
‘Okay, I get that. But why carry out that big charade of acting like he wasn’t suspended, and getting ready for school, and all that? And why would my aunt agree to do it?’
They both stepped forward in the lunch queue.
‘What are they up to, your aunt and brother, do you think?’
‘I have no idea, but today I’m going to find out.’
‘How?’
‘I need to skip drama class. They’re going to pick me up from school after drama class.’
‘Not if you find them first.’
‘Exactly!’
Thea checked the time. The drama class was just starting. Leiston wasn’t far down the road, just a lovely, short drive through the countryside. Thea recalled the one time she had been late picking them up from school. That had been before Toby’s suspension, so they’d both been together waiting for her. Thea didn’t want to risk being late again, aware that her niece would be left waiting outside the school alone.
She checked the time once more. They had a half an hour before they had to leave to pick her up.
