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Chapter 12

Outside the salon, Dawn marched off ahead. Kirsty ran to catch up. Ben struggled behind, trying to force his arms into his coat and walk at the same time.

‘Dawn!’ Kirsty shouted.

Dawn swung away from the road, heading towards the park. Kirsty moved faster. Why was Dawn running away? Had she changed her mind already? What was going on?

‘What’s going on?’ Kirsty yelled as loudly as she could. Dawn stopped. She turned slowly. Kirsty recognised the look on Dawn’s face; if there had been a jumper handy, or a shoe, or a book, Dawn would be throwing it at her right now. What had happened to the Dawn who charged into the salon like a knight on horseback? Kirsty walked towards her warily.

‘Dawn, are you OK?’ Kirsty whispered.

‘Yes. No.’ Dawn looked angry. ‘I don’t know why you want the allotment anyway. It was Grandad who knew about gardens, not you. You just used to play there. The only thing you’ve ever grown by yourself was cress on cotton wool in playgroup. And that went mouldy.’

Beside the pavement, there was a low wall, marking the edge of someone’s garden. Dawn sat down heavily on it. Kirsty stood in front of her, trying to read her face. She looked tired and cross, but she also looked sad. Kirsty leaned in closer. Dawn covered her face with her hands. Then Kirsty’s hand did something strange, as if it had taken on a life of its own. It stretched outwards and settled on the back of Dawn’s head, stroking her hair. Kirsty held her breath. What would Dawn do? Move away? Shrug her off? Bite her hand? Dawn didn’t move at all. They stayed like that, close together, Kirsty’s fingers resting on Dawn’s soft hair. Then Ben finally caught up with them.

‘Wow,’ he said. ‘Is this an Oprah moment?’

‘Shove off,’ Dawn muttered into her hands, but Kirsty could tell that she was smiling. She lifted her hand away as Dawn looked up.

‘Are you missing Grandad?’ Kirsty whispered gently. Dawn seemed to stiffen again, as though she were growing prickles. ‘Cos I am,’ Kirsty said. ‘And I miss Dad too. And I’m worried that we’ll never get him back.’

Dawn’s prickles disappeared. Her eyes looked strangely watery. ‘Yes,’ she sniffed. ‘Me too.’

‘Totally Oprah,’ Ben muttered.

‘Shove off,’ Kirsty said.

Dawn laughed properly. Ben scowled for a second, then started chuckling himself.

‘Will you help us, then?’ Kirsty asked quietly.

‘Oh, I suppose so. As long as none of my friends find out. If anyone sees me, I’ll have to pretend I don’t know you. What do you want me to do?’

‘Come to the allotment tomorrow. It’s too late to go now – Mum’ll be wondering where I am. But come tomorrow, after school, and we’ll all decide on what we’re going to do next.’