Page 4 of See the Stars

‘It’s parents’ evening tonight,’ said twelve-year-old Alice. She was sitting at the kitchen table with her brother and grandpa, while her mum made them breakfast.

‘What?’ said her mum. ‘Why didn’t you tell me?’

‘I did. See, it’s here, on the fridge.’

‘She’d miss the nose on her face if she could,’ laughed Alice’s grandpa.

Sheila looked at the note. ‘I’m so sorry, love,’ she said. She put a plate of boiled eggs with toast soldiers in front of each of them with a clatter, then turned around to switch on the kettle. ‘I can’t swap my shift at the factory now, it’s too late.’

Alice dipped her toast into the boiled egg in front of her. The yolk spilled over the shell, like lava from a volcano. ‘Most people will have two parents there,’ she said. ‘I can’t have no one.’

Sheila sat down next to her. ‘I’m sorry,’ she said. ‘Maybe if I—’

‘I’ll go,’ said her grandpa. ‘It will be a treat.’

‘Thanks, Grandpa,’ said Alice, pleased.

‘It will be a bit different to the reports we used to get from your school, I imagine,’ he said to Sheila. ‘Alice is such a clever girl.’

‘I’m just glad she’s so dedicated,’ said her mother, somewhat stiffly.

‘She’s a real genius. She must get it from me.’ Her grandpa smiled at her, reaching out to lightly ruffle Alice’s hair. ‘A proper Thorington.’ She grinned back at him. Her mother made a small sound, but didn’t correct him.

‘You were a postman,’ said Eddy. ‘It’s not rocket science.’

‘Different times,’ muttered her grandpa. ‘And I had a family to support.’ He gestured towards Sheila, who was already busy making more toast.

Alice looked back at her egg. She peeled away some of the shell to make room for a wider toast soldier. A little yolk stuck to her fingers, and she smeared it onto a paper towel.

‘That apprenticeship at the mechanic’s is still going,’ said Eddy, his mouth full. ‘It’s paid, you know, even while you learn.’ He reached for the jam.

‘That’s because you’ll be making the tea,’ said Sheila. ‘I told you. You need to stay in school and finish your A levels.’

‘ You didn’t.’

Sheila bit her lip. ‘Maybe if I’d had more encouragement I would have,’ she said. She looked at her father, but he was concentrating on his egg.

‘Alice will get enough A levels for both of us,’ said Eddy. ‘I’m not even going to pass mine.’

‘I’m only twelve,’ said Alice. ‘And you can’t share A levels, anyway. That’s not how it works.’

‘You’re a bright lad,’ said Sheila, frowning at Alice. ‘Of course you’ll pass. Then you can go to university, study business and open your own chain of mechanics, if that’s what you want to do.’

‘With a boatload of debt? No thanks.’ Eddy shoved some more toast in his mouth. ‘Matt is going to do engineering on an army scholarship,’ he said, still chewing. ‘They’re paying for the lot, and giving him a salary.’

‘Matt is clever and good at maths,’ said Alice. ‘And he’s sporty, too.’

‘Does someone have a crush on my best friend?’ laughed Eddy.

Alice coloured. ‘I’m just saying you need to get good grades to get any sort of scholarship,’ she muttered.

‘Eddy will be fine,’ said Sheila, shooting Alice another look.

‘He’s not joining the army. He just needs to put his mind to his studies.

’ She took a breath, then smiled at them both.

‘You’re going to have all the opportunities I never had.

’ Eddy opened his mouth to object. ‘Both of you. Whether you want them or not,’ she added.

‘But Mum . . . ’

‘Give your mother a break,’ said their grandpa, an empty eggshell in front of him. ‘See how tired she looks; she’s just come in from her night shift. She doesn’t need you nagging her.’

‘Thanks, Dad.’ Sheila put another cup of tea in front of Alice’s grandfather. He sipped it noisily as he watched her clearing away the breakfast things.

‘I can’t wait to go to university,’ said Alice. Her brother scowled at her.

‘Good for you, sweetheart,’ said Sheila. ‘But first things first. How’s your maths homework?’

‘All done.’ Alice smiled. ‘I did the extra questions the teacher gave me too.’

‘No wonder you don’t have any friends,’ muttered her brother.

‘Being good at maths doesn’t stop me having friends,’ objected Alice.

‘Bragging about it does, though.’

‘I’m Alice’s friend,’ said her grandpa, placing his papery hand over hers. ‘Aren’t I?’

‘Yes,’ replied Alice, trying to ignore her brother’s snort of laughter.

‘And you’ll want to be her friend when she’s using her maths to make a fortune in The City,’ said her mum.

Ever since their Auntie Jane’s eldest son had got a job in a bank that paid more in a month than Auntie Jane made in a year, Alice’s mother always spoke of The City with a reverence that made it clear both words had capital letters.

‘Now, what’s for breakfast?’ said her grandfather, finishing his tea.

Sheila and Alice exchanged a worried look. He’d been asking questions like this a lot recently. ‘We’ve just eaten, Dad,’ said Sheila. ‘Eggs, remember?’

‘Of course,’ replied her grandfather. ‘Delicious they were.’ He stood up, looking uncomfortable. ‘Right,’ he said. ‘I’m off to my observatory. Mars is close tonight, time to get prepped.’

Alice walked to the bus stop on the way home from school.

A big gaggle of girls from her school was there already, laughing about something.

She slowed her pace, hoping a bus would come and take them away before she got there.

Then she could wait in peace, not tormented by whether it was better to try to talk to the girls and fail, or ignore them completely.

The buses didn’t cooperate. She fixed a friendly smile on her face and approached them, trying to appear confident.

‘Hi,’ she said, to no one in particular.

No one in particular answered, but she received a few nods of acknowledgement. Alice took that as acceptance that she could now stand with the group, and she did so, on the edge but not completely aloof. She listened to their conversation, trying to catch up on the gist.

They were talking about boys, but she wasn’t sure if they were referring to a TV programme or real people. She kept her mouth closed and affixed an interested, slightly amused expression on her face that seemed as though it would be appropriate for either scenario.

The library on the corner caught her eye.

When it was cold, the kids waiting at the bus stop would often linger in the foyer for warmth until the librarian came and shooed them away for making too much noise.

Alice sometimes slipped inside and found her favourite section, settling down with a book about space and usually missing the bus altogether.

But today it was warm, she’d been accepted, in a way, by the group, and anyway, she’d read all the books in the astrophysics section several times over.

Besides, she had to get home, eat and be ready to head back to school again, Grandpa in tow, for parents’ evening tonight.

One of the girls, Sarika, from the year above, shrieked and pointed. ‘Don’t look!’ she exclaimed, and of course everyone did. ‘He’s coming.’ Alice looked too, wondering if it was some sort of celebrity.

‘Oh,’ she said. ‘It’s only Eddy and Matt.’

‘You know him?’ Sarika turned to her.

‘Eddy’s my brother,’ Alice said.

‘Not the ginger freckly one,’ said Sarika, dismissively. ‘The tall, dark and handsome one.’ She took a breath in reverence. ‘Matthew Stanton.’

‘I’ve known him for ever,’ said Alice, surprised. ‘He’s my brother’s best friend.’

‘He’s gorgeous ,’ said Sarika.

Alice glanced at Matt. ‘He’s nice, but . . . ’

‘Get them over here!’

‘They’re seventeen,’ said Alice, who was used to being ignored by her brother in public. ‘They aren’t going to want to talk to us.’

It was an unpopular opinion. ‘I’ll be fourteen next year,’ said Sarika haughtily. ‘Of course they will.’ She preened a moment, watching the boys, who had stopped a respectable distance away and were studying something in a magazine. ‘I’ll go over.’

Alice saw the cover of the magazine and rolled her eyes. Auto Trader . Her brother was obsessed with buying a car, though with what she had no idea. She didn’t think even a second-hand dealer would accept an old football trophy and eight pounds fifty in cash, the extent of Eddy’s wealth.

Sarika walked towards the boys purposefully, then seemed to lose her nerve and turned around, coming back before they noticed her. The others laughed. ‘Please,’ she hissed at Alice. ‘I can’t just go up to them. You say something first. Just to get their attention.’

Alice paused. Why not?

She walked over. ‘Hi, Eddy,’ she said. He grunted at her and looked back at his magazine.

‘Hi, Alice,’ said Matt. ‘How’s the stargazing?’

‘Should be good tonight,’ replied Alice. ‘You should come and look through the telescope.’

‘Don’t you have parents’ evening, oh clever one?’ said her brother.

‘It’s six till seven thirty,’ said Alice. ‘Plenty of time after.’ She looked at Matt. ‘What do you say?’

‘Sure,’ Matt replied. ‘I’ll be round at yours anyway.’

Eddy groaned. ‘I thought we were going to play video games. Not hang out with my geeky little sister.’

‘We’ll do both,’ said Matt. He smiled, his cheeks dimpling.

‘Great,’ said Alice. She glanced back at the girls, remembering her mission.

‘Sarika over there wants to talk to you,’ she told Matt.

Matt grinned and ran his fingers through his hair. ‘Which one is Sarika?’

‘The dark-haired girl with the red shoulder bag.’

‘She’s a kid!’

‘She’ll be fourteen next year,’ said Alice, loyally.

‘Sorry, not interested.’ He seemed in no doubt about why a girl would want to talk to him. Alice looked back to the girls, who were watching their every move intently. Matt followed her gaze and waved at them, which sent them into a frenzy of giggles. He smiled.

‘Don’t know what they see in you,’ muttered Eddy.

‘Just look at me,’ Matt said, flexing a mildly muscular arm. He was only half joking. ‘And imagine, once I’m in uniform . . . ’ He grinned at Alice, who rolled her eyes. He laughed, flashing perfect white teeth in her direction.

‘Come on,’ said Eddy. ‘I’m sick of waiting for this bus. Let’s walk. Maybe we can stop by your place and see Jennie.’

‘You’re obsessed with my big sister.’

‘She’s nice,’ said Eddy. ‘That’s all.’

‘Don’t worry, Alice,’ said Matt, as they headed off. ‘I’ll say hi to your friends on my way. It’ll make their day.’