Accidents Happen A Novel

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE



Jack sat on Gabe’s bed, looking out of the window into the garden, the lacy outline of the tall trees waving against a dark sky. Gabe’s house wasn’t as big as theirs, but the garden went on forever, disappearing round a bend where Gabe’s mum grew her vegetables, and down to the fence, where the trampoline lay out of sight of the house.

Gabe’s mum hadn’t been quite truthful with his mum about where it was situated. She’d made it sound on the phone as if it was outside her house, but Gabe’s bedroom was next to hers, and you couldn’t see it from there.

The clock said half-past nine. They’d had their pizza and watched a film. It was time for the sleepover.

Gabe’s mum stared through his bedroom window.

Jack prayed, his hand on his stomach trying to calm the burning sensation inside.

‘You know, I think it’ll be fine, boys, yeah?’ she said, scratching the blue scarf she often wore wrapped around her head. ‘I thought it was going to rain earlier, but it’s still warm. You still up for it?’

Jack looked at Gabe, hoping he’d be brave enough to say he was scared of the Year Eight boys, too, and call it off.

‘Yeah!’ Damon said, jumping off the bed.

‘Yeah!’ Gabe copied him.

Jack tried to smile but right now he wasn’t sure he could stand up, his stomach was so sore from the spasms.

Gabe’s mum turned. ‘Right, you lot, grab your sleeping bags and let’s go, yeah?’

Gabe jumped up.

‘But what about . . .?’ Jack whispered at Gabe. Gabe tried to look unconcerned, probably because Damon was there. ‘It’ll be cool, don’t worry.’

Jack stood up uncertainly, and they all trooped downstairs. Suddenly he didn’t like Gabe’s mum as much. His mum did lots of things wrong but at least she tried to keep him safe. Jack gathered up his sleeping bag and felt his mobile in his pocket, remembering Mum’s words that he could ring her.

Gabe’s mum was right. It was hot and sticky outside. They tramped down the long lawn, till they reached the vegetable patch, the light from the kitchen disappearing behind them as they turned the bend. Damon was making silly faces with the torch.

Jack looked around, worried. Gabe’s house was semidetached, with an alleyway next to it, so the Year Eight boys could get down the side and climb over the fence.

‘Right you lot, have fun!’ Gill called. ‘I’ll leave the key under the mat at the back, Gabe, if you need to use the loo – no peeing on my carrots. See you in the morning!’

She walked off, leaving them to line up their sleeping bags on the surface of the trampoline. They put down their Deadly 60 cards and torches.

‘This is f*cking wicked,’ Damon laughed, using the swear words they all used whenever adults weren’t there.

‘Yeah!’ Jack said. In the light of the torch, Gabe was smiling, but Jack saw him look at the fence a couple of times, too.

Jack checked his watch. Only 9.40 p.m. Nine hours to go. He crawled inside his sleeping bag and put his hand his stomach to try to relieve the cramp, averting his eyes from the alleyway.