Chapter 7: A Summary
I was standing outside the maths room in the quiet corridor. I could see the bright playground and the sea far off, and for a moment, I wanted to just walk away, but I didn’t. I pushed the door open. Everyone knew I was called in to see Mrs. Carter because I broke Jake Evans’s nose, so they all stared when I walked in.
I walked to my usual seat, but someone was already sitting there. Mr. Wilcox, the teacher, told me, “Find another seat, Kara,” so I quickly sat at a spare desk by the window.
I looked over at the new boy, sitting next to Chloe. He wore black jeans and a white shirt. His face was different; the muscles on his neck were tight, pulling the left side of his face down and sideways, and his left arm was twisted and kept moving a lot. He saw me staring, so I looked away fast.
At break time, Chloe and Ella stayed behind with the new boy to talk to Mr. Wilcox. I figured they were given the job of showing him around the school. They hadn’t really talked to me much. No one had mentioned Jake’s nose, probably because Jake and Ethan were around.
Lunchtime Talk
When the morning lessons ended, I finally joined Chloe and Ella in the lunch queue. I asked them where the new boy was. Chloe told me his name was Felix, and he was only doing mornings. He was just getting to know the school before he starts after the summer holidays. I thought it wasn’t really worth it, since there was only one week left before the break.
Chloe poured water for herself and Ella. She said Mrs. Carter mentioned the school might need to make changes before Felix starts, like putting in ramps and handrails, because he can’t walk well.
I asked them what he was like. Chloe just shrugged. Ella said he “couldn’t wait to go,” and she didn’t blame him.
I noticed Jake watching us from a table. Chloe and Ella saw him, too. I quickly changed the subject to Lauren’s party, asking how many people were coming. Chloe said about fifteen, and her mum was worried. Her dad, who works on a boat with Uncle Tom, had just returned from sea and was very tired, so her mum wanted help. I offered to help, since I had to bring Daisy along anyway.
Chloe looked at Jake and then at Ella, and quickly told me they would be fine and wouldn’t need any help because their house would be crowded. I felt my eyes start to sting with tears because Chloe and Ella always let me join in before.
Lunch and Confrontation
The dinner lady asked if I wanted chips or a baked potato. I said chips.
Chloe came back and told me she’d pick up Daisy when she picks up Lauren and her other friends from school. I nodded and told her I’d pick up Daisy at half-past five.
I watched Chloe sit down with Ella at a table with Jake and Ethan. Jake looked straight at me. His face was a bruised mess of blue and black, with a bright white plaster across his nose. I grabbed an apple and walked across the hall, feeling his eyes on me. Since Chloe’s back was turned and she made no room, I sat at an empty table by the door by myself.
I couldn’t eat; the chips stuck in my dry throat. I hid them under my fork and took a bite of the apple. It was Friday, so at least I had two days off before the final week before summer break.
Suddenly, Jake put his empty tray down and sat opposite me. Ethan leaned against the door, smirking. Jake’s eye was bloodshot, and the bruise edges were yellow.
“Having fun?” he asked. Then he asked if I thought a box of chocolates could fix what I did. I told him I didn’t send them. He just sat there, staring.
Then he asked, “You know why my dad hates you so much?” I knew the reason. Jake leaned in and said, “Aaron’s dead because of your mum.”
I gripped my tray so hard the fork rattled. I told Jake that his brother, Aaron, didn’t have a life jacket on when he was found. Jake just snorted and said his dad was going to make me pay for this. He lowered his voice and said, “Soon you and your dad will have nothing left.”
Difficult Words and Meanings
- Corridor: A long passage in a building from which doors lead into rooms.
- Glance: To take a quick look.
- Twisted up: Bent or contorted into an unusual shape.
- Writhes around: Twists and turns the body, usually because of discomfort or being unable to keep still.
- Staring: Looking fixedly or intently at someone or something.
- Blame him: Say that someone is responsible for a fault or wrong thing, but in this context, it means “I don’t judge him for his choice.”
- Dreading it: Thinking with great fear or anxiety about something that might happen.
- Glares: Looks at someone in an angry or fierce way.
- Force my lunch down: Make myself eat something when I don’t really want to.
- Stick in my throat: A feeling of having food caught in the throat (in this case, due to nervousness).
- Bloodshot red: An eye that is red because the blood vessels are broken or swollen.
- Smirks: Smiles in an annoying, conceited, or silly way.
- Curls up: Lifts and curves the edges of the mouth (as part of a sneer or smirk).
- Rattles against: Makes a short, sharp, knocking sound against something.
- Snorts: Makes a sound by forcing breath quickly through the nose to show contempt or anger.
Multiple-Choice Questions
- Where was Kara before she pushed the door open to her classroom?
a) In the lunch queue
b) In the library
c) In the corridor outside the maths room
d) On the playground - Why did Kara have to see Mrs. Carter?
a) For getting a high score on a test
b) For breaking Jake Evans’s nose
c) For being late to class
d) For talking during a lesson - What is the name of the new boy in the class?
a) Ethan
b) Jake
c) Tomd) Felix - What physical problems did Felix have that might require school changes like ramps?
a) He couldn’t hear well
b) He had problems with his eyes
c) He couldn’t walk that well
d) He had a broken arm - What did Chloe say the new boy was doing before he officially joins the school after the summer?
a) Going on a trip
b) Only doing mornings to get to know the school
c) Taking private lessons
d) Helping Mrs. Carter - Who was watching Kara, Chloe, and Ella from a lunch table?
a) Mr. Wilcox
b) Jake
c) Daisy
d) Mrs. Carter - What item did Kara grab from the lunch hall before walking to a table?
a) Chips
b) A chocolate brownie
c) An apple
d) A glass of water - What did Jake have on his bruised nose?
a) A bandage
b) A bright white plaster
c) A cold compress
d) Nothing - What reason did Jake give for his dad hating Kara?
a) Kara’s dad owes him money
b) Kara told a secret
c) His brother, Aaron, is dead because of Kara’s mum
d) Kara made fun of him - What detail did Kara tell Jake about his brother, Aaron?
a) He was found alone
b) He was found on a boat
c) He didn’t have a life jacket on when he was found
d) He was found with Jake’s dad
Answers
- c) In the corridor outside the maths room
- b) For breaking Jake Evans’s nose
- d) Felix
- c) He couldn’t walk that well
- b) Only doing mornings to get to know the school
- b) Jake
- c) An apple
- b) A bright white plaster
- c) His brother, Aaron, is dead because of Kara’s mum
- c) He didn’t have a life jacket on when he was found