Chapter 8: A Summary
I was walking home, holding Daisy’s hand. She had been to Lauren’s party, and her fairy tutu rustled as she skipped along. I asked if the party was good, and she asked why I hadn’t come. I lied, saying I had to do some shopping for her mum. I didn’t see Chloe or Ella at the house.
Daisy wanted to play at home, but I shook my head and said I was going out. She stopped and pulled away from me, guessing I was going to look for the white dolphin. I told her I wanted to go back to the cove, but I couldn’t take her.
She refused to move, jutting her chin out. I wasn’t in the mood to fight. She looked like a “sugar plum fairy” about to have a tantrum. I sat down on a low wall, thinking we’d be there for a while. To get her to move, I offered to buy her an ice-cream at Zagni’s.
Daisy agreed, but only if it was mint choc chip. I said “Done”. Then she demanded a flake. I told her I didn’t have enough money, so she settled for chocolate sauce. Daisy smiled, took my hand, and we walked along. She can wrap everyone around her finger.
The Incident at Zagni’s
Zagni’s was too warm, and the queue for ice-cream and pizza was long, winding past racks of postcards and keyrings. As we edged forward, I saw Jake and Ethan at one of the tables. I wanted to leave, but Daisy held my hand tightly. I hid behind the man in front, keeping my head down.
Jake and Ethan hadn’t noticed me. They were watching a boy and a tall fair-haired woman arguing at a window table. The woman slammed her hands on the table and stormed out. That’s when I clearly saw the boy’s face: it was Felix, the new boy from my class. He was gulping his drink and wiped orange juice on his chin with his sleeve.
Daisy asked what was wrong with him, and I quickly told her to stop staring. Then I heard Jake explode with laughter. This time, they were laughing at Felix. Ethan pulled his own arm up against his chest and made a leery grin, mocking Felix’s twisted arm. Felix looked across at me as if I was laughing too, so I turned away.
Jake and Ethan laughed again, and I saw Ethan let saliva dribble down his chin, continuing the mockery. Daisy tried to hang back, but then she broke free and yelled, “Stop it! Just stop it!”.
She stood in front of them, her wand raised, and said, “He can’t help it,” pointing at Felix. Her face was bright red. Jake and Ethan sniggered, but other people in the café turned to look at them. Jake stood up, saw me, and scowled. As he shoved past me to leave, he muttered loud enough for me to hear, “It’s just for spastics and losers in here,” referring to the café.
Daisy gripped my hand very tightly. I put my arm around her and glanced back at Felix, who was staring at the table, spinning the salt cellar with his good hand.
A Reward and a Sad Ending
When we reached the counter, Mrs. Zagni had an ice-cream ready: two scoops of mint choc chip with chocolate sauce and a flake. She told Daisy it was “on the house” because of the big thing she did—“You’re what the world needs right now,” she smiled. Daisy beamed.
I took her wand and party bag so we could leave. Daisy said she just wanted to say hello to Felix. I waited by the door, smiling, knowing she wants the whole world to be her friend. She stopped at Felix’s table, puffed out her chest, and grinned.
But something happened; something was said that I couldn’t hear. Daisy’s face fell, and she dropped her ice-cream. The cone shattered. She ran right past me and out the door, her cheeks burning crimson and streaked with tears.
Difficult Words and Meanings
- Rustles: Makes a soft, muffled crackling sound, like dry leaves or fabric (like a fairy tutu).
- Juts her chin out: Pushes her chin forward in a way that shows stubbornness or defiance.
- Flutter: To move or wave lightly and quickly.
- Tantrum: An uncontrolled outburst of anger and frustration, typically in a young child.
- Jangle: Makes a metallic or harsh, ringing sound (like coins in a pocket).
- Condensation: The process of water vapor turning into liquid, forming droplets on a cold surface (like a window).
- Stoops: Bends the body forward and downward.
- Storms past: Moves quickly and angrily in a specified direction.
- Gulps: Swallows a drink quickly and in large mouthfuls.
- Leery grin: An unpleasantly malicious or suggestive smile.
- Dribble: To let saliva or another liquid flow from the mouth or chin.
- Bristle: (Here) To show annoyance or indignation.
- Scowls: Frowns in an angry or bad-tempered way.
- Spastics: An extremely offensive and derogatory term for someone with a disability that affects muscle control (like cerebral palsy).
- On the house: Paid for by the establishment; free.
- Snuffed out: Extinguished or put out (used here figuratively to mean Daisy’s happiness was suddenly gone).
- Crimson: A rich deep red color inclined to purple.
Multiple-Choice Questions
- What was Kara’s lie about why she didn’t attend Lauren’s party?
a) She had homework.
b) She had to get some shopping for Daisy’s mum.
c) She felt sick.
d) She had to look for the white dolphin. - What did Daisy guess Kara was planning to go out and do?
a) Go to the park.
b) Go swimming.
c) Look for the white dolphin.
d) Visit Chloe. - What specific flavor of ice-cream did Daisy demand from Kara?
a) Strawberry swirl.
b) Vanilla with sprinkles.
c) Mint choc chip.
d) Chocolate fudge. - Where were Jake and Ethan when Kara and Daisy arrived at Zagni’s?
a) In the queue.
b) At one of the tables.
c) Talking to Mrs. Zagni.
d) Standing by the door. - Who was Felix arguing with at the table in the café?
a) Jake.
b) A tall fair-haired woman.
c) Mr. Wilcox.
d) Chloe. - What were Jake and Ethan doing to mock Felix?
a) Yelling mean words.
b) Hiding his things.
c) Mimicking his twisted arm and letting saliva dribble down their chin.
d) Throwing food at him. - What did Daisy yell at Jake and Ethan?
a) “Be nice!”.
b) “Stop it! Just stop it.”.
c) “Leave him alone!”.
d) “I’m telling!”. - What did Jake mutter as he shoved past Kara on his way out of the café?
a) “See you later”.
b) “You’ll pay for this”.
c) “It’s just for spastics and losers in here”.
d) “Go get your ice-cream”. - Why did Mrs. Zagni give Daisy an ice-cream “on the house”?
a) Because it was her birthday.
b) Because Daisy helped clean up.
c) For standing up for Felix against Jake and Ethan.
d) Because she was friends with Lauren. - What was the last thing Daisy did before running out of the café in tears?
a) Dropped her ice-cream cone.
b) Tried to talk to Jake.
c) Sat down at Felix’s table.
d) Said goodbye to Mrs. Zagni.
Answers
- b) She had to get some shopping for Daisy’s mum
- c) Look for the white dolphin
- c) Mint choc chip
- b) At one of the tables
- b) A tall fair-haired woman
- c) Mimicking his twisted arm and letting saliva dribble down their chin
- b) “Stop it! Just stop it.”
- c) “It’s just for spastics and losers in here”
- c) For standing up for Felix against Jake and Ethan
- a) Dropped her ice-cream cone