| Word | Meaning (Easy Explanation) |
| Horizon | The line where the earth or sea seems to meet the sky. (The farthest you can see.) |
| Caravan | A type of trailer or mobile home used for living, often temporarily. (A small house on wheels.) |
| Portakabin | A brand name for a temporary, movable building, often used as a classroom or office. (A simple, movable room/shed.) |
| Coarse | Rough or uneven in texture; made of large pieces. (Not smooth or fine.) |
| Headland | A narrow piece of land that sticks out into the sea. (A rocky point of land sticking out into the water.) |
| Seaward | Facing or moving toward the sea. (On the side facing the ocean.) |
| Haul out | (Used for animals like seals) To climb or drag themselves out of the water onto the land. (To move themselves out of the water.) |
| Submerged | Covered completely with water. (Under the surface of the water.) |
| Porthole | A small, round window on the side of a ship or aircraft. (A round ship window.) |
| Flit between us | To move quickly or dart back and forth between two people or places. (Eyes moving quickly from one person to another.) |
| Saggy carpet-bag | A loose, soft, old-fashioned travelling bag. (A droopy, floppy bag.) |
| Dredging chains | Heavy metal chains or scoops used to clear or deepen the bed of a river or sea. (Heavy chains used to scrape the ocean floor.) |
| Resolve | To find a solution to a problem or difficulty. (To fix a problem.) |
Chapter 6 Story Summary
I started the day by cutting Daisy’s toast into triangles, but I wasn’t hungry myself. Aunt Bev warned me I couldn’t skip school because the head teacher wanted to see me about busting Jake Evans’s nose. Aunt Bev said she’d already sent a big box of chocolates to Jake, which cost nearly ten pounds, hoping to keep Jake’s dad happy to.
I grabbed my schoolbag and waited outside. I just wanted to go out on Moan. Dad had left early to cook breakfast at the café. Daisy came out with her schoolbag and a larger bag containing a fairy dress, wings, wand, and a present for her friend Lauren’s party. I carried the bag for her and walked her to the primary school gates.
Before I left, Daisy gave me a scrunched-up paper. I flattened it out: it was a white wax crayon dolphin swimming in a blue sea. I knew I’d need all the luck I could get.
Instead of double art, I have extra sessions with Mrs. Baker, my learning support teacher, because I have dyslexia. Mrs. Baker says it’s just a different way of thinking and believes it might run in my family, which is why Dad can’t read or write.
My session was in a Portakabin store room. We were doing her new multi-sensory development technique using a tray of coarse, gritty sand. I tried to trace an ‘a’ in the sand, but my mind wandered, thinking about Gull Rock and the underwater reef there.
Suddenly, Mrs. Carter came into the room. She smiled at Mrs. Baker, who quickly left. Mrs. Carter placed the Bible and some ripped pages on the table. She tried to be soft and said she knew the year was hard and it was “all right to be angry. But then she said I couldn’t take my anger out on other children or school property.
Mrs. Carter asked how I felt about breaking Jake Evans’s nose. I told her Jake’s dad was going to destroy the reef by pulling his dredging chains across it. She told me there’s never an excuse for violence.
She then asked why I ripped up the Bible. I wanted to say it was because she’d told us God answers all prayers, but I hadn’t heard news of Mum, but I just shrugged. To resolve the situation, I offered to help mend the Bible. Mrs. Carter agreed that was a good start and said I must repair it on Monday after school. She also said she’d have to talk to my father. Mrs. Carter also demanded I apologize to Jake.
I knew I’d help stick the pages in her Bible. But I decided I won’t say sorry to Jake Evans. I’d rather die.
Multiple Choice Questions
- Why was Kara not having breakfast?
a) She was running late
b) She wasn’t hungry
c) Aunt Bev wouldn’t let her eat
d) She ate already. - What did Aunt Bev send to Jake Evans?
a) A letter of apology
b) A card
c) Money
d) A big box of chocolates. - What did Daisy give Kara for good luck?
a) A lucky charm
b) A drawing of a white wax crayon dolphin
c) A pair of wings
d) A family pack of crisps. - Who is Mrs. Baker to Kara?
a) The Head Teacher
b) Her Art Teacher
c) Her Maths Teacher
d) Her learning support teacher. - What is the name of the learning technique Mrs. Baker uses with the sand?
a) Visual Tracing
b) Hand-eye Coordination
c) Tactile Learning
d) Multi sensory development. - What natural landmark did Kara picture when tracing the letter ‘a’ in the sand?
a) The headland
b) Gull Rock
c) The mainland shore
d) The wrecked warship. - What two damaged items did Mrs. Carter bring to the meeting?
a) A ripped textbook and a desk
b) The Portakabin door and a chair
c) The Bible and some ripped pages
d) Jake Evans’s nose and a crayon. - What reason did Kara give Mrs. Carter for being violent toward Jake?
a) He made fun of her dyslexia
b) He laughed at her in class
c) His dad is going to destroy the reef with dredging chains
d) He broke her pencil. - What did Kara agree to do to resolve the situation?
a) Help mend the Bible
b) Pay for the chocolates
c) Write an essay about violence
d) Drop out of Art class.