Jennospot 47 Katy's Secret
It’s nearly Christmas, so Oi’m goin’ ter wish all of yew wot is so kind as
ter follow moi blog, a Very Merry Christmas. And then, fer no good reason at
all, Oi’m goin’ ter tell yew about the time when Katy told Peter 'er closest
secret. The secret became a bit 'ard fer 'im ter keep in the finish, an' got
'im inter even more trouble. But if'n yew want ter foind out wot it were, Oi
reckon yew'll jus' 'ave ter read the whole of "Gang Territory
"I
found Kate waiting for me on the bridge as announced. ‘Come on, Peter, we've
got to hurry!’ she exclaimed as soon as I was in earshot. ‘I nearly set off
without you.’ She began trotting quickly in the direction of
‘What's the rush?’ I called. Her trot hurt the injury
in my side.
‘I'm late already. My mother is expecting me. If I'm
not home in five minutes she'll begin to worry. At dinner-time I was late―you
know why―and if I'm seriously late again it could be disastrous.’
The trotting was agony but I had to find out what the
mystery was and why all this secrecy was necessary.
‘Katy, can't you slow down to a gallop just for a
moment? Please— we need to talk.’
She slowed down to a fast walk. ‘What is it?’ she
said, slightly irritated. ‘Isn't it enough that I get you off the hook with the
head teacher?’
I felt annoyed, but then, she didn't know that I'd
been hurt, and I wasn't about to tell her.
‘Katy look— what happened today was on your account.
I've been through a lot because of you. Just tell me please, if it's not too
great a secret, why you didn't want me to let on that you were being bullied by
the Slug?’
At this she stopped and tears came into her eyes. ‘I'm
sorry. I've been selfishly thoughtless.’
This wasn't my opinion but I wasn't going to stop her
now to say so.
‘It's just that my mother thinks that Widdlington
school is too violent. She talks of sending me to a private school in town. I'd
hate that, I don't want to go away from my friends here. If she knew what had
happened today she'd send me to the private school straight away. Please,
please, don't breathe a word to anyone.’
‘I understand,’ I said as gently as I could. ‘I
wouldn't want you to go away either. You can count on me. Run ahead now. We can
talk some more tomorrow.’
‘Tomorrow,’ she confirmed, and started off at a run
that set her long shiny braid dancing and shimmering behind her.
I followed, much more sedately."
("Gang Territory
http://www.peterstjohn.net/
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