Not Even: Part 2

By LIZ VAN DER LAARSE

Tuesday and she would be home from the supermarket. He ran faster, then, skidded to a stop. He was too early. He couldn't go home yet. Damn. How long until home time. His stomach hurt. Nothing. He'd had nothing to eat since his flour porridge this morning. No lunch. Nothing. Aw, stuff it, I'll just tell Mum ... He broke into a run again.

He ran past the supermarket trolley upended in the gutter, past the sofa sitting by the railway tracks, across the overbridge and into his street. He sprinted up the long concrete bath to his back porch.

`Mu-m!' Kicking off his skater shoes, he turned the door handle. It was locked. Luke stopped, puzzled, then ran his fingers under the doorstep and found the spare key. He stepped inside to silence. No sound of rustling shopping bags came from the kitchen. His stomach grumbled. He ran to the fridge and stared at the lone packet of dripping inside. He flung open the cupboards. The same as this morning: flour, salt, tea bags and sugar.

Publisher: Reed

Price: $14.95

Age group: 10 plus years


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