Truly Tan Baffled

After the candle song is finished and the Happy Wanderers have wandered back to their seats on the floor, Mr Lamble gives a speech about our delightfully busy term that is now over and how he is glad it is over because he is worn out. All the teachers clap. Then Mr Lamble hands out five merit certificates, but I don’t get one. Then Grace and Cindy get up. They are Verity’s friends and Verity claps loudly and so does Lily. Grace and Cindy give a book report about something they read together. The book is about magical horses who live on an island and even though I am not a fan of horses, I like the sound of the story and I will probably read it. Gloria will know the name of it. She is listening carefully. I am not listening carefully. I am conducting an experiment. I am staring at the back of my sister’s head. My sister Rose is sitting in the front row with all the other contestants, and I am trying to beam a signal into her brain. My signal says, ‘You will win Winter Queen, Rose Callahan. Good luck, from your faithful sister, Tan.’ Just as Grace and Cindy finish their book report and everyone is clapping, Rose turns and looks straight at me.

24

Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker