A Sister's War by Molly Green (the reading strategies book txt) 📕

give ourselves twenty minutes,’ Jessica declared. ‘That should give her plenty of time to complete her transformation.’

‘Don’t be bitchy, Jess,’ Sally said with a grin.

They’d gone. Ronnie took in a few deep breaths. No voices in her ear. No shrill laughter. No Dora ordering her what to do – making her look and feel small.

To have the whole cabin to herself was sheer luxury. Longing for a bath but making do with a full wash, she dried herself on the same mean-sized towel from yesterday, then slipped into her pyjamas. Her hair felt gritty but it would have to wait a few days more. She cleaned her teeth and delved into her rucksack for one of her books.

It was strangely quiet except for the faint crackle of the coal burning on the fire. It was a homely sound as its warmth spread through the boat, and for the first time in the last two days she thought she might have made the right decision to become a boatwoman. She allowed herself a small smile. Who would have thought it? For a fleeting moment she wondered how Maman was. Dora had mentioned they’d all get three days off when they’d completed their training. Maybe after those weeks away she and Maman would get along better. She just hoped Rusty wasn’t missing her too much.

The cabin was quite dark. She looked round for the oil lamp – anything to give her enough light to read, but there didn’t appear to be one. She opened all the cupboards and fumbled inside but found nothing except a box of candles. Well, that was all they had in the old days, she told herself. Now where would a candlestick be hiding? Ah, there was one on the shelf above the bed. The candle was on the thin side and wobbled in the holder but it would do. Pleased with herself for finding a box of matches in one of the drawers she lit it. Immediately, part of the cabin glowed with the flickering light. Carefully setting it back on the small shelf she hopped into bed, immediately feeling soothed by the unexpected peace in the cabin and the bed she didn’t at the moment have to share. Hopefully, she’d be asleep before Jessica and May returned.

She opened the book Mrs Hunter had recommended, The Water Gipsies, but after a couple of pages of squinting at the tiny print she gave up. Maybe she wasn’t in the right mood. She reached for her other book: Little Women. Suzy had lent it to her, telling her she must read it because she was just like fifteen-year-old Jo. Ronnie eagerly turned to the first page and was quickly absorbed in the goings-on of the March sisters, four American girls whose father was away fighting a civil war. It made her think of Raine and Suzy. She swallowed hard.

After half an hour she felt her eyelids begin to droop. She’d just finish the chapter and snuff out the candle. It was Ronnie’s last thought before falling asleep.

Chapter Eight

Ronnie shot up in bed, blinking in the darkness, her heart beating in her ears. A fire in the shed! Rusty! She had to save him! She tried to get out of bed but she couldn’t move. Her limbs were solid as concrete. She swallowed the long seconds. And then she calmed, her breath settling to its natural rhythm. She told herself not to be so silly. It was just a bad dream. She was on the boat – perfectly safe, and so was Rusty at home, even if Maman didn’t give him the cuddles he was used to. But the air around her … She sniffed. Then her eyes went wide, her chest tight. She could still smell burning! Her hand flew to her mouth to bite back the scream. The coal stove? The Primus? But there wasn’t even a glow. The fire must have already gone out. The candle! What had happened to the candle? She jerked her head upwards to the shelf. Oh, no! That was where the smell was coming from.

How long ago had it overturned? Oh, if only there was a light. Of course! She suddenly remembered she had a torch. Stumbling out of bed she bent low, her arms flailing, trying to feel for her rucksack. There! She dug into the outside pocket and her fingers enclosed it. Thank goodness she’d thought to pack it. Oh, but why hadn’t she remembered and used it instead of the candle? She switched it on and pointed it at the shelf, then picked up the fallen candle. To her horror she saw a burn hole and scorched shreds of wood, the damage the size of a saucer. Dear God, she might have set the whole boat on fire and at the same time asphyxiated herself!

Dora would go berserk when she found out. Ronnie clenched her jaw. She mustn’t find out. Whatever happened, she mustn’t see it. It could be enough for Dora to send her home.

As she stood wondering how to get rid of the smell, she heard laughter and noisy footsteps. They were already returning from the pub. One of them was singing, and another joined in. Well, the girls in the motor boat wouldn’t be able to smell anything, but Jessica and May certainly would. She’d have to come clean with them and make them swear not to say anything to Dora.

May was still singing as she dropped through the hatch, Jessica behind her, swearing as her foot slipped on the last step.

‘What’s that smell?’ May hissed.

‘Shhh,’ Jessica warned loudly. ‘Don’t wake Ronnie.’

‘I’m not asleep.’ Ronnie shone her torch onto the two girls’ startled faces.

‘Something’s burning,’ May said. ‘What happened?’

It was suddenly all too much. Ronnie dropped on the bed and put her head in her hands. Tears trickled between her fingers.

‘I couldn’t see to read,’ she said in a muffled voice. ‘I forgot I had a torch so I lit a stupid candle. I