Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman (historical books to read TXT) 📕

‘There’s your ticket.’ I handed it over to Callum. I’d raided my bank account to get enough to buy two first-class tickets. I could’ve asked Mother for the money, or Sarah, but then they would’ve wanted to know exactly why I wanted it. No, this was much better. It made the day ‘ours’ somehow, because the money was mine and nothing to do with my mother or anyone else. I smiled. ‘This day is going to be perfect.’

I could feel it in my water.

twenty-four. Callum

The train journey from hell, that’s what it was. A journey which ruined the rest of the day as far as I was concerned. We were on our way to Celebration Park. There were only three more stops to go – when they got on. Police officers on a routine inspection. Two of them, boredom plastered over their faces.

‘ID passes please. ID passes please.’

Sephy looked surprised. I wasn’t. We both dug out our ID cards as they made their way up the first-class train carriage. I watched the cursory glances they gave the ID passes of all the Crosses in the carriage. I was the only nought. Would they stop and ask me lots of questions? Huh! Is pig poo smelly?

An officer of trim build and sporting a pencil-thin moustache stood right in front of me. He looked at me then took my ID pass without a word.

‘Name?’ he snapped out.

What’s the matter? Can’t you read?

‘Callum McGregor.’

‘Age?’

‘Fifteen.’

Can’t read numbers either, huh? That’s too bad.

‘Where are you going?’

None of your business.

‘Celebration Park.’

‘Why?’

To cut my toenails.

‘Picnic.’

‘Where d’you live?’

On the moon.

‘Meadowview.’ Meadowview by euphemistic name only. Rubbishshackview would’ve been more appropriate. The officer looked from my ID card to my face and back again. My thumbprint was on the card. Was he going to break out a magnifying glass and ask me to hold out my right hand so he could compare the imprint on the card to my print? It wouldn’t’ve surprised me.

‘You’re a long way from home, boy.’

I bit down on the inside of my bottom lip, not trusting myself to speak. Both officious officials stood in front of me now. There was barely enough room to get a paperclip between their legs and my knees. I sighed.

Ladies and gentlemen, for your delectation and delight, another performance of ‘You’re a nought and don’t you ever forget it, blanker boy.’

‘Let me see your ticket.’

I handed it over.

‘Where did you get the money to buy this kind of ticket?’

I looked up at them, but didn’t speak. What was there to say? They had the scent of blood in their nostrils and I didn’t stand a chance, no matter what I said or did. So why bother?

‘I asked you a question,’ Moustaches reminded me.

As if I’d forgotten.

‘Did you buy this ticket?’ Moustache’s accomplice asked.

The truth or prevarication? What was Sephy thinking? I couldn’t see her. The no-brain brothers were in the way. If only I could see her face.

‘I asked you a question, boy. Did you buy this ticket?’

‘No, I didn’t,’ I replied.

‘Come with us, please.’

Time to get my posterior pummelled. Time to get my derrière dealt with. Time to get my bum bounced right off the train.

How dare a nought sit in first class? It’s outrageous. It’s a scandal. It’s disgusting. Disinfect that seat at once.

‘Officer, he’s with me. I bought the tickets.’ Sephy was on her feet. ‘Is there a problem?’

‘And you are?’

‘Persephone Hadley. My dad’s the Home Office Minister, Kamal Hadley. Callum is my friend,’ Sephy said firmly.

‘He is?’

‘Yes, he is.’ Sephy’s voice had a steely tone to it that I’d never heard before. Not from her anyway.

‘I see,’ said Moustaches.

‘I can give you my father’s private phone number. I’m sure he’ll sort all this out in a moment. Or you’ll be able to talk to Juno Ayelette, his personal secretary.’

Careful, Sephy. I’m tripping over all those names you’re dropping.

‘So is there a problem, Officer?’ repeated Sephy.

Sniff! Sniff! Was I imagining things or was there the definite hint of a threat in the air? And I wasn’t the only one to smell it. Moustaches handed back my ID pass.

‘Would you like to see my ID as well?’ Sephy held out her pass.

‘That won’t be necessary, Miss Hadley.’ Moustaches almost bowed.

‘I really don’t mind.’ Sephy thrust it under Moustaches’ nose.

‘That won’t be necessary,’ Moustaches repeated, looking straight at Sephy. He didn’t even glance at her ID card.

Sephy sat back down again. ‘Well, if you’re sure.’

She turned to look out of the window. Moustaches was effectively dismissed. Sephy’s mother would’ve been proud. Moustaches glared at me like it was my fault. He’d been humiliated, and by a child no less, and he wanted to take it out on someone. Sephy was off-limits, and now, so was I. He was burning to re-establish his authority but he couldn’t. Not with us anyway. Moustaches and his colleague moved off down the carriage. Sephy turned to me and winked.

‘You OK?’ she asked.

‘Fine,’ I lied. ‘Wasn’t that fun?’

‘Not so as you’d notice.’ Sephy’s gaze returned to the passing scenery. ‘But I’m not going to let them or anyone else ruin my day. Celebration Park, here we come!’

I turned to look out of the window. I didn’t want to look at Sephy. Not yet. I didn’t want to blame her for the way the police treated me and every other nought I knew. I didn’t want to hold her responsible for the way security guards and store detectives followed me around every time I entered a department store. And I’d stopped going into bookshops and toy shops and gift shops when I realized that no matter where I went in them, all eyes were upon me. After all, it was one of those well-known Cross-initiated facts that we noughts didn’t pay for anything when there was the chance of stealing it instead. I didn’t want to resent Sephy for the way my education was automatically assumed to be less important than hers. I