Everything We Keep by Di Walker (inspirational books .TXT) 📕

with her books in her arms and a smile on her face, Mr Brown said, ‘I’m glad you came back today Agatha. You belong here.’

‘I know, Mr Brown, I know.’

27

There was no time to talk during the first two classes. The English teacher read the term’s novel, ‘Another Tim Winton classic,’ she said, as she begun, Blueback and read for the entire session, telling them when to underline quotes and asking them to explain what passages might mean. Then they had to hurry to Technology, which just happened to be at the other side of the school, sending the group into a half-run walk to get there before the start bell. Finally, back at the lockers at the recess break, Tully stood next to Agatha while she put her books away and took out the banana sandwich Katherine had said she had packed for recess.

‘Sounds awful,’ Agatha had said that morning in the kitchen.

‘Just give it a go. I think you’ll love it. It’s even better when it’s toasted with a bit of melted chocolate, but that’s a winter treat,’ Katherine had replied, ‘One of Lawson’s favourites, especially after we’ve been out sailing.’

‘The others are waiting at the tree,’ Tully said.

‘Do they know, about your mum?’

‘I tell them everything, Agatha, well, most things. I told them about meeting you on the train, and then disappearing. I think if you trust me then you can trust them. I keep friends I can trust.’

Agatha hesitated. She wanted to talk to Tully, to explain, but she didn’t want an audience.

‘Come on. It’ll be fine.’ Tully’s encouraging voice and smile reassured Agatha, but there was a small part of her that wanted to run away. A small but determined part.

They walked to where the others were waiting, already eating and talking, at the same time. ‘Okay, Tully, tell us everything. Hi Agatha,’ Cora said as she shuffled along the bench so that Tully could sit down. Agatha stayed standing.

‘What’s in your sandwich, Agatha?’ Morgan asked, having already finished her food and wiping a few remaining crumbs from her dress.

‘Don’t go near Agatha! She eats dirt sandwiches.’

‘She lives in a dirt house, with dirt parents . . . ’

‘Banana.’

‘Yum. With honey?’

‘No. Not this time.’

‘Are you going to eat it all?’

Agatha handed half of her sandwich to Morgan. ‘Thanks. You’re the best Agatha.’

‘So? What happened?’ Cora asked again.

‘Nothing,’ said Tully. ‘Mr Brown said we could be friends at school and that was it.’

‘What about your mum?’ Morgan said still chewing on some banana sandwich.

Agatha looked at Tully, waiting for an answer. ‘What about your mum, Tully?’ she thought to herself.

Tully shrugged. ‘I don’t know. Right now, I just want to think about what we could be doing in science. Our first experiment.’ She winked at Agatha.

‘I wish I was in your class,’ said Morgan. ‘We have to wait til tomorrow, don’t we Cora.’

‘Next year we should see if we can all be in the same class, the four of us,’ Cora said.

The friends walked towards their lockers to get their books. With the news of the science experiment having spread even those students not doing it until tomorrow were already excited. There was a buzz in the corridor.

‘We can talk later, at lunch maybe.’ Tully half whispered to Agatha. Agatha nodded. She didn’t want to talk to Tully at all, not about what her mum had said.

When the class arrived at the science lab, it didn’t look set up any differently. The tables were empty of equipment and the teacher, Ms Faber, was standing at the front, holding a bunch of white papers.

‘I bet this is a dumb test, or something,’ said Jax. ‘What do you think Ag – a – tharr?’

‘No kidding, Jax. Cut it out!’ Tully said.

‘Okay everyone. You have your prac partners. Would one from each pair please come up and get the design brief for this experiment.’

‘I’ll go,’ said Tully. ‘You get our seat.’

Within minutes the two were scanning over the paper. The experiment was going to take place in the gym. A hush had fallen over the class as the pairs of students read what was about to happen. When Agatha looked up, she saw the Ms Faber had moved to the door of the lab. ‘Okay, when you’re ready you will need to bring your books, and your partner and come to the door.’

The hush disappeared as the excitement grew. ‘It’s a race, a competition,’ someone said.

‘We’ve got this, I know how to make ours the best.’

Agatha looked at Tully who was still reading, and they fell in at the back of the line. ‘What do you think?’ Tully asked.

‘I’ve never done anything like this before, but I think we can do it.’

Ms Faber walked along the corridor and the class followed, leaving the building and stepping into the bright mid-morning sun.

As they walked towards the imposing gym the conversation grew louder and louder.

Once inside, the students were gathered at the end of the gym. ‘As you can see, there are witch’s hats placed along the side. You and your partner will be placed at one of the hats.’ Ms Faber’s explanation was interrupted by the pairs of students immediately talking among themselves as to which hat they wanted. ‘Quiet please. I will place you, so you don’t have to make that decision now.’

Ms Faber moved to the side of the group. ‘At the other end of the gym, on those tables, is everything you will need and some other items for those of you who like to think outside the square.’

‘That’s me!’ someone said.

‘No, you are a square,’ came a retort and others laughed. Agatha remained silent and still.

‘So, you need to follow the design brief, choose the equipment you will need and complete the task. We have done a lot of work on writing up a report and setting out experiments, so that is your assignment. I suggest you take all the notes you can while you work, and you and your partner will submit a