Read Out of Shadows for Free Online

Rhrob-ett?”
    â€œYes,” I said. “Yes, it is.”
    â€œOne moment, pliss.”
    There was a hum. My eyes were swimming and blurred, my heart throbbed in my ears in time with the pain. Then, after what seemed like eternity, my father.
    â€œRobert.” It was neither question nor statement. “We spoke about this. No calls. Not this soon. It’ll only make it harder for you.”
    In the background I caught a noise and pictured a bottle pushing among bottles.
    â€œIs Mum there?”
    I could hear my father lifting his eyes to the ceiling.
    â€œIt’s gone nine, you know how your mother gets . . . sleepy.”
    â€œI need to speak to her.”
    â€œAbout what?”
    â€œI want to ask her. About something she once said.”
    He sighed. “Make it quick.”
    I heard the phone being handed over. Then my mother, incredibly near as though she was trying to climb down the wire.
    â€œDarling? Are you all right? I’m missing you so, so much. I mean, we both are.” Her voice was slightly loose, like she’d just woken up.
    Suddenly the words I’d wanted weren’t there. It had seemed so easy in my mind.
    â€œMum . . .” It was like there was something in my throat, stopping anything from coming. “I don’t like . . . I want to . . .”
    I swallowed hard and had to put my head against the wall.
    Gently, she filled the gap.
    â€œYou’ll never guess who I got a letter from today.”
    The corner of my mouth twitched up. “From Granny? I did, too.”
    â€œShe received the photographs I sent. She thinks you’re ever so good-looking in your uniform. She’s shown all her friends, and Marjorie Downe’s granddaughter is dying to see you again, by all accounts.”
    â€œMum!”
    â€œYou remember Natalie, don’t you? I don’t think she knew what a boy was the last time you and her met, but apparently she couldn’t take her eyes off you. I’m sure none of the girls at home will be able to when we go back, you’re the talk of the town. The mysterious boy from Africa. And so handsome!”
    From somewhere I found a laugh.
    â€œThat’s silly,” I said.
    â€œIt’s true! Cross my heart.” And then, coming even closer—“Bobby?”
    â€œYes, Mum?”
    â€œI haven’t forgotten, you know. About what I said in thecar. We still have a deal, yes?” I found myself nodding even if she couldn’t see. “I want to go home, too, but your father assures me he’s doing a good job of running the office and we have to give it a chance. We have to be fair. But if you’re not happy I will discuss it with him very soon. I promise.”
    â€œYes, Mum.”
    â€œGood boy. Just hang on in there a bit longer.” The sound of my father’s voice rumbled somewhere behind her. “I’ve got to go now. I’ll write . . .”
    Now he was taking the phone from her; I could hear the scratching of his beard.
    â€œIt’s gone
nine
, Robert.” He carried on from where he’d left off, as if only just realizing what that meant. “Shouldn’t you be in bed?”
    â€œI . . .”
    â€œGood-bye, Robert. Sleep well.”
    Clunk
.
    A few seconds passed. The sound of someone not saying anything, and then a gentle click as the operator closed the line.

SIX
    It took forever
, but that first term rolled and shuffled and eventually passed by. I couldn’t wait to get home. None of us could. Four whole weeks of not being at school was a dream come true.
    April turned into May. The rains had stopped and autumn was starting to bite the evening air. The holidays were good, but my father said he had to work all through them because his staff weren’t up to scratch. It meant we couldn’t go anywhere as a family like we’d planned. My mother met the news with a resigned nod