Chapter 8

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Blackbird singing in the dead of night, take these broken wings and learn to fly – The Beatles (from the song Blackbird)

*

It was a dull rainy day, and there was nothing to do. Well, there was social media, the 30-year-old recorder and a few dusty books, but none of those options appealed to Everett. So he thought about inviting a friend over. The trouble was, who? Jade could never do things at short notice, and Hassan was visiting his cousins this weekend, so that left Marty and Amelia. He texted Marty.

Everett: hey, do you wanna hang out at my house today

Marty: sorry bro i got work to do :(

Everett: ok have fun

Marty: ill try 😅 😂 🥴

He was apprehensive about texting Amelia. Sure, they'd had the odd conversation together, but it might end up being awkward if they were going to hang out for a few hours. Plus, she'd been kind of moody lately. But boredom bulldozed all those apprehensions.

Everett: hiya, do you wanna hang out at my house today

Amelia: yeah, sure! what time?

Everett: whenever, you can come now if you want

Amelia: ok cool

Everett went into his parents' bedroom to tell Mum about Amelia coming over. But just as he was about to retreat to his bedroom, Mum stopped him in his tracks with a chore.

"Why do I have to mop the floor?" moaned Everett loudly.

"Because I'm taking some time to relax, and your friend is coming over," said Mum in her calm voice.

"But I'm tired!"

"You've been napping for the whole morning, how much longer do you want?"

Everett sighed. Maybe Mum didn't remember the tiredness of being a teenager.

"Here's a deal," said Everett, sitting up on Mum's bed with unbrushed hair. "I'll mop the floor, but only if I can play my music out loud while doing it."

Mum considered this for a moment. On one hand, she didn't share much of Everett's taste in music; on the other hand, she loved the way that music made her son so happy. Smiling, she said, "Alright then. Don't play it too loud, mind."

Beaming, Everett jumped off her bed and ran down the stairs to set up his JBL speaker. Music was one of the few things that always put Everett in a good mood. So he mopped the floor to the music, ensuring it was well done and sweeping up any fallen broccoli. Then, seeing that the washing up needed doing, he did this as well. Then he brushed his hair, brushed his teeth, and did all those things he couldn't be bothered to do earlier. It was easy to get into the swing of things once he started doing things.

But once it was all done, he felt exhausted like he'd run a marathon. Yet his mind was still racing with those thoughts he tried so hard to outrun; he wished it would stop, or at least take a break. He slumped onto the sofa. As soon as he did so, the doorbell rang. What auspicious timing. He dragged himself to the door to let Amelia in.

"Hi, Ev!" said Amelia brightly, brandishing a big grin that made it impossible to stay grumpy.

"Hi Amelia," he said, mirroring her grin, "do you want to come in? You can keep your shoes on if you want."

"No, I've been out walking in muddy fields, better take them off."

"Good walk?" he asked as Amelia took off her stylish blue trainers.

"Yeah, went through the Ferndale fields from Greenling. It's so peaceful there. I often walk there after school."

Wait, there was a link between their villages? How had he not known this? Fifteen years living in Ferndale, and he hadn't even noticed...

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