Page Numbers

6- Katie

I took a deep breath and began to read, my voice croaky and soft but slowly warming up and becoming clearer. The more I read, the more I got lost in the story and it's characters, the letters and numbers seeming to float off the page, becoming a blur as they started to spin faster, and faster and faster around Josée and I. The words seemed to blur together and I could no longer concentrate on the story, just the flashes of colourful drawings and pictures. I feel myself falling into a deep, dark hole immersed in swirling letters and numbers -

"-Ahem" said a voice, I squeal like a little girl and snap the book shut before looking at Josée. Her face was pale and clammy, she looked like she had just seen a ghost. She gave me weak smile before staring down at her palms. Then slowly I looked up at the all-to familiar voice.

"Umm, Hi Dad" I reply quickly, trying to keep my voice level.

"Good Morning Katie", he looks down at me with mild concern. "Are you alright?"

"Umm, Why wouldn't I be and wh-" I stop abruptly. I look out the window at the sunlight streaming through and then at the big, old grandfather clock. "10:30 am" I mumble under my breath, before looking back at my father. "What do you mean 'Good Morning', It can't be morning already" I asked holding my breath.

He looked unsettled "Katie you were reading that book all night!", his kind expression changed to a scowl and he walked to the door and opened it, "Why don't you and Josée go to the park, I have some work to attend to, and I don't need screaming children to interrupt me" he snapped. I sighed, I knew it was to good to be true.

"Ok Dad" I turned to Josée, "Let's go Jo" We walked out of the house and down to the park that was only a few blocks away.

"Kat" Jo asked on the way, "Why doesn't Daddy love us?" My heart broke at this question, I struggled to come up with a suitable answer.

"Don't think that Jo, Daddy loves you very, very much. I pause before continuing, "He is just a little sad that Mummy's gone on holiday that's all".

She smiled up at me and said, "That's good". We continued walking down the street, when the park was insight however she asked, "When is mummy coming home?" I stopped and bent down until I was her height, I smile at her and say "Mummy will be coming home very soon, don't you worry your pretty little head" I kissed her nose and asked, "Do you want a piggy back?"

"Yes Please" she squealed, I turned around and allowed her to climb on my back, I took off running with her egging me on. I laughed and slowed down once we reached the park. She slid off my back and landed with a thump in the garden bed. I laughed and offered my hand, I pulled her up and looked around the park. Their was a old couple watching 2 kids, a young couple who were strolling hand in hand around the park and a brown haired boy who was sitting on a park bench, next to the playground, reading a book. Josée ran off to the play ground and began playing, I sat down on the bench next to the boy and took a peek at his book. It was Page Numbers.

"Hey, I have that book" I said. The boy looked surprised. "Really?" He asked me. "Do you like it?"

"Yeah, I'm reading it to my little sister at the moment." I point at Josée, who was playing with some other children on the swings. "That's her other there."

We sat in silence for a moment gazing at each other, scrutinising every detail. His clothes looked like he had been wearing them for a few days, even though his skin was clean. My eyes slowly drifted down to his shoulder. I held in a gasp, as I stared down at the ugly bruise. He saw me looking and quickly shrugged his shoulders, covering up the bruise. I looked away embarrassed and saw Josée running at me.

"How was the playground Jo?" I asked. She looked at the boy next to me and then looked back at me curiously.

"Oh right, Josée this is..." I paused when I realised I didn't know his name.

"Hi, I'm Xander" he said, "And you must be Josée" She looked at him smiling.

"Yep, That's me, and this is my big sister Kat" He looked at me, "Kat?" he asked, not trying to suppress his surprise.

"Kats just a nickname, my real names Katie" I say quickly. I look down at my phone and read the time. "11:30" I yell in surprise. "We have to go. Nice meeting you Xander, come on Josée, let's go". I grabbed Josée's and started walking away.

"Wait" Xander called after us, I turned around to see Xander jogging after us. "Yeah" I respond.

"I was just wondering if I could have your number" He said in a rush.

"Sure" We exchange phones. "Any way, we have got to go, so I guess I'll see you later" I say.

"Yeah, see you later". I turn around and walk away with Josée. I had a faint fluttering feeling in my stomach as I walked away from him. I smiled to myself, I had a feeling that this would not be the last time that I meet Xander.