Chapter One
One day I’ll go. One day I’ll pluck up the courage to pack a bag and just walk out, right in front of them. Yeah right… I said that a year ago. I should probably give you some context, my name is Tom, Tom Mills. I’m 14 and I live in a little house on Pheonix Way, right by the Trafford Centre. The house is tiny, too small for me, mum and dad. I call them mum and dad, not that they deserve to be called parents. Mum left for 3 years when I was 4. She came back when I ran away the first time. I run away a lot… She’s stuck around for the last 7 years, but I wish she hadn’t. All she does is work. She works in the Nando’s in the Trafford centre. Because the pay is so bad she works 12 hours a day. 7 days a week. So I never see her. Then there’s dad… All he does, is drink. He gets through at least 8 beers a day, if not more, and there’s always a bottle of vodka or rum in the cupboard. I have grown up hating the stench of alcohol on his breath. So that’s my parents, now time to tell you about me! Like I said, I’m 14, but you would expect me to have loads of friends and an epic social life and all that. No… Everyone in my form at school says I’m crazy. I don’t get it to be honest, the worst thing I’ve ever done is set fire to the chemistry lab when someone threw gum at my head. Oh and once I scrawled swear words all over people’s books when they tried to flush my head down the toilet. But apart from that I never do anything! I’m good at school though. Sort of. Well in not, my highest mark so far has been a C, but a couple of people got a D, so in not bottom!
Chapter Two
I’ve always had a love for eagles. Never did I think I would own one. My wacky Aunt Mable got me a mountain serpent eagle for no reason whatsoever. I swear it understands English, it looks me right in the eye when in talking and nods or shakes its head at appropriate times. I’ve been… noticing things as well. Weird things. For example, the other day I was in the shower and the water turned off, without going cold, and then turned on again. I didn’t touch the lever thing, and just before it turned off I thought how cool it would be if it turned itself off and on again. More stuff has been happening as well, im quite scared to be honest. All I know is that something has changed. Only in the past month or so has this been happening to me. The only question, is WHAT changed. As far as I know it’s something outside the house and the family. So I essentially have no way of knowing! Unless… could it be the eagle? I grab my coat, run downstairs and tell dad im going to aunt mable’s. He merely grunts and carries on watching the telly. I sprint down the road, down to mable’s house. I bang on the door continuously even though I can hear her walking down the hall muttering something about “hooligans knocking on my door all hours all the day!” She swings the door open and I cringe as it slams against the wall inside.
Chapter Three
“Hey mable, can I talk to you?”
“You already are dear!” she replied, still obviously annoyed about the door.
“Yes but I meant a proper talk.” I said impatiently.
“Fine, go in the living room, turn the telly off while you’re there.”
I walked into her shabby living room. Despite it’s obvious age and desperate need for modernisation, Mable’s house is the only place I ever feel happy. At my house it’s shabby, dirty, vaguely modern (to the point it’s not trendy, but it still cant get away with vintage) and always stinks of dad’s booze. Some boring antiques show is on the telly. I willingly turn it off. Mable walks into the room as im sitting down in her big red armchair.
“Get up! You know full well that’s my seat, sit on the sofa.”
“Yes ma’am…” I say under my breath.
“I heard that. Don’t be cheeky with me, you need to show some respect.”
“Yeah well I get loads of that don’t I?!” I yell.
