LITMIR.BIZ

      Drake discovered when he arrived home that his mother had baked an enormous chocolate cake covered with marshmallows and chillies. It was Drake’s favourite but when he saw it his heart sank.

      “Dad’s not coming tonight, is he?”

      “No, sweet, I’m afraid his secretary called to say that he’s just too busy. I’m sure he’ll make it up to you. Have some cake.” Drake’s mum was short and soft-looking, with kind large brown eyes, long eyelashes and a head of large wild orange curls. Drake was grateful that he’d inherited his dad’s hair, even if it wasn’t perfect.

      “Thanks Mum.” Drake walked up to his room before his mum could notice that he was wearing Roche’s jacket. He didn’t want to have to explain. He took off the pieces of his dad’s outfit and put on some normal clothes. He sighed. Everything was dreadful. It couldn’t get any worse. He’d made a fool of himself in front of everyone. It was like one of those dreams you have when you were in front of the class naked … only it was real. Everyone in the school would know by now and tomorrow everyone would be laughing at him. They’d be sticking notes on his back and calling him ‘naked boy’ or something cleverer than he could think up himself. And he had made a fool of himself in front of Juniper. He cringed at the memory of standing up there grinning like an idiot. And he had to face her in detention tomorrow night. He groaned loudly. Then his stomach groaned loudly.

      He went downstairs and ate some cake to keep his mum and his stomach happy and then went back to his room and went to bed. He wondered why he had to say such stupid things. And why did his dad have so many things to do that were more important than him? Maybe if he didn’t say so many stupid things, he thought, his dad might have more time for him. He covered his head with his blankets, wallowing in self-pity, and cried himself to sleep.