LITMIR.BIZ

      The fire was burning in the kitchen again. The room smelled of wood smoke and toast. The table had a red and white checked cloth on it this morning. In the middle was a basket of eggs, a plate piled high with toast and some boxes of cereal. Addie had never seen so much food.

      Sunni was eating a bowl of Addie’s favourite Cocoa Puffs. She waved her spoon at Addie. This time she didn’t smile.

      ‘Sit yourself down, Addie,’ Ruth said. ‘Do you like eggs?’ She pointed to the basket. The eggs inside were brown and speckled. Not at all like the ones from Mr Borovski’s shop, or the supermarket in the precinct. There was a tiny brown feather stuck to one of them.

      ‘Freshly laid,’ Ruth said. She smiled. ‘I’ve got two of the biggest nearly ready, especially for you.’

      ‘I’m not hungry,’ Addie said. She didn’t like this kitchen that pretended to be a happy place. And she didn’t like Ruth pretending to be her mam.

      ‘I’ll make you a hot chocolate then, shall I? You might feel hungrier in a bit.’ Ruth lifted a huge yellow jug from the table and took it to the stove

      ‘That’s goat’s milk in that jug,’ Sunni said. ‘Bet you’ve never had that before.’

      Addie hadn’t, but she didn’t say so. She pulled back a chair.

      ‘Not there,’ Sunni said. ‘That’s next to Jude’s seat.’

      ‘So?’ said Addie.

      ‘He doesn’t let anyone sit next to him.’

      ‘Why not?’ said Addie. Jude sounded horrible.

      ‘Just doesn’t,’ said Sunni, shrugging. She reached for a carton of orange juice and poured some for herself.

      Ruth came across to the table and pulled out the chair next to Sunni. It had a blue cushion on it. A fat ginger cat was sleeping there.

      ‘Sit here, Addie, love,’ Ruth said. ‘Widget, off.’

      Widget opened one green eye. Then the other. He jumped down and stared at Addie, his tail twitching from side to side. Then he curled himself round Addie’s legs and walked slowly away.

      ‘He likes you,’ Ruth said. ‘He usually ignores new people at first.’

      Addie sat down. Widget had left his warm smell behind him on her chair. She wished he would come back.

      A small boy came into the kitchen. His wrists and ankles poked out from Superman pyjamas, thin as winter twigs. He stopped, peered at Addie from underneath pale curls, stared down at his feet.

      The child with the blue light.

      Addie watched him, noticed how he twisted his hands together; saw the shadows under his eyes.

      ‘That’s Jude,’ Sunni said. ‘He’s six but he can’t talk.’

      Ruth handed Addie a mug of hot chocolate. ‘Jude can talk, Sunni. Remember? He just doesn’t feel like talking to us right now.’

      She gave Jude a reassuring nod, brought him over to his chair. He knelt up on it and grabbed three slices of toast. Then he reached for Sunni’s cereal packet.

      ‘He eats loads,’ said Sunni.

      ‘Maybe we could save the cereal for later, Jude?’ Ruth said, taking the box from him. ‘We can keep it out on the side here, for when you need it.’ She held out her hand. Jude clutched the box for a moment, then let go. He looked up at Addie. His eyes were huge, deep blue, and still as a lake. Addie smiled at him, but he looked away.

      Ruth took the tops off two eggs for him and one for Addie. ‘Just in case.’

      Jude shoved spoonfuls of egg and huge chunks of toast into his mouth, all at the same time. He made slurping sounds as he ate. Addie tried not to look at him. She could tell he wouldn’t want her to. She sipped her hot chocolate. It was warm and creamy, nicer than the one she’d tried the night before. But not as nice as the cocoa Mam made. When she remembered to buy milk.

      Sunni kept talking non-stop, telling Ruth about her best friend from school, Mira, and her amazing house. Addie was glad. She didn’t want to speak to either of them.

      Ruth’s phone rang.

      ‘I need to take this,’ Ruth said. I’ll just be in the lounge. Won’t be long.’ As she passed Jude’s chair, she rested her hand on his head for a moment; smiled over her shoulder at Addie.

      As soon as she was gone, Jude got down from the table and took the cereal packet again.

      ‘No, Jude,’ Sunni said. ‘Ruth wants you to leave it till later.’

      Jude stuffed his hand inside the box. Sunni got down from the table and snatched it from him. Pieces of chocolate rice flew into the air and skidded across the floor. Jude’s face turned bright red. He screamed: a thin, wild scream. Like the creature in the night. It made Addie’s heart hurt.

      Ruth came running in. She sent Sunni off to get ready for school. Then she sat down on the floor next to Jude, among the pieces of cereal.

      ‘Jude’s

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