Читать книгу Lemonade Sky - Jean Ure, Stephen Lee, Jean Ure - Страница 7

“We’ve absolutely got to watch what we’re spending,” I said, as we wheeled our trolley into Tesco. It did make me feel a bit important, being in charge of the shopping. I told Tizz that she was to add things up as we went round.

“Make sure we don’t overspend.”

Tizz said, “OK.”

“We’ve got £9.75. So when we get up to £9 you’ve got to let me know.”

“OK,” said Tizz.

We set off down the first aisle, heading for the bread counter. We’d been to Tesco loads of times with Mum, which was just as well cos otherwise it would have been really confusing. I picked up two large loaves and put them in the trolley.

“That’s two at 55p,” I said.

“Got it,” said Tizz.

Sammy’s hand was already reaching out towards the cakes. She likes the little squishy ones covered in green and pink goo. Mum sometimes lets her have one as a treat.

“Rubeee!” She tugged at my arm. “Cakies!”

“Not now,” I said.

“Mum would let me!”

“Mum’s not here,” said Tizz.

“And anyway,” I said, “they’re not good for you.”

Sammy’s face crumpled. A woman walking past smiled, sympathetically.

“They are nice, though,” she said, “aren’t they?”

Well! That wasn’t a very helpful remark. I hastily hauled Sammy off towards the milk and eggs. I reached out for two cartons of milk and stared in outrage.

“£1.18?” Just for a carton of milk?

“That’s £3.36,” said Tizz.

“Just for milk?”

Tizz shrugged.

“That’ll only leave us…” I did some frantic finger work.

“£6.39,” said Tizz.

I was beginning to understand how it was that Mum kept running out of money and having to buy things on tick and borrow stuff from Her Upstairs. Rather grimly, I marched on down the aisle.

“Marge.”

Sammy opened her mouth and let out a wail. “Don’t like marge!”

“Nobody does,” said Tizz. “We’ve all just got to put up with it.”

I was so thankful that Tizz was being supportive at last. It was like the reality of the situation had suddenly hit her. Mum had disappeared and we were on our own. And if we didn’t want to be split up, we had to learn how to take care of ourselves. It wasn’t any use splurging on pink cakes and chocolate biscuits, then being forced to throw ourselves on the mercy of Her Upstairs cos we’d run out of money and there wasn’t any food left.