Читать книгу What Not to Do If You Turn Invisible - Ross Welford, Ross Welford - Страница 24

That’s when I know she doesn’t believe me.

Why would she? It sounds completely demented. Gram doesn’t believe me because she cannot see me, and if she cannot see that I actually am invisible, then why on earth should she believe me?

It’s crazy. ‘Preposterous’ even, to use one of Gram’s favoured expressions.

I wait. I have told her everything. I have told her the whole truth and nothing but. All I can do is wait to see what she says.

What Gram says is this:

‘Ethel, my pet. It’s hard growing up. You’re at a very tricky crossroads in your life …’

Oo-kaay, I think. Don’t like the sound of where this is going, but go on …

‘I think many of us feel invisible at some point in our lives, Ethel. As though everyone is just ignoring us. I know I did at your age. I did my best to fit in, but sometimes my best was not enough …’

This is getting worse. Can there be anything worse than a sympathetic response that completely and utterly misses the point?

I’m struck dumb, sitting there listening to Gram drone on about ‘feeling like you are invisible’ while I watch my teacup magically rise and fall to my lips.

Then I look down and gasp in horror. There’s the tea that I have just drunk, floating in a little misshapen lump where my stomach is.

My gasp causes Gram to pause.

‘What is it, darling?’

‘My … my t-tea! I can see it!’ No sooner have I said this than I realise how daft it sounds.

‘I beg your pardon, Ethel?’

‘Oh, erm … nothing. Sorry. I, erm, I missed what you were saying.’

‘Listen, I’m sorry you’re feeling this way, but we’ll have to talk about it when I get back this afternoon. It’s the treasurer’s report next and Arthur Tudgey is sick, so I have to deliver it. I have to go back in.’

And I’ve had enough. That’s it.

‘No, Gram. You’re not listening. I really have disappeared. I don’t mean in an imaginary way. I mean really. Really really – not metaphorically. My body is not visible. My face, my hair, my hands, my feet – they are actually invisible. If you could see me, well … you wouldn’t be able to see me.’

Then it hits me.

‘FaceTime! Gram, let’s FaceTime and then you’ll see!’

I’m not even sure Gram can do FaceTime, but I’m sounding hysterical anyway.

I’m trying to put this the best way I can but it’s coming out all wrong, and the tone of her voice has gone from sympathetic and concerned to something a little bit harder, a bit stern.

‘Ethel. I think you have gone far enough with this, darling. We’ll talk later. Goodbye.’

It’s me who hangs up this time.