Free Boys Beware by Jean Ure Page A

see an abbey! I would rather see Wackeen! But Gran and Grandad have set their hearts on it. They just love going round old buildings, especially if they are holy. They would be really upset if I told them I didn’t want to go.
    What a lot of sacrificing one has to do in this life!
    Have just broken off to discuss the situation with Tash. She informs me that I am the one Wackeen is attracted to; not her. I don’t know whether this is true or not!!! He has a really beautiful smile, and I did notice that he seemed to take more notice of me than he did of Tash. If he really likes me better it must be because I have blonde hair. You probably don’t get many people with blonde hair in Spain. Tash is being very good about it, I must say. She says she is really happy for me, and I believe her. I would be happy for her if it were the other way round!
    Week 6, Saturday
    I think Gran and Grandad really enjoyed their visit to the old abbey. I’m glad I didn’t tell them that I’d rather have stayed behind and gone down to the beach; it would have been unkind. All the same, I couldn’t help feeling it was a day wasted. I did quite like the abbey, but I would far rather have been with Wackeen!
    Actually, I have now discovered that he is called Joaquin. Grandad laughed and laughed when I said Wackeen! Though to be honest, I couldn’t really hear all that much difference; just a bit more huffing and puffing at the start, like Hhhho-ackeen. I’m sticking to Wackeen!
    We saw him this evening in his sister’s restaurant. They were really busy and he was helping out, so we didn’t get much of a chance to talk. But he kept catching my eye across the room and winking at me, and I kept dissolving into giggles, mainly because Tash wouldkeep
prodding
and
nudging.
Ali didn’t get what was happening, she kept going, “What? What is it?” and Gran told me in reproving tones to “Stop being so obvious, Emily! It’s demeaning.” Well, ho! I bet Gran was obvious enough in her day, even if she didn’t start till she was fifteen. I’ve seen photos of her in mini skirts!

    Tomorrow we have to go back home. I do wish we didn’t. It is
so
frustrating. Just as I’ve met someone! If I could just have one more day I feel that Wackeen and me could really get to know each other. Tash is right, it
is
me he goes for. He is definitely interested! But he is going home himself tomorrow, so no chance. He has promised that he will write to me, so I am trying to be hopeful, but I have read too often in magazines like
Glam Girl
about holiday romances which come to nothing. Tash has done her best to cheer me up by pointing out that living in Spain “he wouldn’t actually be much
use
to you. Like you couldn’t take him to parties, or anything.”
    I know she is right, but I could at least tell everyone that I had a boyfriend, and show them pictures. Tash says I could still do that, if I wanted. We got Grandad to take loads of photos in the restaurant, and Tash swears she would never give me away.
    “I’d never tell anyone he wasn’t really your boyfriend.”
    That is so sweet of her! But I think it would be just too sad to pretend that someone was my boyfriend when he wasn’t. I said this to Tash, and reluctantly she agreed with me. She said, “It’s a nice idea, but you’re right. The time for fantasy is over! What we need are
real
boys.” I mean, for goodness’ sake, we are nearly thirteen!
    Sunday
    Back home. Back to buying toilet rolls and thinking what to eat. Back to
independent living!!!
    To make matters worse, it’s my turn to do the cooking! Except that I have decided Ali is right, and that tins are the way to go. Went shopping after we got back and now the cupboard is positively bursting. Hooray! A tin a day keeps hunger away. And, as Tash says, will keep us going if the terrorists come. She is still obsessed!

    Earlier, coming back from the station in a cab (Grandad gave us the money! He is so sweet), we arrived home at the same