Free Another Life by Keren David

allowing him extra visits because of the circumstances – Julie
and all that. How about taking . . . I know you won’t like it, but—’
    ‘I am not taking Pa with me, if that’s what you mean.’
    I bet it was, but she rallies quickly.
    ‘No, Danny, how about taking Archie? He and Ty are quite close now. Maybe it’d be good for them to see each other.’
    Ah. I’m not sure this is a great idea. I’m not happy at all about the job Claire’s given me. I think I’d better wait until Ty’s out and free.
    On the other hand, what if he tries to see her, goes berserk? Would it be my fault? Maybe he’s better off knowing about it when he’s nice and safe in prison, and everyone else is
nice and safe outside.
    I’d like to spend time with Danny and persuade him that he needs me as an assistant in the studio to entertain celebrity clients. From the way he’s acting now, he’s not going
to be up to the job.
    Danny’s voice is muffled. He must’ve decided to try the ciabatta, after all.
    ‘He’ll just be a pain.’
    ‘No he won’t. He’ll cheer Ty up. And Danny, maybe you can talk to him a bit about . . . you know . . . about why drugs aren’t a great idea. I’m worried about him.
We’ve always tried to keep him away from that London party lifestyle, but now he seems to have plunged in at the deep end. And I told you what they found in his room at Allingham
Priory.’
    ‘Pen, I’m not really the person for health education lectures.’
    ‘But Danny, you are. Really. You’ve had the experience, you see, and that’s what the kids listen to. Honestly. He’s much more likely to listen to you than to me or
David.’
    ‘Don’t sell yourself short, Pen. And as for David, I’m sure there are loads of stories he could tell. . .’
    ‘Yes, but that’s not a great idea, is it? We’ve always kept Archie away from . . . well. . . And I never got involved in anything at all.’
    ‘Yeah, right, big sister,’ he says and suddenly they’re both actually giggling, and I have no idea why. Mind you, it is laughable, the idea that my mum would ever do anything
even vaguely illegal.
    ‘How’s . . . what’s her name . . . Tess?’ says Mum, in her best I’m-not-very-interested voice.
    ‘Oh, we don’t really . . . I’m not so. . .’
    ‘Good. I thought she was a bit hard-faced.’
    ‘Oh, thanks Pen, nice of you to say so.’
    ‘Is there anyone else?’
    ‘Nothing serious.’
    ‘Nicki?’
    ‘Just a friend. It’s best that way.’
    ‘I’m sorry, Danny.’
    ‘Don’t be.’
    Argh! I’ve got cramp! I writhe around silently, but then I crash into a massive cactus, which topples over, spraying me with dirt and spiking my chest. I yelp in agony.
    ‘Archie?’ says Mum. ‘What are you doing there? What have you done to Bertha?’
    ‘Who the hell is Bertha?’ asks Danny.
    ‘It’s my name for the cactus. It reminds me of my mother-in-law – large and prickly. What were you doing in there, anyway?’
    ‘Oh um, nothing. . .’ I say, painfully disengaging from the vicious plant.
    ‘Maybe he came in through the cat flap,’ says Danny.
    Huh. I’ll do the sarcasm around here . . . or actually, that’s my dad’s speciality.
    ‘We don’t even have a cat,’ says Mum.
    ‘I’m starving! When are you going to feed me?’
    She flicks a tea towel at me. ‘Now, but you’re naughty to spy on people. Too much time on your hands, that’s your problem.’
    ‘That’s not my fault,’ I point out, before I remember that actually it is.
    ‘Well, you’ll be busy from next week. You’re going to start at Butler’s.’ I must have looked blank, because she says, ‘The tutorial college that Lily might go
to. Her mum’s thinking of transferring her. Costs an arm and a leg, but you’ll get through your GCSEs very quickly with intensive teaching in small groups.’
    The cramp disappears instantly, I forget Bertha’s prickles. I’m leaping around with excitement.
    ‘Woo! Thanks Ma! You mean I can