Free When You Wish upon a Rat by Maureen McCarthy

things. Start off with a coat and nice boots. You’ve got great taste. Take your time and only buy things you love.”
    â€œThank you
so
much!”
    â€œYou’re welcome, darling.” Mary Ellen sighed thoughtfully. “You either love clothes and fashion or you don’t. Your mum and Faye were never interested, and that doesn’t make them inferior in any way, but if you are interested, as I know you are, it actually
hurts
not to have nice things!”
    â€œYes,” Ruth said quietly, brushing away tears with the back of her hand.
    â€œYour mum is the best, Ruthie, but she doesn’t really understand, does she?”
    â€œNo.” Ruth shook her head.
    â€œAnd money is tight. They’ve got three kids and they have to spend on essentials. That’s why I’m arranging things for you … in advance.”
    A chill went down Ruth’s spine.
    â€œPlease … don’t … go anywhere.” Ruth was overwhelmed by all she wanted to say. “Don’t …
go away
or anything.”
    Mary Ellen took her hand and squeezed it. “You’ll be fine. I know you will.”
    None of the conversation had seemed real at the time; even the gift certificate Ruth held in her hand seemed like it was part of a dream. But she didn’t know how to begin to tell her aunt any of this.
    After the funeral was over, Ruth’s mum wouldn’t leave her alone about the gift certificate.
    â€œRuthie, when are you going to buy your things with Auntie Mary Ellen’s money?”
    â€œSoon.”
    â€œIt’ll lift your spirits to go shopping.”
    â€œI’m okay, Mum, really.”
    â€œYou need some new things. And you have the money now.”
    â€œI know. I’ll go.”
    â€œDo you want me to come with you?”
    â€œNo!”
    Her mother had looked hurt but said nothing.
    Ruth cringed. The very idea of going into those cool shops with her mother was the stuff of a nightmare. But the truth was, she was terrified herself. She had no idea what she should buy first. To have so much money was scary.
    Then one Saturday morning her mother broke the news that she’d organized a shopping expedition behind Ruth’s back.
    â€œAll the girls will be over soon,” Mrs. Craze informed Ruth gaily as she sat at the kitchen table finishing her breakfast.
    â€œWho?” Ruth asked warily. Apart from Lou, who’d been over once—and what a disaster that had been—none of her other friends had ever even
seen
her house, so she had no idea who her mother meant.
    â€œYour friends, darling. Lou and Bonnie and Katy and who is the other one? I’ve forgotten.”
    â€œ
What?
” Ruth stared at her mother in horror.
    â€œI met Lou’s mother down the street,” Mrs. Craze chattered on proudly. “She told me that all your friends were concerned when they heard about Mary Ellen. Why didn’t you tell them, I wonder. Anyway, we got talking and decided that you should go shopping with your girlfriends.”
    â€œYou did
what
?”
    â€œOh, darling, please.” Her mother’s cheerful expression took on an anxious edge. “I thought you’d love it. Going shopping with your friends will do you good.”
    â€œBut
you
don’t know my friends!” Ruth spluttered.
    â€œI met Lou that time,” her mother said reproachfully, “and I met her mother at the parent-teacher night last week, and we ran into each other again, so …”
    â€œYou shouldn’t talk to other parents when you go to those things!”
    â€œOh, Ruth.”
    â€œI don’t want to go shopping.”
    â€œIt’s already arranged.”
    â€œBut it will be so embarrassing! Besides, they’ve got better things to do.”
    â€œBut they’re your friends. Lou’s mother said they’re all lovely girls and would be happy to come.”
    All your friends are concerned for you.
Since the