Free Eva's Journey by Judi Curtin Page A

patient.’
    â€˜Patience is for losers,’ I muttered.
    Madam Margarita laughed a big happy laugh.
    â€˜That’s funny,’ she said.
    I looked at her in surprise. If I was as poor as she seemed to be, and if I had to use a wheelchair, would I ever think anything was funny again?
    Would I ever be able to laugh?
    Would I ever even be able to smile?
    â€˜I’d better get back to my friend.’ I said.
    â€˜OK,’ said Madam Margarita. ‘But there’s one more thing.’
    â€˜What?’
    â€˜That’ll be another ten euro.’
    I gulped.
    â€˜But I don’t have……..’ I began.
    Madam Margarita gave another happy laugh.
    â€˜I’m joking,’ she said. ‘Now off you go and have a nice day.’
    I smiled as she wheeled herself away, on perfectly silent, squeak-free wheels.

Chapter Fourteen
    O n Monday, Ella wasn’t at school, and I ended up sitting next to a girl who I’d never noticed before. She was tall and thin, and her straight brown hair hung like a curtain half way across her face. What I could see of her face was blank, like it had been drawn by an artist who wasn’t very good at catching expressions, She sat still and silent in her seat, almost like she wanted to be invisible.
    â€˜I’m Eva,’ I said as I sat down.
    â€˜I know,’ said the girl. Her voice was hoarse, almost like she wasn’t used to talking.
    Then there was a long silence.
    â€˜And?’ I said.
    â€˜And what?’
    I sighed.
    â€˜This is the bit where you say,
Hi, Eva, my name is whatever. Nice to meet you!
and all that stuff. You know – it’s called conversation. Lots of people do it. You should try it some time.’
    It was hard to tell from behind her curtain of hair, but I don’t think she even smiled.
    â€˜I’m Ruby,’ she said, and then she hunched over her homework diary, making it clear that this very short conversation was now over.
    I was considering getting up and finding somewhere else to sit, but just then Mr Gowing came in to the classroom, so reluctantly, I stayed where I was.
    It was a very long day.
    After another few attempts, I stopped trying to chat to Ruby. I felt like I was wasting my breath. It would have been easier to talk to one of the grey classroom walls.
    When at last the bell rang for home time, I hurried to pack up my books.
    â€˜Bye, Ruby,’ I said. ‘It was totally fun chatting toyou today.’
    She gazed at me with the same blank expression she’d worn all day.
    No conversation skills and no sense of humour I thought. I really know how to pick people to sit next to.
    Ruby was still gazing at me.
    â€˜Be like that,’ I muttered as I zipped up my bag.
    But then I sighed as Madam Margarita’s words began their daily echo through my head.
    Help people.
    Any fool could see that Ruby needed help, but needing help and wanting help were two very different things.
    And besides, how could you help someone who wouldn’t even talk to you?
    But …
    â€˜Hey, Ruby,’ I said. ‘Do you want to be my partner for our maths project? We could go to the library after school tomorrow and get started if you like.’
    Ruby put her head up quickly and her hairswished back. For the first time, I saw her face properly. She had perfect, clear skin and huge brown eyes. For one second, the blank expression disappeared, and she looked … surprised? …… pleased? I wasn’t sure which.
    â€˜Thank you, Eva,’ she said quietly.
    â€˜So you want us to work together?’ I said, realising that I had been half-hoping that she was going to refuse.
    â€˜No,’ she said quickly. ‘But thank you for asking me anyway.’
    Suddenly I felt offended.
    â€˜So why don’t you want to work with me?’ I asked.
    It’s not like people are queuing up to be your partner.
    â€˜I’m going to do my maths project on my own. Mr Gowing said