Free Lily Alone by Jacqueline Wilson Page B

for bad boys.’
    â€˜Good, see if I care,’ Baxter shouted, but he was looking scared now.
    Bliss took hold of his hand and he didn’t pull it away.
    â€˜Mum’s coming back by Saturday,’ she said.
    â€˜Yes, but the social workers will think she’s an unfit mother because she left us,’ I said. ‘You don’t get it, any of you, do you?’
    They all stared up at me, eyes big, faces white – and I felt terrible for frightening them so.
    â€˜But it’s all right, everything will be fine, so long as you’re good and keep quiet when I say. Now, come on, we’ll go to the playground.’

We had the adventure playground all to ourselves, apart from one girl who had taken her baby there. The baby was asleep in his buggy, his head lolling. The girl swung listlessly backwards and forwards, looking half asleep too.
    I wondered if Mum and I had looked like that once. I suddenly wanted Mum so much. I wanted to crouch down and whimper like Pixie when she’s tired, but I made myself organize the kids instead. I let Baxter stagger up the slide to the makeshift den on top. It was just a few planks of wood but it was where the big boys hung out. Baxter whooped triumphantly when he found a cigarette butt and a crumpled can of beer. He squatted up at the top, cigarette in one hand, beer in the other, yelling, ‘I’m the boss of this den!’
    Pixie wanted to clamber up after him and perch there too with her teddies and all the paraphernalia from home, but I knew Baxter wouldn’t want to share.
    â€˜I know a much better place for our picnic,’ I said, and I spread out the rug on the top of the little roundabout. I hoisted Pixie up on top and helped Bliss after her. I felt foolish getting the teddies all settled too, glancing at the girl with the baby, but she didn’t seem the slightest bit interested. So we sat and spun slowly round and round and round, propelled by my foot.
    â€˜More, more, roundy roundy,’ Pixie yelled every time we slowed to a halt. Then she decided she felt sick and giddy. Headless had the same problem. Pixie grabbed him and made him throw up.
    â€˜How can he be sick when he hasn’t got a head ?’ said Bliss.
    â€˜He can’t help not having a head. And he’s still very very sick – listen,’ said Pixie. She was making Headless make horribly realistic noises.
    â€˜I think I feel sick too,’ said Bliss, holding her stomach.
    â€˜No you don’t. No one feels sick any more,’ I said firmly, ‘because it’s time for the picnic.’
    I got the Frosties and Jammy Dodgers and started sharing them out, giving tiny portions to each teddy too. Baxter came tumbling down from his den, demanding his own share, and some for his fork-lift truck. He was still clinging to his soggy cigarette and can of beer.
    â€˜Throw them away , they’re disgusting,’ I said. ‘You don’t know who’s had their mouths all round them.’
    â€˜Yes, I do. It was one of the big boys – Jacko or Lenny or Big Boots – I’m in their gang now,’ said Baxter.
    â€˜You wish,’ I said.
    â€˜I am . I’m the boss of this whole den,’ said Baxter. ‘I’m your boss, Lily Green, and you have to do exactly what I say.’ He kicked at me and hurt my leg. I decided to teach him a lesson.
    â€˜OK then,’ I said submissively.
    â€˜What?’
    â€˜ You’re the boss, Baxter. You can tell us all what to do and when to eat and all that stuff. You’re in charge now.’
    â€˜Yeah, I’m the boss,’ Baxter said, kicking his heels.
    â€˜Are you listening, Bliss and Pixie?’ I said. ‘We all have to do what Baxter says now. He’s looking after us. He’s going to tell us what to do.’
    â€˜You bet I am,’ said Baxter, but he sounded uncertain. He bashed his can of beer on the planks of wood. ‘You girls just do