Free sUnwanted Truthst Page A

him.’
    â€˜I do, thank you. I should have bought a present for Anna.’
    â€˜Don’t worry about that. She’s got loads, and her friends will bring some more. You better put it in your saddle-bag,’ he nodded towards the record.
    â€˜Are you sure it’s alright me coming? I mean with your mother.’ Jenny took hold of the handlebars.
    â€˜Course it is. Come on.’ Martin draped his arm around Jenny’s shoulders and they walked along the street.
    â€˜Have you always lived here?’ Jenny asked.
    â€˜We used to live in the centre of Brighton. But I don’t remember it. I think we moved here when I was about five. You can leave your bike here, behind mine.’ Martin led Jenny through a side door, to where a bicycle with drop handlebars stood against the wall of the house. Jenny positioned her front wheel so that it lightly touched the rear wheel of Martin’s bicycle. ‘Don’t look so worried,’ Martin said as Jenny bit her lower lip. He took her hand and led her through the back door and into the kitchen.
    A slim dark-haired woman, wearing an apron with a frill around the edge, looked up and smiled at Jenny. She was turning a jelly upside down on a plate. ‘So you’re Jenny?’
    â€˜I hope it’s alright me coming today, Mrs Barretti?’
    â€˜Yes, of course it is. Martin hasn’t stopped talking about you all week.’
    â€˜Mum, for God’s sake. Come on Jenny.’ He took her hand and pulled her through the doorway.
    â€˜Yes, take Jenny into the front room. I don’t know if Anna’s in there, her friends haven’t arrived yet. I’m setting the food on the table in the dining room.’
    â€˜We’ll go in there first then,’ said Martin, throwing a grin at his mother.
    â€˜Don’t you dare,’ she laughed.
    Jenny relaxed, picking up on the easy atmosphere, and followed Martin along the hallway and into a neat sitting room.
    â€˜Well, Anna’s not in here, that’s good.’ Martin sank into the sofa. ‘Sit down here,’ he patted the seat beside him. ‘I’ll put some 45s on the record player in a minute. That will get us into the party mood.’
    â€˜I like you in those trousers. They suit you.’ Martin looked down approvingly as Jenny sat beside him.
    â€˜They’re Capri pants. I always wear them when I cycle.’
    There was a thundering of feet on the stairs. The door burst open. ‘There you are. Where’s my money?’ A girl with straight dark hair and a fringe faced them, with both hands on her hips.
    â€˜What are you talking about?’ said Martin.
    â€˜You know what I’m talking about; my birthday money. I had five pound notes, on my bed-side table. Now I’ve only got three. You’ve taken them. No one else would.’
    â€˜No I haven’t,’ Martin said.
    â€˜You’re a liar and a thief.’
    â€˜And you’re a rude brat. We’ve got a guest, and all you can do is scream and shout. Aren’t you going to say hello?’
    â€˜No I’m not.’ Her dark eyes flashed from under her fringe. ‘Not ‘til you own up and give me my money back.’
    â€˜Anna, Anna, what on earth’s going on? It’s your birthday.’ Mrs Barretti stood behind her daughter in the hallway. Her hands were white with icing sugar.
    â€˜I don’t care. I want my money.’
    â€˜Martin, did you take it?’
    â€˜No, of course I didn’t. She’s just lost it. It’s probably lying in all that mess under her bed. She never cleans her room.’
    â€˜We’ll sort it out later Anna. You don’t need it now do you? Just calm down, and go and get ready. Your friends will be here any minute. I’m sorry about this Jenny. Your first visit, what must you think of us?’
    â€˜It’s alright,’ said Jenny, thinking that she had never experienced the rough and tumble