Free Brave New Girl by Catherine Johnson Page A

I scanned the gallery one more time. Nothing. I took out my phone.
    Down in the chapel Denny was singing away, unaware that his only brother was gone. I started dialling.
    Luckily, I saw Arthur just before I pressed the last nine. There he was, down with the choir, singing his heart out.
    â€œArthur!” I said, and the whole choir stopped and looked up at me. Straggly-beard man looked daggers. I said sorry over and over again.
    I ran downstairs and dragged Arthur back up to the gallery. “What did you go and do that for?”
    â€œIt’s not fair!” Arthur said. “Why can’t I sing too?”
    â€œYour time will come, Art, believe!”
    â€œWant to sing now!” He was really whining. “Why can’t
I
sing at the Olympics?”
    â€œI don’t know what’s up with you, Art, you’re never this naughty!”
    â€œI am not naughty!” He stared at me defiantly.“And you’re not my mum!” For a second I thought he was going to do that half-sister thing that Denny had done. But he didn’t. It was hard to get him interested in anything in his robot activity book after that.
    The bus home was a nightmare. Mum wasn’t driving and the boys fought. Other passengers looked at me like I was some deliquent school-girl mother rather than a harassed older sister.
    â€œDenny, your singing is cack-o-rama,” Arthur said.
    â€œDon’t say that!” Denny snapped back.
    â€œCackorama, cackorama, cackorama, cackorama, cackorama... did you know cack is spanish for sh–”
    â€œArthur!” I hissed. “No swearing!”
    â€œI know something!” Arthur said to me in the loudest stage-whisper ever. “I know who Denny likes.” Arthur was smiling, his curls framing his face like a naughty cherub.
    â€œOh yes?” I said. My little brother had a crush? I thought I ought to know.
    â€œShut up!” Denny’s voice was threatening.
    Arthur squirmed and giggled.
    â€œAlly- Ally- i-cia…” he sang.
    â€œShut up!” Denny was suddenly bright red in the face.
    â€œDenny loves Alicia Welsh!” Arthur shouted, and Denny leant across and gave him a chinese burn before I could stop him. Arthur started wailing.
    â€œDenny!” I said, too late.
    â€œYou’re a baby, Art, you know that,” Denny said smugly.
    â€œAm not!” Arthur said, totally baby-like.
    â€œI had my picture in the Gazette and I’ll be on the telly all over the world!”
    Arthur looked crushed. His little face said ‘loser’ louder than any words.
    â€œArt, Arthur!” I said. “What about this?” I took the newspaper out of my pocket. “If you entered this, I bet you’d win.” I had my fingers crossed.
    Arthur looked mildly interested. “Do you win a trip to Disneyland?” he said.
    I didn’t know. “You get your picture in the paper.”
    Denny looked across and snorted. “Kutest Kiddie? Arthur would never win.”
    â€œWould so!”
    â€œWould not!”
    â€œWould so!”
    â€œWOULD NOT!”
    â€œBoys! Please!” I stared at them with my VulcanDeath glare. Denny looked at me and curled his lip, and I realised he was totally immune to my scariest face. Outside, the bus had reached the edge of the estate.
    â€œIf either of you play up again,” I said, in a tone that I hoped was low and deadly, “we are getting off here and walking!”
    A whole load of boys got on at the next stop. I felt my insides turn over. One of them was ten-foot-tall Jamie Kendrick. I didn’t know any of the others’ names but I recognised them all from school, from Sasha’s year. The way my afternoon, no, the way my entire life was going, I would put money on Luke Beckford being with them and this journey turning into a massive ‘humiliate Seren’ fest. I crossed my fingers. I crossed my fingers on both hands and willed them to stay standing