Free Don't Ask Alice by Judi Curtin Page A

like her sister.
    * * *
    When we got home, I wanted to start getting the dinner ready. Alice wouldn’t let me though.
    â€˜Jamie’s staying with Mum tonight,’ she said. ‘And I promised Dad I’d walk him over to her place.’
    Hmmm. How convenient , I thought.
    We collected Jamie from his dad’s house and took him around the corner to Veronica’s apartment. She asked us in, and I had no choice but to follow Alice inside.
    Alice didn’t waste any time. Before I’d even sat down, she said,
    â€˜Guess what, Mum? Dad has a date tonight.’
    In films, when that kind of thing happens, the mum puts her head in her hands and sobs dramatically, saying stuff like – ‘ How could he do this to me?’ and ‘But doesn’t he understand? I love  him – I’ll always love him. ’
    It looked like Veronica doesn’t watch the right films though. She actually laughed.
    â€˜Your dad? A date? I don’t think so, Alice.’
    Alice got cross.
    â€˜Why wouldn’t he have a date? He’s a very good-looking man. My teacher even said so.’
    I made a face at her. Our teacher had said a lot of stuff about Peter, but I’d never heard her say that he was good-looking.
    Veronica didn’t seem to wonder why Miss O’Herlihy would be saying anything at all about Peter.
    â€˜Well, maybe your dad is good-looking – in his own way,’ she said. ‘But a date? He’s not really the type, is he?’
    Alice stamped her foot.
    â€˜Well, maybe you don’t know him very well. He has a date. It’s with Megan’s aunt. They’re having a romantic dinner tonight. He’s really looking forward to it. In fact, he talked about nothing else all morning.’
    Veronica smiled.
    â€˜Well, good luck to him,’ she said. ‘I hope he has a very nice time. Now, would any of you like something to drink?’
    Alice answered for me.
    â€˜No. We’re fine. We have to go and… well, we just have to go. See you tomorrow.’
    When we were outside, I wasn’t sure what I felt. It didn’t sound like Veronica was very jealous, and if she wasn’t jealous, the whole plan was a waste of time before it even started.
    Maybe I could stop this before it went any further. I tried to sound casual.
    â€˜Your mum didn’t seem very jealous, did she?’
    Alice shrugged.
    â€˜Well, she wouldn’t would she? She can’t let on. She has to act cool in front of us. Inside I bet she’s really upset. She’ll think about Dad’s hot date all night, and tomorrow, when she hears what a success it was, she’ll go crazy – I know it. She’ll—’
    I interrupted her.
    â€˜But what if tonight’s date isn’t a success, what then?’
    Alice marched on ahead.
    â€˜We don’t have to worry about that. Tonight will be a success. I’ve decided. Now let’s get going. We’ve got a lot to do.’

Chapter sixteen

    N ext Alice insisted that we go back to her dad’s house. I was starting to feel dizzy from being in so many places.
    â€˜Can’t we just go to my house?’ I suggested.
    â€˜We will,’ said Alice. ‘In a minute. I need to get some stuff first.’
    â€˜What stuff?’ I asked.
    But by now Alice was halfway up the stairs to her bedroom.
    â€˜Just stuff,’ she said. ‘You’ll see.’
    When we got to her room, Alice took out her hair-straightener, and a big bag of clips and hair slides. Then she opened all her drawers and pulled out every piece of make-up she’d ever owned, and spread it all out on her bed.
    She gave a big sigh.
    â€˜I haven’t got all that much. Don’t suppose you have anything stashed away?’
    I shook my head.
    â€˜No chance. You know what Mum’s like. She “ doesn’t approve of make-up for twelve-year-olds .”’
    Alice giggled, ‘ Or for – what is