Free First Aid by Janet Davey Page B

people,’ Tara said. ‘Ella will think we haven’t got any friends.’
    â€˜We have got friends, haven’t we?’ Peter said.
    â€˜Don’t worry, Dad,’ Ella said. ‘It’s not a big deal. Look, I’ll come with you, shall I? I can stick some stuff in the trolley.’
    Peter looked gratefully at her. ‘You sure?’
    She nodded.
    â€˜Have you got the towels for the gym, darling?’ Tara said.
    â€˜What for?’ asked Peter.
    â€˜I thought it was easier if we had the things in the car.’
    â€˜We don’t have to decide now,’ he said.
    â€˜You mean we might not go to the gym?’
    â€˜I don’t know,’ Peter said. ‘We’ll leave it open. Ella’s here. We might go out for a bite to eat or something.’
    â€˜It’s all right, Dad,’ Ella said. ‘I’ve got things to do. Let’s just get in the car.’
    Ella sat in the middle of the back seat to get a view. She didn’t want to stare at either of their heads. Peter started the car and they drove up the hill.
    â€˜Have you got the day off?’ Tara said.
    â€˜Sorry, Tara?’ Ella said.
    â€˜I thought you worked on Saturday morning,’ Tara said, ‘at that shop.’
    Tara didn’t turn round to talk. As soon as they had begun to move she had pulled down the mirror flap above the windscreen and was now squashing her nose to one side with a finger, to look at an invisible blemish.
    â€˜Not always,’ Ella said.
    â€˜How is everyone?’ Peter said.
    â€˜Usual.’
    The road was curvy and Ella remembered how she used to feel when she was little and car-sick. It was just the edge of a feeling.
    â€˜Are they doing anything special today?’ Peter said.
    â€˜Shouldn’t have thought so,’ Ella said. ‘Special doesn’t often come into it.’
    â€˜Did you remember the list, pet?’ Tara said.
    â€˜No, it doesn’t matter does it?’ asked Peter. ‘Ella wants things. We’ll go up and down the rows.’
    Tara snapped the mirror back shut and looked out. They were slowing down. Ella opened the windows on both sides to let in some air, then moved over behind Tara and let her hands trail out in the stream of air. Her fingernails were dirty arcs on the ends of her fingers.
    â€˜We don’t often get stuck here do we?’ said Tara. ‘Do you think it’s road-works?’
    â€˜Could be,’ Peter said.
    They moved forward slowly. A wasp flew in and out again. Ella sat still. Tara and Peter didn’t notice it.
    â€˜What’s Rob doing? We haven’t seen him for a while,’ Tara said.
    â€˜Not sure,’ Ella said.
    â€˜He gets on well with your mum’s boyfriend, doesn’t he? He was telling me,’ Tara said.
    Ella said nothing.
    â€˜They play beach football together,’ Tara said.
    â€˜Do they?’ Ella said.
    â€˜Is it true about the kinky van?’
    â€˜Don’t know,’ Ella said.
    â€˜Your mum’s boyfriend’s van. Rob was saying he’s painted all angels and flowers over it. Sounds weird.’
    â€˜I didn’t hear him say that,’ Peter said.
    â€˜It’s different now,’ Ella said. ‘He’s always changing it.’
    â€˜So what’s it like at the moment?’ Tara said.
    â€˜Just freaky colours. That time it said “Straight to Heaven with Felpo your Fully Independent Funeral Director”.’
    â€˜That’s a bit sick, isn’t it? If you’d just lost someone,’ said Tara. ‘Felpo, that’s right. I wonder where he got that name from.’
    They overtook a broken-down lorry. It took a couple of minutes to negotiate. Then the road straightened and they started to speed up. Ella’s hair blew across her face. She let it float about.
    â€˜Would you say he was creative, Ella? That might be the appeal for your mum. She’s quite alternative,