Holidays On Schooldays

Norin trudged home after another long and lonely day at school. Benja had been missing again. For the third day in a row. He had tried to visit her at her house, but nobody was home. He sighed. His clothes smelled like boy’s bathroom, because he had been forced to hide during the breaks. Daniel and his gang had followed and teased him all day.

As he passed Benja’s house, his mood improved instantly. The car was back!

He jumped up the stairs to the front door and knocked. A tired looking Mrs Wilson opened.

“Hello Mrs Wilson. Is Benja home?” He beamed at her.

“Yes, but she might not be in the mood for visitors. We just got back home.”

“Please. I really need to see her.”

With a sigh, Mrs Wilson stepped aside. “Come in then.”

She waved Norin into the sitting room. Benja was sitting on the sofa and looked indeed very tired. Her eyes were sunken and her face pale.

“You look like death itself,” Norin said as he flopped himself next to her. “Where have you been?”

“Oh, just out and about,” she said airily. “I haven’t been well lately, so mum and dad took me on a small break. Like a holiday.”

“Since when are holidays on schooldays? Plus, it was the fourth small break this month.”

“And the last small break this month. I promise!”

“Yeah, the month is almost over. What is going on? We didn’t use to have secrets. What changed?”

“Oh, yes. No secrets.” Benja laughed. “I still remember the time you told me where you left your forgotten and mouldy sandwich.”

“Mrs Broadbill never found out who did it,” Norin defended himself. “And at least, I never buried someone’s car keys in the garden, so I wouldn’t have to admit I broke them.”

“Shush! Mum and Dad still think they lost them.”

Norin laughed. Life was so much better with Benja around again.