Jennifer Allen age 11
Surbiton NumberWorks’nWords

The answer Phone Message

“I hate London!” said Claire under her breath. “I mean what’s to like? What’s not to hate? All it has to offer is some crummy tourist attractions. You see them once and you never want to see them again.”

Claire’s routine is the same everyday, wake up, go to school, come home and the high light, check the answer phone to see if she has won a competition. Then she goes to her room and when her dad comes home she listens to them argue with her mum and then eats and goes to bed. Everyday was the same except for one.

She was walking home one day thinking about how much the air smelled of smoke from cigarettes and all the cars. She came home and pressed play on the answer phone (as usual) heard a recorded conversation of her mum and dad. This argument was somehow different from the others. Instead of the normal arguments about who did what wrong, they were arguing over her. “I want her ove Christmas!” exclaimed mum. “But that’s unfair!” replied dad. This made her feel dead inside, like there was no reason to live. As if the whole thing was her fault. She ran upstairs and started to pack her bag. Another thing I should tell you is that her Dad has moved and her parents are on the edge of divorce. Something inside her head was telling her that it was all her fault! “If I go they will be happy.” She began to pack her bag. But her other conscience said, “Stop it’s not your fault!” She slowed down. Then she remembered the message and sped up again and decided to leave.

She left a note only saying that she was in the shower and not hungry and was going to bed. She snuck down stairs and out the door. Her plan was to get the train as far as possible to her Aunty’s in Kent and if she did not have enough time to do it in one to, then she would sleep in a travel lodge. There was only enough money for the train and a travel lodge. She was walking along a very busy street wondering which way the way to the train station was. She could nor remember if it was to the left or to the right. So she decided to ask someone. “Hello, hello, what is the quickest way to the station?” Claire asked. “Hello! Which is……will anyone help me?” she shouted.
“I will.” Said a voice. “Thanks!” said Claire. Claire thought this person was rather strange because he held his hand on her rucksack. She thought he was probably just being friendly. When he had told her she said “thanks” and walked off. As soon as she was in a place where she could stop, she checked her bag and found that her money had gone! Did the man steal he money? Or had she forgotten it. Without she could not catch a train let alone a travel lodge. What should she do?